Special Education Teacher / GAIN Assessment Center

Goodyear School

Job Description

The Special Education Teacher will provide special education assessments and services for disabled students across grades (K-5) within an extended assessment center.  The Special Education Teacher reports directly to the Principal of the School and the Director of Special Education, and is expected to work closely with all district personnel to provide high quality instruction to  our diverse student population. S/he will provide a stable therapeutic environment for students to learn while also working with the team to determine the best long-term educational services and placement. The assessment center is intended to provide stabilization and interventions for students in crisis through a therapeutic milieu.

Responsibilities: 

• Administer special education assessments/evaluations to comprehensively determine student need and/or eligibility for special education; conduct observations over the course of the extended evaluation period
• Evaluate student abilities and progress through a variety of formal and informal assessments, to determine special education eligibility; monitor student progress and adjust instruction accordingly.
• Experience with administering a variety of assessments, collecting robust date, and making eligibility determinations
• Create a welcoming, inclusive, culturally responsive classroom environment that is conducive to student’s learning and their ability to comfortably share their authentic selves.
• Support students with social emotional learning disabilities and students that are in crisis and or exhibiting behavioral outbursts
• Collaborate daily with BCBAs and LICSWs; implement of behavior support plans for students
• Provide individual and small group instruction to students in both the Special Education and the General Education settings, as appropriate.
• Write comprehensive IEPs for caseload including measurable goals, detailed PLEPs etc,
• Support students in maintaining safe behaviors across settings, including the use of blocking and reinforcement procedures as well as physical restraint, as needed.
• Design and implement modifications to school curricula, differentiated instruction, and positive behavior support programs as needed.
• Chair all annual review and IEP progress meetings; participate in evaluation and eligibility meetings, as appropriate.
• Participate in ongoing professional development activities, to include Safety-Care training, including the use of physical restraint.
• Participate in collaborative consultation with special education teams, including service providers as well as Administrators. 
• Maintain accurate, complete, and correct student records as required by law and district policies.
• Maintain and build relationships and communication pathways with parents and other community liaisons.
• Abide by state statutes, school committee policies, regulations, and WPS Employee Handbook.
• Attend all required meetings and perform duties as assigned by the Special Education Director and Building Administrator(s).
• Oversee paraprofessional staff in supporting students and in data collection and entry.
• Assist staff in other buildings with student transitions; observe students as needed
• Assist staff in other buildings to determine appropriateness of evaluation in Assessment Center
• All other duties as required by the Principal or WPS Administration.
• Experience working in a diverse educational setting, including the ability to work successfully with students, colleagues, and families from diverse ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Competence with technology tools and platforms, including Google applications

Qualifications & Skill Set:

• Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university required; Master’s degree preferred
• Required Licensure: Current Massachusetts's DESE Certification in Moderate or Severe Special Needs for corresponding grade levels (K-8)
• Dual certification as a  BCBA desired but not required
• Must be willing to participate in Safety Care certification

Terms of Employment: As outlined in the Agreement Between The Woburn Teachers’ Association and The Woburn School Committee.

At the Woburn Public Schools, we are committed to cultivating an environment where diverse perspectives and backgrounds are embraced. We believe that a team reflecting diversity of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, gender, marital/domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, and veteran status allows us to serve our communities better. To that end, Woburn Public Schools continues to be an Equal Opportunity Employer  and a district member of Mass Partnership for Diversity in Education