Permanent Support Specialist - Special Education

Provides classroom coverage as assigned when certified special education teachers are absent. Must be confident teaching a wide range of developmental age groups from K-5, 6-8, and 9-12.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Flexible and willing to adapt to change at short notice
• Ability to teach day-to-day assignments or short-term positions
• Uses initiative to solve problems and makes decisions in the best interest of students
• Recent and relevant professional development
• Previous teaching experience
• Strong communication skills with students, parents, and staff
• Ability to adjust communication approach based on developmental needs of students
• Willingness to supervise extracurricular activities
• Commitment to contributing positively to school culture and community
• Expertise in building collaborative classroom programs that encourage problem-solving and critical thinking
• Solid understanding of school organization, programs, and students
• Ability to differentiate instruction and integrate learning
• Ability to quickly adjust to different specialist subjects (Art, PE, Music, Spanish) and grade levels
• Ability to take over classes with little advance notice
• Improvises lessons in emergency situations where the teacher is unable to provide lesson plans

Responsibilities

General Subject Responsibilities

• May be required to cover a class each teaching block on some days
• If no coverage is needed, assists other classroom teachers with student assignments or may be assigned to another building

General Teaching Responsibilities

• Communicates and liaises regularly with other teachers regarding planning, assessment, parent and community contact, and grade-level planning meetings
• Follows through with classroom discipline, expectations, and routines
• Communicates with parents and administrators when issues arise
• Promotes integrative links and awareness among school colleagues
• Actively participates in behavioral management
• Attends and contributes to staff meetings and professional development activities
• Assists in supervision during student breaks
• Coordinates co-curricular class activities
• Maintains up-to-date records of assessment, attendance, planning, reports, conferences, and parent communication
• Assists in the development of curricular materials as required
• Participates in and assists with school events
• Performs ad hoc duties not listed above
• Teaches in a manner that supports the mission and vision of the school

Other Functions

• Performs other related duties as assigned to ensure efficient and effective functioning of the work unit

Requirements

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

• Performs multiple tasks with periodic skill upgrades
• Operates standard office equipment and uses pertinent software applications
• Prepares and maintains accurate records
• Plans and manages projects, analyzes data, applies assessment instruments, and facilitates meetings
• Performs basic math and writes documents following prescribed formats
• Solves practical problems
• Understands concepts of grammar and punctuation, college entry requirements, assessment instruments, cultural differences, office technology, and recordkeeping practices
• Schedules activities, meetings, and events
• Gathers, collates, and classifies data
• Works with diverse individuals and data types
• Analyzes issues and creates action plans independently
• Attentive to detail and maintains confidentiality
• Works with frequent interruptions and meets deadlines
• Organizes tasks, sets priorities, and works as part of a team
• Works with detailed information and data
• Understands, analyzes, and explains secondary education data
• Makes presentations to diverse groups

Responsibility

• Works independently under broad organizational guidelines to achieve unit objectives
• Leads, guides, and coordinates others
• Tracks budget expenditures
• Utilizes resources from other work units

Work Environment

• Requires some lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling
• Significant fine finger dexterity
• 45% sitting, 25% walking, and 30% standing
• Some exposure to risk of injury and/or illness

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Education or a related field
• Must have or be able to obtain a teaching certificate issued by the Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board

Training and Clearances

• Bloodborne Pathogens Training & Testing
• Diabetes Training & Testing
• Homeless Training & Testing
• Criminal Justice Fingerprint/Background Clearance

Pay

$39.15 per hour

Schedule

185-day employee