Teacher Special Education

Pay Grade: Certified Salary Schedule


Accountable To: Principal/Director of Special Services


FLSA Status: Exempt

Creation/Revision Date: January 12, 2023

Summary: Under general direction, incumbent(s) provides quality instruction through planned lessons, diagnosing learning needs, creating and leading engaging learning activities, utilizing assessments to monitor student progress, and communicating with administration and parents. Creating a flexible classroom environment favorable to learning and personal growth to motivate pupils to develop skills, attitudes and knowledge needed.

Essential Functions:

• Performs a variety of assessments and observations to determine the areas in which the student may need extra or modified educational services. Assessment areas may include academic performance, behavior, social development, or physical health.
• Identifies the student's needs and develops related lesson and teaching plans.
• Incorporates technology into lesson plans.
• Develops an integrated plan for the education of each child by collaborating with classroom teachers, parents, psychologists, social workers, and other medical and school staff.
• Makes recommendations and leads the team in development of individualized education programs (IEPs) for each student, setting learning goals and adopting modifications as necessary; ensures each student's activities and lessons are planned and organized according to his/her abilities.
• Develops and teaches lessons that provide engaging learning opportunities for small groups and individual students while meeting required specifications of IEPs and 504 plans.
• Implements IEPs, provides ongoing or follow-up assessments, and continually tracks progress and makes modifications as necessary.
• Coordinates and attends IEP meetings.
• Collaborates with classroom and homeroom teachers to ensure each student's needs are met and plans are followed.
• Maintains open communication with all stakeholders (family and related services).
• Ensures programs comply with Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); ensures each applicable student is provided with Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) that is properly modified for his/her individual needs.
• Develops, completes, and maintains all paperwork mandated by local, state, and federal guidelines, laws, and regulations.
• Maintains knowledge of special education teaching methods, research, and best practices through professional development and study.
• Maintains knowledge of grade level content and standards for the students they serve.
• Establishes and enforces classroom management structure and rules that ensure the academic engagement and the physical and mental safety of all students.
• Celebrates the achievements and successes of students.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:


To be eligible for this position, an applicant must meet the following required qualifications. Verification of these required qualifications is necessary.

• Obtain and Maintain an appropiate Arizona Department of Education Teaching Certification for the position hired.
• Obtain and maintain a valid Arizona Identity Verified Prints ( IVP ) Fingerprint Clearance Card (AZ IVP FPCC).

Knowledge and Skills Required:


To perform the job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The qualifications for this job description are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.


Skills required, but not limited to, for this position include:

• Demonstrates knowledge of state and national standards, district curriculum and instructional materials and assessments.
• Demonstrates knowledge of interpreting data and assessments to make instructional decisions.
• Supports school and district mission and vision.
• Utilizes effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrates flexibility, dependability, organization, and collaboration.
• Establishes rapport with peers and parents.
• Is willing to participate in district training for coaching.
• Demonstrates lifelong learning.
• Seeks opportunities to demonstrate leadership.

Physical Requirements:


The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Working Conditions:


The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those and employee encounters while performing the essential function of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Reasonable accommodations may be made While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts; high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

The Washington Elementary School District is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Civil Rights Act Title VII of 1972, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. Washington Elementary School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify or expression, disability or age in employment or in any of its educational programs or in the provisions of benefits and services to students. For information regarding discrimination grievance or complaint procedures contact the Executive Director for Human Resources at View phone number on click.appcast.io.