Special Education Teacher - Early Childhood

Overview

The Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Governor Baxter School for the Deaf (MECDHH/GBSD), with early intervention programs and offices on Mackworth Island (outside of Portland, ME), provides statewide services to individuals who are Deaf and hard of hearing from birth through age twenty‑two. We are seeking an Early Childhood Special Education Teacher with a can‑do attitude.

This position interacts with many in our organization, so the willingness to be part of a collaborative team is essential. The Special Education Teacher works as a member of the student’s educational team to design and implement academic, behavioral, and functional programs in accordance with the student’s IEP and behavior plans.

• Provides ongoing educational consultation and technical assistance to professionals working with children who are deaf or hard of hearing with additional special needs.
• Designs, develops, and implements specially designed instruction and consultation as determined through the IEP process.
• Provides recommendations for instructional program adjustments upon request.
• Provides in-service training to other professionals.
• Serves students in pre-K and public school settings using all communication modalities.
• Monitors communication and language development through a variety of strategies and assessments.
• Provides evaluations upon referral.
• Participates in the IEP process, writes present levels of performance and goals, following the Maine Early Learning Development and Common Core Standards for students.
• Collects and documents data related to IEP goals and consultation.
• Identifies and shares resources with educational teams and families to support students’ access and learning needs.
• Monitors developmental, academic, communication, and language skill development through a variety of strategies and assessments.
• Completes peer awareness activities in students’ classrooms.
• Facilitates writing of behavior plans.
• Works collaboratively with parents and a wide variety of professionals from Maine schools and agencies to develop positive and successful educational programs for students.
• Enters child-specific service information into databases.
• Collaborates as a team member with professionals from school districts in assigned regions.
• Abides by all policies and procedures of MECDHH/GBSD and Federal/State regulations.
• Any other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor's Degree (Master’s preferred)
• State of Maine Certification - 282 (Special Education), 292 (Deaf Education), or willingness to obtain
• A minimum of 3 years’ experience in Special and/or Deaf education
• Knowledge of the IEP process
• Knowledge of all communication opportunities or willingness to learn
• High level of professionalism, strong organizational, communication, and written skills
• Ability to deal effectively with a wide range of people in a helpful, positive, and constructive way
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team, establish priorities, and work collaboratively as a member of a diverse community
• Skilled in the areas of organization, facilitation, and program management
• Ability to engage in dialogue on complex, difficult, or emotional issues
• Willingness to learn American Sign Language required
• Willingness to learn about and potentially become certified in Deaf education
• Current CHRC (fingerprinting) certification required

This job operates in a school environment. The role routinely uses standard office equipment and requires interaction with students. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee is regularly required to sit and use hands; frequently required to reach with hands and arms; and may be required to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally up to 25 pounds. Specific vision…