Self-Contained Special Education Teachers - SY – Stipend

Self-Contained Special Education Teacher

Danbury Public Schools is seeking a Self-Contained Special Education Teacher to instruct students with diverse academic, social, emotional, behavioral, and communication needs in accordance with their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). The teacher will provide specialized instruction and supports within a small-group, highly structured classroom setting designed to meet the individualized needs of students with disabilities.

The ideal candidate is collaborative, flexible, dynamic, and student-centered, with a strong commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive classroom environment that promotes engagement, independence, positive behavior, and academic growth. This role requires collaboration with families, related service providers, paraprofessionals, and school staff to ensure student success across all settings.

1. Planning and Preparation

The special education teacher understands the philosophical, historical, and legal foundations of special education. The teacher understands how students differ in their approaches to learning and creates instructional opportunities adapted to diverse learners. The teacher designs instruction based on knowledge of content, students, curriculum goals, and individualized student needs. The special education teacher:

• Develops short- and long-range instructional plans aligned with curriculum standards, student IEP goals, and individual learning needs.
• Demonstrates working knowledge of current legislation, regulations, policies, and ethical practices related to special education services.
• Understands the characteristics and educational needs of students with cognitive, developmental, emotional, behavioral, communication, and physical disabilities.
• Designs and adapts curriculum, instructional materials, and classroom activities to meet diverse student needs and learning styles.
• Plans effective instructional strategies to support academic, social-emotional, communication, behavioral, and functional skill development.
• Utilizes specialized materials, visual supports, sensory supports, adaptive equipment, and assistive technology to maximize student access and independence.
• Prepares and utilizes assessment methodologies appropriate for individual student needs and accommodations.
• Maintains curriculum resources, instructional materials, and assistive/adaptive technology inventories.
• Plans and prepares for PPT/IEP meetings and collaborates with families and related service providers regarding student programming and progress.

2. The Classroom Environment

The special education teacher creates a safe, structured, and supportive classroom environment that promotes positive social interaction, student engagement, emotional regulation, and independence. The special education teacher:

• Implements classroom management strategies, positive behavioral interventions, de-escalation techniques, and individualized behavior support plans.
• Establishes classroom routines, schedules, and transitions that support student learning and behavioral success.
• Creates a positive classroom culture characterized by respect, consistency, high expectations, and meaningful student engagement.
• Utilizes visual schedules, communication systems, sensory supports, and assistive technology to support student participation and independence.
• Understands how classroom environments, materials, and spatial arrangements impact student learning and behavior.
• Provides supervision, guidance, and support to paraprofessional educators assigned to the classroom.
• Collaborates with teachers, therapists, related service providers, and families to support student needs and ensure consistency across environments.
• Maintains a classroom environment that supports student safety, communication, mobility, and individualized learning needs.

3. Instruction

The special education teacher utilizes evidence-based instructional practices and differentiated strategies to support student growth in academic, social, behavioral, communication, and functional skill areas. The special education teacher:

• Implements research-based instructional strategies appropriate for students with diverse learning and behavioral needs.
• Provides individualized and small-group instruction aligned with student IEP goals and grade-level curriculum standards when appropriate.
• Uses instructional time effectively while integrating related services and behavioral supports into the instructional program.
• Creates opportunities for students to develop communication, self-advocacy, problem-solving, and social-emotional skills.
• Utilizes a variety of formal and informal assessment tools to monitor student progress and inform instructional decision-making.
• Collects, analyzes, and maintains accurate student data and progress monitoring documentation.
• Implements accommodations and modifications identified in student IEPs for classroom instruction and assessments.
• Participates in the development and implementation of behavior intervention plans…