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

Work Location: Ramah High
Contract Length: 194 Days
Pay 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, or other barriers. The goal is to enable 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 individual student needs, abilities, teaming levels, and limitations 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 educational plans developed by appropriate specialists and advocating for students.
• Assesses parents' ability to comprehend and apply therapeutic and behavior modification techniques, as well as their 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 at home.
• Revises teaching plans to correspond with the child's rate of development as necessary.
• Counsels parents to provide social and emotional support and refers parents and children to social service agencies and facilities for additional services and financial assistance.
• Maintains confidential individual records for appropriate referrals and 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 awareness and respect for the cultural diversity of students and their families and assists staff in understanding these variations when planning for students and families.
• Delivers educational services to children who are homebound due to health limitations, distance from school, etc.
• 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 comprehension of subject matter, development of social skills, and ability to communicate in daily living situations.

Requirements

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of early childhood development and exceptional learning.
• Local and state educational structure and organization.
• Concepts of cultural diversity and their relation to understanding 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 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 of learning disorders.
• Understand statistical analysis and evaluation of testing materials and results, counseling, and interpersonal relations.
• Handle and maintain student records in a confidential manner.
• Understand and respect 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:

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.

• 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 effectively in English; American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered 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.

• 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 where various chemical substances are used for cleaning, instruction, and/or operation of equipment.
• Work in a workplace that is usually moderately quiet but can be noisy at times.
• Work near video displays.
• Required to properly wear any personal protection equipment supplied by the District.

Benefits

All GMCS schools are eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF).

All applicants must upload copies of official transcripts or evaluation of foreign transcripts from all accredited colleges/universities attended for review to be considered for this position.