POSITION OVERVIEW: Special Education Teacher, K-2 Resource Room (Full Time) - Ocean Ave Elementary, 24-25 SY
Portland Public Schools is seeking a highly qualified Special Educator to teach in our Resource Room at Ocean Ave Elementary School for the remainder of the 2024-2025 school year (see note below**). The Special Education Teacher is responsible for overseeing the delivery of services in students’ Individual Education Plans and providing specialized instruction to ensure that each student progresses in meeting IEP goals. Applicant should have a strong working knowledge and experience in PBIS or similar frameworks that support students’ social/emotional growth. The ability to relate positively to students, parents, and staff is essential to this position.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Provide evidence-based Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) to students with Individual Education Plans (IEP) to ensure that each student progresses in meeting the district’s learning benchmarks
- Serve as case manager and oversee each student’s IEP, ensuring compliance with requirements in the Maine Unified Special Education Regulations-Chapter 101 including timelines related to the IEP process and IEP development
- Consult with regular education teachers on a regular basis regarding educational needs, accommodations and modifications
- Collaborate with related service providers (speech therapists, OT, PT, social workers, etc
- Administer academic achievement assessments for initial referrals and triennial reviews
- Attend meetings, professional development and in-service training
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
- Demonstrated ability to develop working knowledge of PPS curriculum, techniques for integrating curriculum, PPS policies, and effective instructional practices
- Ability to develop and deliver standards-based, specially designed instruction (SDI) across curricular disciplines and grade levels
- Ability to lead therapeutic, instructional team via collaborative processes
- Understanding of the teaching/learning process for students with disabilities, specifically students within the functional life skills classroom
- Ability to provide instruction that reflects multiple perspectives and multicultural education
- Ability to infuse technology into curricula
- Ability to work effectively with administrators, colleagues, central office and school based staff, students, parents and community
- Excellent oral and written communication and human relations skills
- Willingness to reflect on personal implicit bias and a commitment to challenging personal perspectives and deepening self-awareness
- Knowledge of positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS)
EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor's degree in applicable field of education from an accredited college or university
- Additional combinations of applicable education, training, and experience are welcome
- Portland Public Schools values linguistic diversity and believes that candidates who speak another language bring added value to the classroom, school, and district culture and diversity
CREDENTIAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Maine State fingerprint (CHRC) authorization (more info)
- Maine State Teacher Certificate with one of the following endorsements (more info):
- 286 Teacher of Students with Severe Disabilities (PK-12)
- 282 Teacher of Children with Disabilities (K-8)
EMPLOYMENT DETAILS:
- School-year position, ending at the conclusion of the 2024-2025 school year **
- Full time, 1.0 FTE
- Not eligible for overtime
** Qualified applicants will be asked to apply for the 2025-2026 school year position as well.
ABOUT OCEAN AVE: We are proud to be Maine's first International Baccalaureate IB WORLD SCHOOL offering the Primary Years Program (IB PYP). The IB PYP inquiry-driven learning model was adopted by Ocean Ave School as part of its school-improvement long-range plan, after input from teachers, parents and administrators. We are working with full commitment to build the program into the fabric of the curriculum school-wide with the six concept-based trans-disciplinary Units of Inquiry at each grade level. In addition, we are exploring and practicing "internationally-minded" character traits across the school community with the IB Learner Profile and IB attitudes. We were authorized as an IB World School offering the PYP in July 2016.
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Portland Public Schools is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws.
