Special Educator for the Community Classroom

Lead, Innovate, and Transform: Special Educator for the Community Classroom

Are you the kind of educator who sees possibility everywhere - in a student's spark, a community partnership, or a hands-on learning moment out in the world? Do you thrive when you’re building something meaningful, not just maintaining the status quo?

If so, Woodstock Union Middle and High School invites you to lead and expand our innovative Community Classroom, a program designed to empower students through personalized instruction, real-world learning, and strong community connections.

This is more than a teaching role.

It’s a chance to shape a program that prepares students for life — academically, socially, and vocationally.

About the Role

As the lead Special Educator for the Community Classroom, you’ll design, guide, and evolve a program that blends school-based learning with community-embedded experiences. Your work will support students in developing independence, communication, confidence, and employability — all while partnering with a talented team of paraeducators and related service providers.

You will:

Lead & Inspire

• Guide a dedicated team of paraeducators and foster a collaborative, student-centered environment.

• Drive vision and innovation in program design.

Teach & Support

• Provide direct instruction (middle/high school) across academic, vocational, and functional domains.

• Use data-driven practices to tailor instruction and interventions that meet diverse learning and behavioral needs.

Manage & Advocate

• Oversee IEP development, monitoring, compliance, and thoughtful integration within the least restrictive environment.

• Serve as an intervention specialist supporting cognitive, communication, behavioral, mobility, personal care, and self-regulation goals.

Collaborate Broadly

• Work closely with SLP, OT, PT, general education teachers, families, and community organizations.

• Partner with agencies such as HireAbility, UVM CDC Cares, HCRS, Rutland Mental Health, Lincoln Street, and I-Team to ensure wrap-around support.

Focused on Transition & Community-Based Learning

A core part of this role is preparing students for meaningful adult lives. You will:

• Build and refine programming aligned with best practices in transition planning, life skills, and functional academics.

• Coordinate job exploration, community internships, and employment readiness skill-building.

• Supervise and support paraeducators in community settings to ensure safe, meaningful, goal-aligned learning.

• Work alongside our Center for Community Connections (C3) to develop partnerships with local businesses and organizations invested in student success.

Who Thrives in This Role?

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Innovative and flexible, excited to create learning pathways that don’t always fit inside four walls.

• Equity-driven, with a commitment to inclusive practices.

• Collaborative, with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• Instructionally curious, using data, technology, and best practices to enhance student learning.

• Transition-minded, with experience or enthusiasm for vocational and community-based instruction.

Required: Vermont Educator License (or eligibility) with Special Education endorsement.

Why Join Woodstock Union?

At WUHSMS, we are Locally Inspired, Globally Prepared.

We value inclusion, cultural diversity, and innovative thinking. We welcome applicants with international experience, multilingual backgrounds, or unique perspectives - including out-of-state candidates eligible for Vermont licensure.

What We Offer

• Competitive benefits: medical, dental, vision, and a generous district retirement contribution.

• Professional growth: embedded PD and tuition reimbursement (up to 6 graduate credits at UVM rates).

• A supportive, creative environment where your ideas truly shape the program.

Ready to Build Something Powerful?

If you’re a passionate educator eager to lead a dynamic program that helps students grow into confident, independent young adults, we’d love to meet you.

Apply today and help us expand what's possible for our students and our community.

Salary : $49,539 - $98,459