Special Education Coach (Life Skills Support) @ Special Services

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

Salary & Benefits

Position Overview

The Moses Lake School District is seeking applications for a Life Skills Special Education Instructional Coach. This position plays a critical leadership role in ensuring high-quality educational programming and services for students with significant cognitive, adaptive, behavioral, communication, and medical support needs. The Instructional Coach serves as a districtwide resource and partner to teachers, paraeducators, administrators, related service providers, and families in developing and sustaining effective Life Skills programs that promote student growth, independence, inclusion, and post-secondary success.

The Life Skills Special Education Instructional Coach will provide instructional leadership, job-embedded coaching, professional learning, and program support to staff serving students in self-contained and intensive support settings. This position is responsible for supporting the implementation of evidence-based instructional practices, positive behavior supports, communication systems, transition planning, classroom systems development, and compliance with special education requirements. Through collaboration and coaching, the Instructional Coach will help ensure consistency, effectiveness, and continuous improvement across Life Skills programs throughout the district.

The successful candidate will demonstrate expertise in serving students with significant disabilities, strong interpersonal and leadership skills, and a commitment to supporting educators in creating safe, structured, engaging, and inclusive learning environments.

Interested applicants should submit an online application with all required documentation.

Terms of Employment

• Position: 1.0 FTE Certificated Position
• Additional Contract: 0.75 hours per day to support before-school and after-school meetings, coaching activities, consultation, and program support.
• Extended Contract: Ten (10) additional days to be worked prior to the start of the school year.
• Salary and Benefits: In accordance with the applicable collective bargaining agreement and district compensation schedule.
• Reports To: Executive Director of Student Support Services or designee.

Qualifications

• Valid Washington State Teaching Certificate with Special Education Endorsement.
• Minimum of five (5) years of successful experience teaching in Life Skills, self-contained, or intensive support programs preferred.
• Demonstrated experience working with students with significant cognitive, adaptive, behavioral, communication, and/or medical needs.
• Experience providing professional development, mentoring, instructional coaching, or instructional leadership preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Leadership and Collaboration

• Ability to establish and maintain effective, cooperative, and positive working relationships with students, parents, staff, administrators, and community partners.
• Ability to work collaboratively with teachers, paraeducators, therapists, nurses, behavior specialists, transportation staff, and administrators to support student success.
• Ability to facilitate problem-solving and collaborative planning to address student, classroom, and program needs.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and the ability to influence and support continuous improvement efforts.

Instructional Expertise

• Extensive knowledge of evidence-based instructional practices for students with significant disabilities.
• Knowledge of functional academics, adaptive skills, communication systems, transition services, vocational programming, and community-based instruction.
• Ability to support teachers in developing classroom systems, schedules, routines, and instructional structures that maximize student engagement, independence, and learning.
• Experience supporting implementation of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems, visual supports, task analysis, systematic instruction, and differentiated instructional practices.
• Ability to model effective instructional strategies and provide job-embedded coaching, feedback, and support.

Behavioral and Social-Emotional Supports

• Knowledge and experience with positive behavior supports, behavior intervention plans, de-escalation strategies, crisis prevention, and classroom management systems.
• Ability to assist staff in developing proactive systems that promote student self-regulation, engagement, and success.
• Ability to analyze behavioral data and support implementation of effective intervention strategies.

Program Development and Compliance

• Knowledge of special education laws, regulations, and compliance requirements related to Life Skills and self-contained programs.
• Experience supporting IEP development, progress monitoring, assessment practices, and documentation requirements.
• Ability to assist in the development and implementation of districtwide systems and practices that promote consistency and program effectiveness.
• Ability to support teachers in planning and coordinating inclusive opportunities and least restrictive environment practices.
• Experience supporting transition planning and post-secondary outcomes for students with significant disabilities.

Professional Learning and Paraeducator Support

• Ability to design and facilitate professional development focused on Life Skills programming, instructional strategies, behavior supports, compliance requirements, and paraeducator development.
• Ability to support teachers in training, organizing, supervising, and effectively utilizing paraeducators.
• Ability to build staff capacity through coaching, mentoring, modeling, and collaborative reflection.

Additional Requirements

• Ability and willingness to travel between district sites and support programs across multiple grade levels, including PreK through age 22 programs.
• Demonstrated commitment to the mission, vision, core principles, and policies of the Moses Lake School District.
• Excellent attendance and punctuality.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment.
• Other duties as assigned.

Essential Responsibilities

• Provide instructional coaching and ongoing support to teachers serving students in Life Skills and self-contained special education programs.
• Model evidence-based instructional practices and classroom management strategies.
• Support implementation of district initiatives, instructional frameworks, and special education program expectations.
• Assist with classroom design, scheduling, routines, systems development, and instructional planning.
• Support implementation of AAC systems, visual supports, systematic instruction, and adaptive curriculum resources.
• Assist teachers and teams in developing effective behavior support systems and intervention plans.
• Facilitate professional learning opportunities for teachers and paraeducators.
• Collaborate with administrators and special education leadership to identify program strengths, needs, and improvement opportunities.
• Support inclusive practices and opportunities for students with significant disabilities.
• Assist with transition planning and development of vocational and community-based learning opportunities.
• Participate in district meetings, program reviews, and collaborative planning activities.
• Maintain current knowledge of best practices, legal requirements, and emerging trends in special education and Life Skills programming.
• Perform other duties related to supporting Life Skills programs and student success as assigned.

 The Moses Lake School District #161 does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boys Scouts and other designated youth groups. Inquiries regarding compliance and/or grievance procedures may be directed to the school district’s Title IX, Civil Rights, Affirmative Action, and Equal Opportunity officer, Michelle Musso, 1620 S Pioneer Way, Moses Lake, WA 98837, (509) 766-2650, mmusso@mlsd161.org; OR Section 504/ADA Coordinator, Samantha Burgess, 1620 S Pioneer Way, Moses Lake, WA 98837, (509) 766- 2670, sburgess@mlsd161.org.