Teacher - Special Education (SY26-27)

Position: Special Education Teacher

Position Type: Full-time

Department: Secondary; Special Education

Location: Watertown High School

Reports to: Principal

Affiliation: WEA Unit A

Salary range: As determined by WEA Salary Schedule, Unit A 

General Description:

The Special Education Teacher works with students with moderate disabilities/ inclusion restrictions. This teacher has expertise and experience in the following areas: Common Core and MA state curriculum frameworks; evaluation and assessment procedures and report writing; development of Individual Education Programs (IEPs); completion of IEP Progress Reports; meaningful inclusive teaching practices including Universal Design for Learning and Co-Teaching strategies; effective communication and collaborative relationship building with colleagues and parents/caregivers. The Special Education Teacher of students with Moderate Disabilities/ Inclusion Restrictions should be organized, flexible, creative, and a self-reflective educator with a growth mindset. The teacher should be passionate about providing a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive setting for all children regardless of disability.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate and co-plan with content area general education teachers, in order to be a partner in provision of access to content instruction to students with disabilities
• Monitor and evaluate students’ academic, social, and behavioral progress and record student growth and outcomes
• Design and carry out developmentally appropriate, motivating curriculum/programming as required by Common Core/ MA Curriculum Frameworks and in accordance with each student’s IEP
• Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students’ varying needs
• Create an environment that is positive for student learning and involvement
• Maintain appropriate standards of behavior, mutual respect and safety
• Collect, analyze and maintain academic data on all student; and other data if/ as required (social/ behavioral)
• Maintain effective communication with administration, parents/caregivers, counselors, and related service providers
• Serve as a liaison for a caseload of students; to include formal and informal testing as part of the special education evaluation cycle; writing assessment reports to present at IEP Team meetings; writing the IEP; and writing quarterly progress reports on IEP goals and objectives
• Provide consultation to general education teachers regarding individual students’ needs, goals, and learning style
• Other duties as assigned

Core Competencies: Using the Massachusetts Model System for Educators Rubric, priority skills and abilities that all Watertown Public School teachers should possess:

Curriculum, Planning, and Assessment

(Subject Matter Knowledge, Well-Structured Lessons, Curriculum and Planning Indicator, Child and Adolescent Development)

• Demonstrates mastery of and enthusiasm for the content area and the pedagogy it requires
• Can convey a grasp of child development and how students learn
• Designs effective and rigorous standards based units of instruction consisting of well-structured lessons with measurable outcomes.

Teaching All Students

(Meeting Diverse Needs, Student Engagement, Safe Learning Environment)

• Uses instructional practices that are likely to challenge, motivate, and engage all students and facilitate equitable, active student participation
• Builds a productive learning environment where every student participates and is valued as part of the class community
• Cultural Proficiency 
• Actively creates and maintains an environment in which students’ diverse backgrounds, identities, strengths, and challenges are respected

Family and Community Engagement

(Parent/Family Engagement)

• Engages with families and builds collaborative, respectful relationships with them in service of student learning
• Professional Reflection & Collaboration 

Professional Culture

(Reflective Practice, Professional Collaboration)

• Regularly reflects on practice, seeks and responds to feedback, and demonstrates self-awareness and commitment to continuous learning and development
• Seeks to participate in and contribute to a collaborative adult learning community.

Qualifications Required:

• Valid DESE Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities 5-12 license required
• Valid SEI Endorsement: Students with Moderate and Severe Disabilities
• Bachelor’s degree required 
• Experience working with students with a range of disabilities in a public school setting 
• Excellent spoken and written communication skills
• SEI Endorsement 
• At least three years of teaching experience preferred
• Multilingual candidates are encouraged to apply, with Spanish and Portuguese language skills preferred

Physical Demands:

• Regularly required to sit, stand, walk, talk, hear, operate a computer, hand-held learning devices and other office equipment, reach with hands and arms, and must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Moving physical objects such as  sound equipment may be required. 

Equal Opportunity Employer
Watertown Public Schools is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally, we prohibit retaliation against individuals who oppose such discrimination and harassment or who participate in an equal opportunity investigation.