Special Education Preschool Teacher @ West Valley School District

Special Education Preschool Teacher @ West Valley School District

West Valley School District Cottonwood Elementary – Yakima, Washington

• Job : 5662382
• Final date to receive applications: Posted until filled
• Posted: Apr 22, 2026 7:00 AM (UTC)
• Starting Date: To Be Determined

Starting the  School Year

Location: Cottonwood Elementary

Purpose Statement: The primary purpose of this position is to provide students with instruction which enables them to meet their goals and objectives as described in their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).

• Valid Washington State teaching certificate with special education endorsement are required.
• Must be able to meet the “highly qualified” standards under NCLB.
• Successful previous evaluations and strong classroom management skills are required.
• Previous experience writing behavior plans is required.
• Experience in or willingness to be trained in Right Response and/or other required programs.
• Demonstrated success with non-traditional learners and at-risk students.
• Previous experience working with self-contained students and students who have autism is preferred.
• Proven capability to design and implement specially designed instruction for students with a spectrum of deficits in reading, writing, math, and functional skills, including monitoring and reporting of progress are required.

Directly Responsible to: Building Principal and Director of Special Services

Job Responsibilities:

• Maintains a positive attitude and productive learning environment
• Sets high expectations for student achievement and behavior
• Identifies skill deficits in academics, social, behavioral, and adaptive areas and initiates instruction in these areas
• Adapts curriculum, materials, and teaching techniques to meet the individual needs of students
• Designs and conducts valid assessments which reflect present levels of performance for use in the development of IEPs
• Develops IEPs with input from the IEP team which reflect individual student needs in all domains of need identified by the school psychologist’s evaluation
• Collects frequent data on all IEP goals and objectives and behavior plans to reflect students’ progress
• Keeps all paperwork legally compliant and current in accordance with mandated timelines
• Incorporates IEP requirements within students’ daily lesson plans
• Communicates regularly and proactively with parents to keep them apprised of their child’s progress and behavior
• Suggests techniques to promote learning at home
• Actively participates and is flexible in collaborating with special education staff and works cooperatively with regular classroom teachers
• Extends skills and uses techniques from specialists in the classroom environment
• Incorporates augmentative communication in the classroom as needed based on student enrollment (e.g. PODD)
• Supports the building and district goals and positively participates in special education and building meetings
• Effectively uses para educators – provides supervision, direction, and training
• Provides positive behavioral support to students
• Effectively writes and implements behavior plans as necessary using team input
• Uses Right Response techniques when necessary
• May be required to provide detailed one-to-one assistance with changing, diapering, personal hygiene, etc.
• May be required to assist students with feeding and administer tube feeding
• Knowledgeable and experienced with discrete trial including supervision and implementation with para educators
• Bilingual (Preferred)

* The list of essential functions in this job description is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary by determination of an appropriate administrator and Human Resources.

• Possesses strong classroom management skills
• Proficient in developing complex schedules for students and paraprofessionals that coordinate with general education, resource, and specialist staff schedules
• Maintains a high level of ethical behavior and confidentiality
• Models appropriate professional behaviors at all times
• Remains calm and collected when managing difficult and potentially aggressive student behavior
• Observes and utilizes professional medical/safety precautions to include…