C.P. Smith Elementary School is seeking a passionate and energetic Limited Term Contract (LTC) Special Educator for the 2022-2023 school year only to join a school committed to high levels of achievement for all students. This position will require working closely with and case-managing up to 25 special education and 504 students. Applicants must be dedicated to the belief and desire for the inclusion of all students, and eager to be a member of a high energy, fast-paced dedicated special education team as well as individual student teams in support of student success for all.

The Special Educator position is a unionized, exempt position that will report to the Principal. The ideal candidate will provide support to the instructional process by serving as a teacher with specific responsibilities for developing special education students' success in academics, interpersonal skills, and activities of daily living; supervising students within the classroom and other assigned areas; developing lesson plans and delivering group and individual student instruction within established curriculum guidelines: collaborating with other teachers, other professional staff, and administrators in addressing instructional and/or classroom issues; and responding to a wide range of inquiries from students' parents or guardians regarding the instructional program and student progress. This position will require working closely with and case-managing up to 25 special education and 504 students. Applicants must be dedicated to the belief and desire for the inclusion of all students, and eager to be a member of a high energy, fast-paced dedicated special education team as well as individual student teams in support of student success for all.

The Essential Functions of this position include:

• Instructional Strategies

1. Collaborate with other classroom teachers, school psychologists, learning disabilities specialists, speech/hearing specialists, and school social workers to provide an integrated plan for developing the capacities of their students.
2. Set learning goals for each student, assess their progress and record their evaluations.
3. Conduct assessment of student learning styles and use results to plan for instructional activities.
4. Present subject matter according to guidelines established by the Individualized Educational Plan (IEP).
5. Update parents on the progress of their students and enlist parental support with behavior control and home activities designed to supplement their classroom lessons.
6. Supervise and train paraeducators.

• Student Growth and Development

1. Conduct ongoing assessments of student achievement through formal and informal testing.
2. Provide or supervise personal care, medical care, and feeding of students as stated in IEP.

• Classroom Management and Organization

1. Create a classroom environment conducive to learning and appropriate for the physical, social, and emotional development of students.
2. Manage student behavior and administer discipline. This includes intervening in crisis situations and physically restraining students as necessary according to IEP.
3. Consult with classroom teachers regarding the management of student behavior according to IEP.
4. Take all necessary and reasonable precautions to protect students, equipment, materials, and facilities.
5. Assist in the selection of books, equipment, and other instructional materials as required.

• Communication

1. Establish and maintain open communication by conducting conferences with parents, students, principals, and teachers.
2. Maintain a professional relationship with colleagues, students, parents, and community members.
3. Use effective communication skills to present information accurately and clearly.

The required education and experience for this position include:

• Education:

1. Minimum Required: Bachelor's degree in Education, Special Education, or related field.
2. Preferred: Master's degree in Education.
3. Certification: Valid Educator License granted by the Vermont Department of Education with a Special Education Endorsement.
4. Documented or eligible for NCLB Highly Qualified Teacher status as applicable
5. Eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship.

• Experience:

Minimum Required:

1. Experience in closely working with, providing direct instruction to, and case-managing up to 25 special education and 504 students. Experience supporting students with social cognition, behavioral, and social-emotional needs.
2. Experience training and supervising paraeducators providing support services to special needs students.
3. Experience in planning, leading, and managing large and potentially complex IEP meetings with students, parents, teachers, outside agencies, community mentors, and other support people.
4. Understanding of Cultural Competency as explained through Essay 1 on SchoolSpring).
5. Knowledge of best practices in engaging and motivating students and managing student behaviors.

Preferred Attributes:

1. Experience providing services to middle school level students.
2. Participation in a professional/teaching-learning community group or similar learning community.
3. Training and/or experience with English Language Learners.
4. Knowledge of assessments and the use of data to inform services to students.
5. Demonstrated skills in effective consultation with teacher colleagues and other school and community agencies to support student success in the classroom.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities:

• Working knowledge : Sufficient familiarity with the subject to know basic principles and terminology and to understand and solve simple problems.

• General knowledge : Sufficient knowledge of a field to perform most work in normal situations. The work calls for comprehension of standard situations and includes knowledge of most of the significant aspects of the subject.

• Thorough knowledge : Advanced knowledge of the subject matter. The work calls for sufficient comprehension of the subject area to solve unusual as well as common work problems, to be able to advise on technical matters, and to serve as a resource on the subject for others in the organization.
• Comprehensive knowledge : Requires complete mastery and understanding of the subject. This term should be used sparingly and only for unusually exacting or responsible positions required to originate hypotheses, concepts, or approaches.

1. List Specific Skills And/Or Abilities Required:

1. Ability to train and supervise para-educators.
2. Demonstrated ability to work with teacher colleagues and other school and community agencies to support student success in the classroom.
3. Ability to co-teach with other educators.
4. Critical-thinking skills are used to accurately assess students' progress and adjust lessons to their needs.
5. Strong communication skills.

SALARY: As per the Master Agreement between the Burlington Board of School Commissioners and the Burlington Education Association.

Equal Opportunity: The Burlington School District provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Primary Location:
CP Smith Elementary School
Salary Range:
Per Year
Shift Type:
Full-Time