Early Childhood Special Education Teacher (Ages 3-4) (3 Positions)

Special Education Teacher

Early Childhood Special Education (Ages 3–4)

Position Summary

The Sanford School Department is seeking three dedicated and compassionate Special Education Teachers to serve children ages 3–4 as the district assumes Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) responsibilities. This is a newly created position reflecting Sanford Schools' commitment to providing high-quality, equitable early childhood special education services. The successful candidate will deliver individualized instruction in a variety of settings, build meaningful partnerships with families, and play a key role in shaping the foundation of the district's early childhood special education program.

Required Qualifications

Certification & Education

• Valid Maine State Teaching Certificate – Endorsement 282B
• Bachelor's Degree in Special Education, Early Childhood Special Education, or a closely related field from an accredited institution
  
  

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Knowledge of early childhood development and developmentally appropriate instructional practices for children ages 3–4
• Ability to conduct or participate in developmental screenings and evaluations
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills to work collaboratively with families, general education staff, and community providers
• Experience with or willingness to learn evidence-based early childhood instructional strategies
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Special Education or Early Childhood Special Education
• Prior experience working with children ages 3–5 with diverse learning needs in school or community-based settings
• Experience supervising or mentoring paraprofessionals or educational technicians
• Training in specific early childhood frameworks such as the Early Intervention model, or applied behavior analysis (ABA)
• Bilingual or multilingual abilities a plus
  
  

Work Settings

Consistent With The Individualized Needs Of Students, This Position May Require Instruction And Service Delivery In a Variety Of Settings, Including

• Self-contained special education classrooms within Sanford Public Schools
• Inclusive/general education classrooms (push-in model) within district schools
• Community-based Early Learning Centers, childcare programs and home-based daycares within the Sanford area.
  
  

Travel between school buildings and community sites may be required. A valid driver's license and reliable transportation is required.

Essential Responsibilities

Instruction & Student Support

• Design and deliver individualized, research-based instruction aligned with each student's IEP goals and Maine's Early Learning Standards
• Implement a variety of instructional strategies to address diverse learning styles, communication needs, and developmental levels
• Collect, analyze, and use data to monitor student progress and adjust instruction accordingly
• Use assistive technology and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) tools as appropriate
• Maintain a safe, nurturing, and structured learning environment that supports the social-emotional and academic development of young children
  
  

IEP Development & Compliance

• Develop legally compliant, individualized IEPs in accordance with IDEA and Maine special education regulations
• Participate in IEP team meetings, including transition planning for students moving into kindergarten
• Coordinate with the Special Education Director/Assistant Directors and related service providers to ensure continuity of services
• Maintain accurate and timely student records, progress notes, and all required documentation
• Participate in evaluation processes, including contributing assessment data and observations
  
  

Supervision of Educational Technicians (Ed-Techs)

• Provide day-to-day direction, guidance, and support to assigned educational technicians (ed-techs/paraprofessionals) and evaluate the performance of ed-techs working within the classroom or assigned settings
• Foster a respectful and collaborative team environment in support of student success
  
  

Family & Community Engagement

• Build and maintain strong, trusting partnerships with families as active participants in their child's education through proactive communication and provision of educational resources
• Participate in community outreach and Child Find activities as assigned
  
  

Professional Responsibilities

• Participate actively in professional development, department meetings, and district initiatives
• Collaborate with the Special Education team to help build and refine Sanford Schools' new 3–4 FAPE program
• Stay current on best practices in early childhood special education, Maine regulations, and federal law
• Maintain required professional certifications and continuing education requirements
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Special Education or building principal
  
  

Physical Requirements & Work Conditions

• Ability to work on the floor, bend, kneel, lift, and physically engage with young children in a classroom environment
• Ability to lift up to 30 pounds and assist students with physical needs as required
  
  

Salary Based on the Sanford Teacher Collective Bargaining Agreement

Interviews will be conducted the week of May 4th