Meet State Licensure Requirements, Endorsed in Special Education.

Roswell Independent School District

Job Description

Job Title:  SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER 

Reports To:  PRINCIPAL/ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR SPECIAL SERVICES 

General Job Description:

Provide guidance and instructional experiences that are academically and developmentally appropriate for each student assigned to that classroom.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Accurate demonstrate knowledge of the content area and approved curriculum.
2. Appropriately utilize a variety of teaching methods and resources for each area taught.
3. Communicate with and obtain feedback from students in a manner that enhances student learning and understanding.
4. Comprehend the principles of student growth, development, and learning, and apply them appropriately.
5. Utilize student assessment techniques and procedures.
6. Manage the educational setting in a manner that promotes positive student behavior and a safe and healthy environment.
7. Recognize student diversity and create an atmosphere conductive to the promotion of positive student involvement and self-concept.
8. Demonstrate a willingness to examine and implement change, as appropriate.
9. Work productively with colleagues, parents, and community members.
10. May assist students with personal hygiene activities such as toileting, diapering and other personal care activities.
11. Develop and implement appropriate classroom management strategies while maintaining high expectations for student behavior.
12. Utilize appropriate discipline strategies up to and including safely restraining students.
13. Follow board policies and administrative rules and regulations.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Communicate accurate and up-to-date information to students in a way that enhances student learning, and includes demonstrating effective writing skills and use of Standard English.
2. Manage time appropriately.
3. Cooperate with administration, parent, and co-workers.
4. Create a positive atmosphere, and arrange the physical environment of the classroom for optimum learning.
5. Demonstrate for students’ well-being and positive esteem.
6. Prepare for instruction and show written evidence of preparation.
7. Take precautions to protect equipment, materials, and facilities.
8. Maintain accurate and complete records as required by the school district and report progress, or lack thereof, to parents in a timely manner.
9. Attend and participate in faculty meetings.
10. Complete duties (hall, bus, etc.) as assigned.
11. Leave adequate preparations for the substitute.
12. Encourage cooperation between students.
13. Maintain student involvement in appropriate tasks.
14. Use and apply appropriate conflict resolution skills.
15. Demonstrate public relations skills.
16. Use appropriate techniques, strategies, and materials to achieve the desired instructional goal.
17. Adapt the curriculum to meet the needs of individual students.
18. Use current technology for instructions and management purposes.
19. Use diagnostic data to improve instructional programs.
20. Select, use and interpret evaluation data.
21. Be available to parents, students, administration, and peers outside the school day, if needed.

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                                                                                                                                        Roswell Independent School District

SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER (CONT’D)

22. Attend extra-curricular activities.
23. Spend time beyond the school day grading, and recording papers, planning instruction.
24. Report suspected child abuse and neglect.
25. Be responsible for students on field trips.
26. Act as a good role model within the context of the school.
27. May supervise educational assistants, practicum students, student teachers, and high school vocational lab students.
28. Develop and use community and professional resources.
29. Understand and apply learning theories.
30. Assist the Special Education Department in maintaining compliance with State and Federal regulations.
31. Maintain appropriate data collection and special education files at building.
32. Report identified areas of noncompliance to the Principal, Assistant Superintendent for Special Services or Director of Special of Special Education.
33. Act as a member of the IEP committee when appropriate.
34. Coordinate or serve as a member of the annual review committee.
35. Serve as a case manager for student IEP’s.

1. a.       Respond to the unique needs of the student.
2. b.      Perform other tasks as may be deemed appropriate and necessary as determined by the IEP, the immediate supervisor, principal, Assistant Superintendent for Special Services or Director of Special Education.

36. Understand and participate in the development, use and implementation of individualized education plans (IEP’s), individualized transition plans, including making necessary modifications.
37. Accept other responsibilities as deemed appropriate by the supervisor(s) and or the Superintendent.
38. Serve as a member of the Student Assistance Team (SAT) as needed.
39. Maintain security for and administer state required assessments.
40. Account for assigned equipment and materials.
41. Maintain confidentiality with sensitive matters and treat people with respect and dignity.
42. Work with a wide variety of individuals in a highly stressful environment.
43. Be flexible and able to prioritize tasks and maintain accurate and detailed records.
44. Communicate in well-organized oral and written forms.
45. Be able to maintain a neat, functional office that is inviting but professional, safe environment.
46. Report to work on time and work no less than 7.25 hours per day.
47. Work independently with very little supervision.
48. Maintain mental capacity which allows the ability to make sound decisions and demonstrate intellectual capabilities.
49. May be required to perform other related duties as assigned by supervisor and/or Superintendent.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

May supervise educational assistants, practicum students, student teachers, and high school vocational lab students.

Experience and Education:

1. Bachelor’s degree or higher.
2. Current New Mexico Teaching license with Endorsements as needed.
3. Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Superintendent may find appropriate and acceptable.

Physical Requirements:

Sitting, standing, lifting and carrying (up to 40 pounds), climbing stairs, reaching, squatting, kneeling, having full mobility of fingers/hands, and moving light furniture may be required.                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Safety and Health:

Knowledge of universal hygiene precautions.

Equipment/Material Handled:

Must know how to properly operate, or be willing to learn to operate, all multi-media equipment including current technology.

Work Environment:

Must be able to work within various degrees of noise, temperature, and air quality.  Interruptions of work are routine.  Flexibility and patience are required.  Must be self-motivated and able to complete job assignments without direct supervision.  After hours work may be required.  May make site or home visits when needed and appropriate.  Must be able to work under stressful conditions.

Terms of Employment:

Salary and work year to be established by the Board.

Roswell Independent School District

Job Description

Job Title:  PRE-K EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER

Reports To:  PRINCIPAL

General Job Description:

Under the supervision of the principal, the Early Childhood teacher will provide an educational program for students and other programs as assigned.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1.  Child growth, development and learning:  Foundations for all learning are established during early childhood.  Biological-physical, social, cultural, emotional, cognitive, and language domains are inherently intertwined in growth and development.  Early childhood professionals must understand this process of development and the adult’s role in supporting each child’s growth, development, and learning.

1. Incorporate understanding of developmental stages, processes, and theories of growth, development, and learning into developmentally appropriate practice.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the interaction between maturation and environmental factors that influence physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and cultural domains in the healthy development of each child.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of the significance of individual differences in development and learning. Demonstrate knowledge of how certain differences may be associated with rate of development and developmental patterns associated with developmental delays and/or specific disabilities.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of the similarities between children who are developing typically and those with special needs.
5. Provide a variety of activities that facilitate development of the whole child in the following areas: physical/motor, social/emotional, language/cognitive and adaptive/living skills.
6. Apply knowledge of cultural and linguistic diversity and the significance of socio-cultural and political contexts for development and learning and recognize that children are best understood in the contexts of family, culture and society.
7. Demonstrate knowledge of the many functions that language serves in the cognitive, social, and emotional aspects of development in the formative years.
8. Demonstrate knowledge of the developmental sequence of language and literacy, including the influence of culture and home factors.
9. Demonstrate knowledge of how children acquire and use verbal, non-verbal, and alternative means of communication.
10. Demonstrate knowledge of the relationship among emotions, behaviors, and communication skills to assist children in identifying and expressing their feelings in appropriate ways.
11. Use appropriate guidance to support the development of self-regulatory capacities in young children.

1.  Health, safety and nutrition:  Early childhood professionals promote physical and mental health and appropriate nutrition and provide an emotionally and physically safe environment for young children in partnership with their families.  Sound health, safety, and nutritional practices provide the foundation for development and learning.  Good nutrition and eating habits.  A safe environment prevents and reduces injuries for young children who are only beginning to recognize dangerous situations.

1. Recognize and respond to each child’s physical health, intellectual and emotional wellbeing, and nutritional and safety needs.
2. Appropriately plan, maintain, and facilitate the use of the indoor and outdoor learning environments to promote each child’s physical and emotional well-being.
3. Use appropriate health appraisal and management procedures and makes referrals when necessary.
4. Recognize signs of emotional distress, child abuse, and neglect in young children and use procedures appropriate to the situation, such as initiating discussions with families, referring to appropriate professionals, and, in cases of suspected abuse or neglect, reporting to designated authorities.
5. Establish an environment that provides opportunities and reinforcement for children’s practice of healthy behaviors that promote appropriate nutrition and physical and psychological wellbeing.
6. Provide a consistent daily schedule for rest/sleep, as developmentally appropriate.

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                                                                                                                                       Roswell Independent School District

PRE-K EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER (CONT’D)

7. Implement health care and educational activities for children and families based on health and nutritional information that is responsive to diverse cultures.
8. Assist young children and their families, as individually appropriate, in developing decision-making and interpersonal skills that enable them to make healthy choices and establish health-promoting behaviors.

1. Family and community collaboration:  Early childhood professionals are committed to family-centered practices.  They maintain an open, friendly, and cooperative relationship with each child’s family, encouraging family involvement, and supporting the child’s relationship with his or her family.  The diverse cultures and languages representative of families in New Mexico’s communities are honored.

1. Seek and maintain a collaborative relationship with parents, guardians, families, community agencies, and other professionals to meet the needs of each child.
2. Create and maintain a safe and welcoming environment for families and community members.
3. Establish frequent contact with parents and guardians through a variety of communication strategies, including communication in the home language of each child to provide ongoing, relevant information to families about child growth, development, and learning.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of and respect for variations across cultures, in terms of family strengths, expectations, values, and child-rearing practices.
5. Demonstrate understanding of the complexity and dynamics of family systems.
6. Demonstrate understanding of the effects of family stress on the behavior of children and other family members.
7. Demonstrate the ability to incorporate the families’ desires/goals for their children into classroom and/or intervention strategies.
8. Develop partnerships with family members to promote early literacy in the home.
9. Involve families and community members in contributing to the learning environment.
10. Establish partnerships with community members in promoting literacy.
11. Demonstrate ability to communicate to families the program’s policies, procedures, and those procedural safeguards that are mandated by state and federal regulations.

1.  Developmentally appropriate content:  Early childhood professionals demonstrate knowledge of child development and learning, as well as content knowledge, both in terms of academic discipline and interdisciplinary integration.  Their approach to curriculum content emerges from multiple sources, such as play and exploration, and is appropriate for the ages and developmental levels of the children with whom they work.  Content includes, but is not limited to, the arts, literacy, mathematics, physical education, health, social studies, science, and technology.  Children’s initial experiences with these content areas form the foundation for later understanding and success.

1. Demonstrate knowledge of relevant content for young children and developmentally appropriate ways of integrating content into teaching and learning experiences for children from birth through age eight.
2. Demonstrate the integration of knowledge of how young children develop and learn with knowledge of the concepts, inquiry tools, and structure of content areas appropriate for different developmental levels.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of what is important in each content area, why it is of value, and how it links with earlier and later understandings within and across areas.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of the reading and writing components of literacy at each developmental level.
5. Develop, implement, and evaluate an integrated curriculum that focuses on children’s development and interests, using their language, home experiences and cultural values.
6. Adapt content to meet the needs of each child, including the development of individualized family service plans (IFSP) and/or individualized education plans (IEP) for children with special needs through the team process with families and other team members.
7. Provides and uses anti-bias materials/literature and experiences in all content areas of the curriculum.

1.  Learning environment and curriculum implementation:  Teaching and learning with young children is a complex process embedded in relationships.  These teaching and learning relationships provide the scaffold for jointly constructing meanings about self, others, and the world.  Early childhood professionals use their child development knowledge, their knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices, and their content knowledge to design, implement, and evaluate experiences that promote optimal development and learning for all children from birth through age eight.  In addition, their use of observations is grounded in a

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                                                                                                                           Roswell Independent School District

PRE-K EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER (CONT’D)

thorough understanding of children’s families, cultures, and communities.  Early childhood professionals encourage young children’s problem solving, critical thinking, and academic and social competence within a supportive and challenging learning environment.  These challenging teaching and learning experiences build children’s confidence in themselves as competent learners.

1. Demonstrate knowledge of varying program models and learning environments that meet the individual needs of all young children, including those with special needs.
2. Create environments that encourage active involvement, initiative, responsibility, and a growing sense of autonomy through the selection and use of materials and equipment that are suitable to individual learning, developmental levels, special needs, and the language and cultures in New Mexico.
3. Demonstrate knowledge and skill in the use of developmentally appropriate guidance techniques and strategies that provide opportunities to assist children in developing positive thoughts and feelings about themselves and others through cooperative interaction with peers and adults.
4. Create and manage learning environments that provide individual and cooperative opportunities for children to construct their own knowledge through various strategies that include decision-making, problem-solving, and inquiry experiences.
5. Demonstrate understanding that each child’s creative expression is unique and can be encouraged through diverse ways, including creative play.
6. Plan blocks of interrupted time for children to persist at self-chosen activities, both indoors in out.
7. Demonstrate understanding of the influence of the physical setting, schedule, routines, and transitions on children and use these experiences to promote children’s development and learning.
8. Use and explain the rationale for developmentally appropriate methods that include play, small group projects, open-ended questioning, group discussion, problem solving, cooperative learning, and inquiry experiences to help young children develop intellectual curiosity, solve problems, and make decisions.
9. Create and manage a literacy-rich environment that is responsive to each child’s unique path of development.
10. Use a variety of language strategies during adult-child and child-child interactions and facilitate dialogue of expressive language and thought.
11. Demonstrate a variety of developmentally appropriate instructional strategies that facilitate the development of literacy skills.
12. Demonstrate knowledge of developmentally appropriate uses of technology, including assistive technology.
13. Demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively with educational assistants, volunteers, and others to individualize the curriculum and to meet program goals.
14. Demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills when working with children, families, and early care, education, and family support professionals.

1.  Assessment of children and evaluation of programs:  Early childhood professionals must develop knowledge of diverse assessment approaches, including observational skills.  They use appropriate on-going documentation and report information to families and professionals.  Appropriate early childhood assessment is responsive to cultural and linguistic differences.  It includes information from multiple sources, e.g., observations, checklists, interviews, and both formal and informal standardized measures in diverse settings for making educational decisions about children.  The assessment data gathered from multiple sources that has a major impact on children should be made by a team of family members, teachers, and other professionals.  In addition, early childhood professionals engage in systematic, on-going evaluation of their programs.

1. Demonstrate knowledge of assessment and evaluation practices that are valid and appropriate.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of maintaining appropriate records of children’s development and behavior that safeguard confidentiality and privacy.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of the educator’s role as a participating member of the assessment process as described and mandated by state and federal regulations for individual family service plans (IFSP) and individual education plans IEP).
4. Demonstrate understanding of the influences of environmental factors, cultural/linguistic differences, and diverse ways of learning on assessment outcomes.
5. Involve the family and, as appropriate, other team members in assessing the child’s development, strengths, and needs in order to set goals for the child.
6. Share assessment results as appropriate with families in clear, supportive ways.

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                                                                                                                                        Roswell Independent School District

PRE-K EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER (CONT’D)

7. Involve all stakeholders in program evaluations.
8. Demonstrate knowledge of a variety of techniques and procedures to evaluate and modify program goals for young children and their families.
9. Develop and use formative and summative program evaluation to ensure comprehensive quality of the total environment for children, families, and the community.
10. Use both self and collaborative evaluations as part of ongoing program evaluations.

1.  Professionalism:  Professionalism is built upon individual integrity, responsibility, and ethical practices that demonstrate a profound respect for all children and their families.  Early childhood professionals embrace a multicultural perspective that is responsible to individuals in culturally diverse communities in New Mexico.  Professionals make decisions based upon knowledge of early childhood theories and practices that recognize diversity of ability, developmental level, and family characteristics.  Early childhood professionals advocate for excellence in early childhood programs and participate in on-going professional development to enhance their knowledge and skills.

1. Consistently adheres to professional codes of ethics and conduct.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of federal, state and local regulations regarding programs and services for children birth through eight years of age.
3. Demonstrate understanding of conditions of children, families, and professionals; current issues and trends; legal issues; and legislation and other public policies affecting children, families, and programs for young children and the early childhood profession.
4. Articulate a personal philosophy of appropriate early care and education that responds to practices that support inclusion and cultural and linguistic diversity through actions and attitudes.
5. Demonstrate critical reflection of one’s own professional and educational practices from community, state, national, and global perspectives.
6. Demonstrate understanding of the early childhood profession, its multiple, historical, philosophical and social foundations, and how these foundations influence current thought and practice.
7. Demonstrate a commitment to advocacy for excellence in programs and services for young children and their families.
8. Demonstrate knowledge of other professions that provide related services for young children and their families.
9. Participate in professional organizations and in on-going professional development to enhance knowledge and skills in working with young children and adults.
10. Demonstrate knowledge of basic principles of administration, organization, and operation of early childhood programs, including supervision of staff and volunteers.
11. Maintain confidentiality with sensitive matters.
12. Be flexible and able to prioritize tasks.
13. Report to work on time and work no less than 7.25 hours per day.
14. Ability to deescalate students/parents; listening/visiting with them about their concerns prior to them meeting with administrators.
15. Other tasks as may be deemed appropriate and necessary by your immediate supervisor.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

1.  May supervise educational assistants, practicum students, student teachers, and high school civic leadership
2. Students in your charge.

Qualifications:

1. Bachelor’s or Master’s degree
2. Current New Mexico Teaching license with Endorsements appropriate for the position applying
3. Hold an Early Childhood License (250)
4. Valid Driver’s license and Car Insurance (if traveling from site to site)

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                                                                                                                                        Roswell Independent School District

PRE-K EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER (CONT’D)

Physical Requirements:

Sitting, standing, lifting and carrying (up to 40 pounds), climbing stairs, reaching, squatting, kneeling, having full mobility of fingers/hands, and moving light furniture may be required, unless ADA accommodations have been mutually agreed on and does not create an undue hardship upon the district.

Safety and Health:

Knowledge of universal hygiene precautions (blood borne pathogens, body fluids, etc.)

Equipment/Material Handled:

Must know how to properly operate, or be willing to learn to operate, multi-media equipment including current technology as needed.

Work Environment:

Must be able to work within various degrees of noise and temperature.  Interruptions of work are routine.  Flexibility and patience are required.  Must be self-motivated and able to complete job assignments without direct supervision.  After hours work may be required.  May work under stressful conditions on occasion.

Terms of Employment: