JOB DESCRIPTION

Position:          Special Education Teacher

Job Goal:         To help students with disabilities learn subject matter and skills that will contribute to their development as mature, able, and responsible men and women in accordance with Massachusetts frameworks.

Education, Work Experience, and Licensure:

Required:        A bachelor’s degree in education.Department of Education License as a Special Education Teacher(or will pass MTEL in the first year).  Must be highly qualified by the end of the 2008-2009 school year.

Preferred:        Prior work experience as a Special Education Teacher.A master ’s degree in education.

Performance Responsibilities:

1. Provides specialized instruction for students with disabilities consistent with state and federal regulations.
2. Coordinates and supervises work experience and job-training programs involving students with special needs.
3. Works cooperatively with classroom teachers, interpreting the abilities and disabilities of these students to the entire staff and assisting the student with regular class assignments.
4. Confers frequently with parents and professional staff members regarding the educational, social, and personal problems of such students.
5. Assists other professional staff members in resolving the unique psychological or disciplinary problems of each student.
6. Assists in screening, evaluating, and recommending placements of applicants in the District’s Special Education program.
7. Counsels individuals and groups of students with educational, occupational, and personal problems.
8. Oversees personnel as designated by the Principal or the Superintendent.
9. Assists students in making realistic assessments of their abilities and in establishing educational and occupational goals in keeping with these abilities.
10. Provides motivation to students who have a short attention span.
11. Undertakes continuing professional study in the psychology of special education students in teaching methods related to this field.
12. Completes and maintains records and documentation pertinent to the Special Education program as required by state and federal special education regulations.
13. Participates in transition planning and preparation for adult life experiences.
14. Takes responsibility for professional growth and development.
15. Acts as Mandated Reporter (Chapter 119, Section 51A).
16. Complies with the Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Policy.
17. Any other related duties as may be assigned by Administration.

Physical Requirements:          
The position requires a moderate amount of walking, standing, sitting and climbing stairs and step stool whenever necessary.  Activities also include moderate physical exertion in body movement such as reaching, bending, twisting, grasping, pushing, and pulling of objects.  The position requires lifting objects of 20 pounds on a frequent basis, and over 20 pounds occasionally.  There is a frequent requirement of fine manipulation associated with the required use of a computer, typewriter, keyboard, calculator, and other business machines.