Teacher: Special Education- Learning Disabilities- Elementary/Secondary -Systemwide

TEACHER: SPECIAL EDUCATION – LEARNING DISABILITIES- ELEMENTARY/SECONDARY – SYSTEMWIDE

Job Details
Job ID: 4385555
Application Deadline: Posted until Filled
Posted: August 14, 2023
Starting Date: August 24, 2023

Job Description
SUBJECT: Teacher: Special Education – Learning Disabilities

REPORTS TO: Special Education Dept Head

ACCOUNTABILITY OBJECTIVE:

This teaching position is accountable for providing services to students identified with a specific learning disability through the team evaluation process. The Learning Disability specialist works cooperatively with parents and teachers to ensure that each student can access the WPS curriculum and meet the state curriculum frameworks.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES: (to be included along with other responsibilities)

1. Responsible for serving as a member of the Special Education Team in writing educational plans and progress reports on SAGE-IEP, and completing assessments within the required timelines.

2. Responsible for following the student IEP and ensuring compliance with state and federal SPED regulations including the delivery of high quality services, the provision of accommodations/modifications for instruction and assessment.

3. Responsible for providing students with strategies to increase organizational skills.

4. Responsible for developing students’ phonological awareness, decoding, fluency, word recognition, and comprehension skills for facilitating the acquisition of reading skills and accessing the curriculum.

5. Responsible for providing individual, small group, and inclusion instruction and for providing strategies and modifications for individual students or small groups.

6. Responsible for communicating and collaborating with regular education teachers and other personnel in the educational programming for students with learning disabilities.

7. Responsible for understanding the state required guidelines around standardized testing and for providing appropriate accommodations as identified on student IEPs during the administration of these tests.

8. Responsible for assessing student knowledge and academic progress using formal and informal means to develop measurable IEP goals and to support student learning.

9. Responsible for creating and coordinating a schedule of services for students to comply with IEP requirements.

10. Responsible for the promotion of equity and appreciation of diversity to ensure equitable opportunities for student learning in the least restrictive environment.

11. Responsible for attending monthly department meetings and building based meetings/two per month.

12. Responsible for assuring equal educational opportunity to all individuals regardless of race, color, gender, age, marital status, religion, natural origin, sexual orientation, homelessness, or disability.

13. Performance of other job-related duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Appropriate MA DESE License- Moderate Disabilities .

2. SEI Endorsement

3. A minimum of three years’ successful teaching experience in Special Education

4. A minimum of three years of successful teaching experience in Special Education

5. Evidence of mastery of a wide variety of teacher competencies, curricula, and the understanding of a wide variety of effective instructional models, including multi-sensory, structured language techniques

6. Excellent written and oral communication skills

7. Certification in multi-sensory structured language system – Wilson and/or Orton Gillingham

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Masters of Arts in Special Education.

2. Massachusetts teaching certification in Moderate Special Needs.

3. Demonstrated experience supporting students with special needs.

4. Ability to speak Albanian, Arabic, Nepali, Portuguese, Spanish, Vietnamese or an African Language.

WORK YEAR: 183 Days

SALARY: Appropriate step on Teachers’ salary schedule.

TO APPLY: Any person interested in this position must submit a resume, and cover letter, and answer all questions online at www.worcesterschools.org. This information must be submitted online

This deadline date does not preclude further advertisement or recruitment
Position Type: Full-time
Positions Available: 6
Equal Opportunity Employer
The Worcester Public Schools is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer/Educational Institution and does not discriminate regardless of race, color, ancestry, sex, gender, age, religion, national origin, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy or a related condition, veteran status or homelessness. The Worcester Public Schools provides equal access to employment and the full range of general, occupational and vocational education programs. For more information relating to Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action contact the Human Resource Manager, 20 Irving Street, Worcester, MA 01609, 508-799-3020.

Job Requirements
To maximize the effectiveness of your application, it is recommended that you provide a cover letter which describes the specific training and experience that you have for the position(s) that you are applying for and that you ensure that the certification information in your SchoolSpring profile is updated. Your MA DESE certification number will allow us to verify that you possess the correct license. Please ensure that your SchoolSpring resume, specifically, is updated as this will be used to determine your Degree and Step placement on the Teachers salary schedule. Citizenship, residency or work VISA in United States required

Application Questions
This employer has requested that all applicants answer the following questions. It is highly recommended that you type any essays in a word processing program, save them, and then paste them on the proceeding job application page.
1.
Have you ever worked for the Worcester Public Schools? When? What capacity?
Brief Response (Answer limited to 200 characters, including spaces)

2.
Do you have any relatives employed by the Worcester Public Schools or the School Committee? If yes, please list name, title, and relationship.
Yes/No

3.
Have you ever been terminated for cause from a prior position? If so please explain.
Brief Response (Answer limited to 200 characters, including spaces)

4.
Do you have experience working in a public school system?
Yes/No

5.
Do you have experience with Special Education students?
Yes/No

6.
Do you have demonstrated experience supporting students with special needs?
Yes/No

Contact Information
Susan Gallagher, Special Education Department Head
20 Irving Street
Worcester, Massachusetts 01609
Phone: 508-799-3093
Email: gallaghers@worcesterschools.net