Special Education Teacher (Cross Categorical) - Sandburg - 0.5 FTE - 26-27 SY

Annual Salary Minimum: $53,525 (26-27 TE Salary Schedule). Length of contract: 192 days. Employment type: Exempt.

About the Role

MMSD is seeking highly motivated and energetic applicants with a positive attitude, willingness to learn, and passion for impactful work and learning.

The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is the second-largest school district in Wisconsin. We have a simple but bold vision — to ensure that every school is a thriving school, that prepares every student to graduate from high school ready for college, career, and community. We welcome applicants who will actively contribute to our ongoing commitment to making MMSD a thriving, welcoming environment for all students, families, and staff.

MMSD is committed to being anti-racist, culturally responsive, and inclusive. Our strategy centers on three major goals: that all children achieve academically, that our schools are places where children and adults thrive, and that our Black youth excel at school. We seek staff who are committed to these values and will contribute to creating a supportive environment for all.

About Our District

The Madison Metropolitan School District serves a diverse population of more than 25,000 students. More than half are students of color, almost half come from low-income households, nearly one-third are English Language Learners, and over 100 languages are represented in our schools.

Responsibilities

• Use standards (CCSS, SELS, Language) to identify common learning targets that represent what all students should know, do, and understand.
• Use knowledge of students’ background, interests, culture, language, individual needs, and assessment data to inform planning.
• Develop daily and weekly plans to support student growth toward mastery of standards.
• Develop common year-long/course plans that identify essential questions and resources to support student learning.
• Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicate those objectives to students.
• Instruct students individually and in groups using various teaching methods to build engagement, collaboration, and independence.
• Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
• Provide daily opportunities for students to describe reasoning, share explanations, make conjectures, and justify conclusions.
• Define and plan formative assessments to show evidence of learning.
• Use multiple ways to check for student understanding and adjust instruction based on gathered information.
• Provide meaningful feedback that reinforces effort, provides recognition, and promotes student progress.
• Provide opportunities for teacher-to-student, student-to-student, and student-to-teacher feedback both orally and in writing.
• Analyze data and adjust instruction based on student achievement, observation, and teacher practice data.
• Establish rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
• Meet with parents/guardians to discuss student progress and resource needs.
• Collaborate with staff to support student learning, including team planning and co-teaching.

Position Competencies

• High Expectations for Every Student: Demonstrate through actions and words that every student can achieve high standards, with a commitment to excellence and equity.
• Quality Instructional Practice: Plan and execute rigorous, engaging units and lessons, including meaningful assignments, and ensure student mastery of content with necessary scaffolds and interventions.
• Cultural Competence: Understand systems and beliefs that may lead to inequitable outcomes and adapt instruction to meet the needs of each student, linking content to student experiences and goals.
• Data Proficiency: Use data beyond standardized assessments to diagnose student learning needs and differentiate instruction.
• Team Collaboration: Collaborate with peers to reflect on student achievement and teacher practice data to continuously improve instruction.
• Student & Family Engagement: Build relationships with students and engage families as full partners in their children’s education.
• Resilience & Results Orientation: Persist in the face of challenges and find them exciting.
• Self-Awareness & Growth Mindset: Reflect on strengths and growth areas regularly and seek mentors to improve.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (official transcripts required for formal employment).
• Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) teaching license in Special Education.
• Applications are considered on a rolling basis; fully licensed applicants will be prioritized.
• If you do not have an active Wisconsin teaching license, you must obtain and maintain the necessary license(s) for the position. An application for licensure must be on file within 30 days of starting employment.
• Unlicensed candidates may be considered but must be hired by a school district to apply for a One-Year License with Stipulations with DPI.

Benefits

MMSD offers a great compensation package. Visit our benefits page and compensation page for more information.

Working Conditions

• Work may require travel to different locations within the district and to off-site meetings.
• Position may require working evenings, nights, and some weekends.
• Hybrid work flexibility may be available for certain positions, depending on the needs of the position and work unit.
• School-based positions are required to be in-person unless otherwise directed by the building principal.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work under generally safe and comfortable conditions with minimal risk of injury.
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds occasionally.
• May involve walking, sitting, stooping, or reaching.
• Manual dexterity necessary for operating office equipment.
• May require being stationary for extended periods.
• Ability to work in various indoor and outdoor environments, including inclement weather and spaces without air conditioning.