2026-2027 SY - Teacher - Special Education; Free Rent/Utilities

Work Location: Tohatchi Middle School
Work Hours: 7.5 hours/day
Contract Length: 194 days
Salary Range: $60,583.00 – $84,868.00

About the Role

To provide educational services and carry out programs for average and gifted students, students with physical and mental disabilities, and students who may not be enrolled in school due to health limitations, distance from school, etc. The role enables students to attain their maximum achievement and adjustment, addressing factors that interfere with their ability to benefit from the District's educational program.

Receives general direction from the Special Education Director or designee. May exercise technical and functional supervision over supervisory, professional, technical, and clerical staff.

Responsibilities

• Plans curriculum and prepares lessons and other materials, considering factors such as individual needs, abilities, teaming levels, and limitations of students, to meet the goals and objectives of the Individualized Educational Program (IEP).
• Serves as a member of a multidisciplinary team consisting of administrators, school personnel, students, and families by implementing the educational plans as developed by appropriate specialists; serves as an advocate for students.
• Determines parents' ability to comprehend and apply therapeutic and behavior modification techniques and parents' social and emotional needs to formulate a teaching plan.
• Instructs students and develops individual teaching plans covering self-help, motor, social, cognitive, and language skills development for parents to implement in the home.
• Revises teaching plan to correspond with child's rate of development, when necessary.
• Counsels parents to provide social and emotional support; refers parents and child to social service agencies and facilities for additional services and financial assistance.
• Maintains confidential individual records for the purpose of making appropriate referrals and for maintaining continuation of service, in compliance with Federal, State, and District regulations and policies.
• Maintains professional skills through consultations, in-service activities, and self-selected professional growth activities.
• Maintains an awareness and respect for the cultural diversity of students and their families and assists direct personnel in understanding these variations when planning for students and families.
• Delivers educational services to children who are homebound due to health limitations or distance from school.
• Performs daily travel from site to site and from home to home.

Specialized Duties (For Assignment as a Teacher for the Hearing Impaired)

• Instructs students and teachers in various forms of communication such as sign language, finger spelling, and speed cues.
• Encourages students to participate in verbal communication and classroom learning experiences to ensure their comprehension of subject matter, development of social skills, and ability to communicate in situations encountered in daily living.

Requirements

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of early childhood development and exceptional learning.
• Local and state educational structure and organization.
• The manner in which concepts of cultural diversity relate to an understanding of individuality.
• Educational foundations of a school district, including organization, administration, funding resources, and record-keeping.
• Current state and federal legislation, and district policies regarding identification, evaluation, and placement procedures for children with disabilities.
• Cultural diversities of the local area and the traditional Native American beliefs of students and families.

Ability To:

• Plan, coordinate, and implement corrective educational plans.
• Interact effectively with educational professionals in the District.
• Utilize and understand formal assessment instruments, procedures, and techniques for evaluation and remediation for learning disorders.
• Understand statistical analysis and evaluation, testing materials and results, counseling, and interpersonal relations.
• Handle and maintain the records of students in a confidential manner.
• Understand and respect the cultural diversities and Native American traditional beliefs and practices of students and their families.
• Interpret and apply Federal, State, and local policies, laws, and regulations.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

Qualifications

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

• Experience: One year of related work experience in a school setting is desirable.
• Education: Equivalent to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in an appropriate educational field.
• Licensure & Certificates: Applicants must possess or have the ability to obtain a New Mexico teaching license (New Mexico has an alternative licensure program for applicants who possess a BA degree or higher).

Working Conditions

Physical Demands:

On-site attendance is mandatory for this position. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential responsibilities and functions of the job and are not meant to be all-inclusive. While performing this job, the staff member shall:

• Use strength to lift items needed to perform the functions of the job.
• Sit, stand, and walk for required periods of time.
• Speak and hear.
• Communicate effectively in English, using proper grammar and vocabulary. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Constantly stand/walk, bend neck and back, use hands for repetitive grasping and pushing/pulling.
• Frequently use hands for fine manipulation, squat, kneel, knee stand, and push/pull.
• Occasionally sit, climb stairs/ladder, lift and reach overhead, crawl, and lift/carry.
• Constantly lift/carry up to 50 pounds and frequently lift/carry up to 20 pounds.
• Occasionally push/pull a maximum weight of 10 pounds.

Environmental Demands:

The environmental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential responsibilities and functions of the job and are not meant to be all-inclusive.

• Exposure to a variety of childhood and adult diseases and illnesses.
• Occasional exposure to a variety of weather conditions.
• Exposure to heated/air-conditioned and ventilated facilities.
• Exposure to a building in which a variety of chemical substances are used for cleaning, instruction, and/or operation of equipment.
• Function in a workplace that is usually moderately quiet but can be noisy at times.
• Works near video display.
• Required to properly wear any personal protection equipment supplied by the District.

All GMCS schools are eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). Applicants must upload copies of official transcripts or evaluation of foreign transcripts from any and all accredited colleges/universities attended for review to be considered for this position.