Special Education Teacher LSP (SY26-27)

Position: Special Education Teacher - Learning Support Program

Position Type: Full-time

Department: Secondary; Special Education

Location: Watertown Middle School

Reports to: Principal

Affiliation: WEA Unit A

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

General Description:

The special education teacher is responsible for the day-to-day management of the classroom and provision of instruction, including the development and implementation of the Individual Education Program (IEP) goals, assessment, and curriculum design at the Watertown Middle School Learning Support Program (LSP). The LSP Program is a specialized special education program that services students with global cognitive delays.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Monitor and evaluate student progress and record student outcomes
• Design and carry out developmentally appropriate motivating curriculum/programming as required by IEP goals/MA curriculum frameworks
• Manages a classroom environment that prioritizes inclusion in the student general education setting
• 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 behavioral data on all students
• Demonstrated ability to maintain effective communication with administration, parents, counselors, and related service providers
• Coaches instructional assistants as it relates to behavior plans and data collection.
• Acts as a liaison between general education teacher and parents

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, Master's preferred
• Experience working with students with a range of disabilities in a public school setting 
• Excellent spoken and written communication skills
• Experience working with students in a substantially separate setting
• 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.