Ashland Middle School is seeking a dedicated and passionate Special Education Teacher to support students in grades 7 and 8. The successful candidate will provide individualized instruction and support to students with diverse learning needs in both inclusive and specialized settings. Responsibilities include developing and implementing Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), collaborating with general education teachers, monitoring student progress, and fostering a positive and supportive learning environment.

Statement of Duties 

• Provides direct and indirect instructional support to students as per their IEPs.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the developmental levels of students and the different ways these students learn by providing differentiated learning experiences that enable all students to progress toward meeting intended outcomes.
• Participates in the Team meeting process.
• Develops and implements Individualized Educational Programs (IEPs) with measurable goals and objectives.
• Ensures compliance with IEPs and timelines maintaining accurate and complete student records and preparing reports on children and activities, as required by laws, district policies and administrative regulations.
• Provides instruction with measurable outcomes and challenging tasks making progress towards requiring higher-order thinking skills that enable students to learn the knowledge and skills defined in state standards/local curricula.
• Collaborates with the general education teachers to modify the general education curriculum for students with disabilities based upon a variety of instructional techniques and technologies in accordance with the student’s IEP.
• Organizes and analyzes results from assessments to determine progress and uses findings to adjust practice and identify and/or implement appropriate differentiated interventions and enhancements for all students, including those with disabilities and English learners, using various methods, including but not limited to, tiered instruction, scaffolds and adapted instruction and/or materials to accommodate differences in learning styles, needs, interest and levels of readiness.
• Collaborates with parents, outside agencies and all building staff.
• Shares with appropriate colleagues (e.g., general education, English learner staff and counseling staff) conclusions about student progress and seeks their feedback about instructional or assessment practices that will support improved student learning.
• Based on assessment results, provides descriptive feedback and engages students and families in constructive conversation that focuses on how students can improve their performance.
• Defines high expectations for the quality of student work and the perseverance and effort required to produce it.
• Develops students' interpersonal, group, and communication skills and provides opportunities for students to learn in groups with diverse peers. 
• Anticipates and responds appropriately to conflicts or misunderstandings arising from differences in backgrounds, languages, and identities.
• Seeks out and applies, when appropriate, ideas for improving practice from supervisors, colleagues, professional development activities, and other resources to gain expertise and/or assume different instruction and leadership responsibilities.
• Effectively collaborates with colleagues in such work as developing standards-based units, examining student work, analyzing student performance, and planning appropriate intervention. 
• Demonstrates sound judgment reflecting integrity, honesty, fairness, and trustworthiness and protects student confidentiality appropriately. 
• Fulfills professional responsibilities; is consistently timely and reliable with paperwork, duties, and assignments; and demonstrates regular attendance. 
• Performs other duties as assigned by building principal.

Qualifications

Valid Massachusetts licensure in Special Education covering grades 6-8