Special Education Teacher - Long-Term Substitute

Special Education Teacher

North Allegheny School District is one the highest performing public school districts in Pennsylvania and recognized nationally for its focus on academic achievement and growth, future preparation, school climate and student and staff wellness. Located just north of Pittsburgh, it is the largest suburban school district in Allegheny County with over 8,500 students. North Allegheny School District seeks candidates to fill a Special Education Long-Term Substitute Teacher position at North Allegheny Intermediate High School, effective August 13, 2026 through June 1, 2027.

The teacher will establish a special education program that promotes social, emotional, physical, and intellectual growth by providing rich and engaging experiences. The teacher will establish effective rapport with students, motivate students to develop skills, attitudes and knowledge needed to provide a good foundation for learning, in accordance with each student's ability, and creates and maintains good relationships with parents and other staff members. Bachelor's Degree and Applicable Pennsylvania Teaching Certification are required. Current clearances are required and include: Child Abuse History Clearance PA Criminal Record Check FBI Fingerprint Clearance Mandated Reporter of Child Abuse Training Successful candidate will be required to complete a pre-employment Physical and TB Test. This posting will remain open until filled. North Allegheny School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Purpose/Summary: The Special Education Teacher establishes a special education program that promotes social, emotional, physical, and intellectual growth by providing rich and engaging experiences. Establishes effective rapport with students, motivates students to develop skills, attitudes and knowledge needed to provide a good foundation for learning, in accordance with each student's ability. Serves as an advocate for the special education population and assists with student adaptations and accommodations throughout the school environment. Creates and maintains good relationships with parents and other staff members.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develops lesson plans to reflect District curriculum and meet the students' varying needs.
• Establishes clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicates those objectives to students and families.
• Instructs through a variety of learning activities in a variety of applicable subject areas for the learning assignment, which may include but are not limited to, art, music, physical education, science, social studies, language arts, math, and English.
• Observes and evaluates students' academic performance, behavior, and social development.
• Recognizes and accommodates individual student differences, abilities, and learning style when providing instruction and assessing progress.
• Establishes and enforces rules for positive behavior and procedures for maintaining a learning culture among the students.
• Promotes and provides an environment that fosters constructive relationships, facilitates student engagement, and promotes learning.
• Communicates with parents/guardians regarding student performance.
• Communicates and collaborates with school personnel regarding academic planning and professional issues, including knowledge and use of best practices in developing rigorous and relevant curricula for instructional delivery.
• Collaborates and communicates with parents, education personnel and other service providers to develop and implement Individual Education Plans (IEP) designed to increase student learning through specially designed instruction and accommodation for students' needs.
• Assists in the implementation of the behavioral goals of the IEP and/or PBSP, including using appropriate resources and technology.
• Enforces and follows all administrative policies and rules governing students.
• Demonstrates ongoing, professional growth and competency by utilizing current teaching strategies, instructional resources, and materials.
• Maintains accurate and complete student records as required by District policies.
• Supervises students and is responsible for the overall management, instruction, and evaluation of the students.

Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree required
• Experience in Special Education preferred

Certifications, Licenses, Registrations:

• Pennsylvania State Teaching Certification in Special Education required
• To be Highly Qualified, you must also have an Elementary Certification or a Secondary Core Content Area Certification (English, Math, Social Studies, Science)
• Child Abuse History Clearance
• PA Criminal Record Check
• FBI Fingerprint Clearance
• Act 126: Mandated Reporter of Child Abuse Training through approved provider established by the Pennsylvania Department of Education
• Act 168: Sexual Misconduct Abuse Disclosure Release

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

Knowledge and Abilities Knowledge of current research, theory and instructional practices and ability to apply that knowledge to positively impact learning. Knowledge of federal and state special education regulations and ability to apply all aspects of this information. Ability to think critically and problem solve, especially as it relates to human learning and behavior. Knowledge of educational protocol and procedures and ability to implement these processes into the classroom setting.

Academic Skills - Knowledge of curriculum writing, assessment, principles and methods of curriculum and instruction and strategic planning. Knowledge of classroom management, social development, assessment, and evaluation. Knowledge of special education and ability to adapt instruction as it relates to the general classroom environment. Knowledge of brain research and ability to understand and apply this information to teaching. Knowledge of discipline policies and ability to make decisions to appropriately manage student behavior.

Language Skills – Must possess the ability to use the language in both oral and written form. Be able to communicate information and ideas clearly, so others will understand. Ability to listen and be respectful, tactful, and sensitive when interacting with all stakeholders who are diverse in their academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds. Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. Ability to read, analyze and interpret information to effectively communicate with students, families, supervisor, and key stakeholders. Math Skills – Knowledge of arithmetic and basic applications. Possess the ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations. Possess the ability to analyze and interpret data, particularly test scores. Demonstrates skills in collecting, analyzing, and using data to inform instruction. Technology Skills – Be able to utilize programs such as Microsoft Office Suite, Google Docs, and the District grading/ attendance packages. Be able to access, generate and analyze student assessment data. Be able to utilize email, Intranet, and the Internet to find and evaluate resources, be able to record video and audio clips, and embed relevant online material into instruction. Ability to be flexible and embrace "just in time" instruction. Implement the use of technology throughout the instructional process. Ability to adapt instruction as it relates to a cyber classroom environment. Reasoning Ability - Ability to understand and interpret state and national standards and to integrate those standards effectively throughout the curriculum of a high performing school district. Ability to observe students and evaluate student data to make decisions that improve the instructional process.

Other Skills and Abilities

• Ability to influence and impact ongoing development through building effective relationships of trust and respect of individuals with varied personalities and learning needs.
• Must possess the ability to maintain a high emotional energy and display enthusiasm for the school community and learning environment.
• Ability to exhibit a high level of confidentiality.
• Must develop effective coping strategies for dealing with the high expectations, frequent demands, and significant responsibility of effectively supporting the educational process of students.
• Must be able to react quickly in volatile situations and maintain composure even under stressful conditions.
• Must be able to advocate for students to create a positive learning environment.
• Possess imagination, patience, creativity, sound judgment, logical reasoning, and analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to make equitable decisions with sound emotional judgment.
• Must be able to concentrate with numerous interruptions.
• Maintain effective working relationships with students, parents, staff, and the community.
• Ability to understand and facilitate needs of various personality types.
• Ability to perform duties with awareness of all District policies and professional obligations.

Physical Demands When performing activities throughout the day related to the educating of students, the teacher spends much of the day standing in the classroom. He or she must walk through the classroom and be able to maneuver in tight spaces between desks, etc. Dealing with the students can entail kneeling or squatting, stooping, and bending from 50-70 degrees at the waist on an occasional to frequent basis.

Must be able to exert up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds of force as frequently as needed to move objects (textbooks and materials). The teacher often