Special Educator, EHS SY

Position: Special Educator, EHS SY 26/27
Location: Essex Junction

Essex Westford School District (EWSD) has an opportunity for a full-time Special Educator to serve students in our RYSE (Readying Youth for Success in Education) Program at Essex High School beginning with the  school year.

The RYSE Program at Essex High School supports 9th and 10th grade students with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges by providing a safe, structured, and respectful learning environment where students are valued as individuals and members of the school community. The program's mission is to help students develop the academic, social-emotional, and self-advocacy skills needed for success throughout high school and beyond.

RYSE provides specialized small-group instruction in core academic areas while collaborating closely with general education teachers to support inclusion, accommodations, and success in mainstream classroom settings.

The program emphasizes proactive intervention, relationship-building, and consistent expectations to help students strengthen emotional regulation, coping, and problem-solving skills. Staff work collaboratively with students, caregivers, counselors, case managers, and administrators to provide individualized supports and intervention plans tailored to each student's needs. Through a student-centered approach focused on accountability, reflection, and growth, RYSE helps students build confidence, resilience, and independence.

EWSD is committed to considering out-of-state candidates who are eligible to hold a Vermont educator license but do not yet hold a license in this state.

Candidates with the following qualifications are encouraged to apply:

• Hold (or be eligible to hold) a valid VT educator license with a K-12 or secondary Special Education endorsement.
• A deep commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in education, and the belief that ALL students can succeed.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Familiarity with VT Special Education regulations and laws.
• Dedication to providing a safe and respectful learning environment for all students with an ability to understand and teach various learning styles.
• Successful experience with professional collaboration as exemplified by Professional Learning Communities.
• Expertise in utilizing and integrating current technology to support instruction.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the student population being served and how demographic variables impact student achievement. Ability to use this knowledge to effectively design and deliver instruction.
• Commitment to continuous improvement in the areas of knowledge and professional practice.

For additional information,  for a copy of the full job description.

Our district vision is: "Growing hearts and minds, for a better today and tomorrow: every day, every way, every one."

EWSD is committed to building a culturally diverse and inclusive environment. Successful candidates must be committed to working effectively with diverse community populations and are expected to strengthen such capacity if hired. Candidates with experience living or working in another country, the ability to fluently speak more than one language, and/or peace corp experience are encouraged to apply to help contribute to a diversity of thinking and grow our organizational practices.

A copy of the collective bargaining agreement that covers this position can be found HERE, including insurance benefits, paid leave, and salary schedule details.

EWSD conducts thorough screenings of all applicants being recommended for hire, which may include contacting references not listed on your application. Selected individuals are subject to criminal records background checks and child and adult abuse registry checks. Any offer of employment will be contingent upon acceptable results of these checks at the sole discretion of the Superintendent or his/her designee. Please  for additional background check information.