2026-2027 SY Teacher - Special Education Pre-K

Title:

Teacher - Special Education

(Pre-K)

Work Unit:

NYE Early Childhood Center

Reports To:

Exceptional Student Services Department Director(s)/Principal(s)

Contract Length:

9 month

Pay Schedule:

Teacher

Overtime Status:

Exempt

Hours:

7 hours per day

Union Status:

NEA

Licensure:

NMPED Pre K-12 Special Education

Note: All positions with Santa Fe Public Schools require a post-offer/pre-employment background check. Some positions have additional requirements as established by federal or state rules and regulations.

General Function:

Teaches by creating a flexible program and an environment favorable to learning and personal growth. Encourages students to develop skills, attitudes, and knowledge needed to obtain a good foundation for continuous growth and development. Provides students with experiences that integrate the affective, cognitive, and psychomotor dimensions of learning. Establishes effective rapport with students and their parents. Assists students by developing positive feelings toward themselves and others.

Education/Training/Experience:

Minimum: Four-year degree and valid NM PreK-12 Special Education license (or the ability to obtain the required license with required endorsements.

Preferred: Bilingual: English-Spanish

Knowledge/Skills and Abilities:

Demonstrated general knowledge of the curriculum and instruction. Demonstrated knowledge of various routine tasks, duties, and procedures, and the ability to follow specific instructions with little or no previous experience. Demonstrated ability to motivate and relate to students, parents, and others. Ability to develop and maintain professional relations as evidenced by the ability to relate positively with staff, parents, students, and the community. Verbal and written communication skills, including communicating a positive attitude, and the ability to make presentations. Ability to function as a professional team member. Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills. Proven professional management skills such as planning, directing, organizing, and coordinating. Demonstrated ability to produce results through the completion of previous assignments. Demonstrated leadership skills and a desire to lead. Ability to establish and maintain a favorable working and learning atmosphere. Ability to demonstrate actions that support the district and its mission. Knowledge of curriculum and instructional strategies, procedures, and state and federal statutes. Knowledge of technology as it relates to education. Maintain confidentiality related to district, students, and family information. Demonstrated sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Essential Job Functions:

Performs all functions in accordance with established policies, procedures, safety and environmental regulations, facility and computer security policies and procedures. Functions are subject to change from time to time to meet the needs of the organization. Current essential responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Cooperates in the development and implementation of the District program of instruction.
• Plans and implements a program of study that, as much as possible, meets the individual needs, interests, and abilities of students and complies with State Department of Education Standards, the SFPS Board of Education goals and objectives, and individual student IEP plans.
• Guides the learning process toward the achievement of curriculum goals.
• Establishes clear objectives for all lessons, assignments, units,, and projects in harmony with curriculum goals and communicates the objectives to students.
• Collaborates with the Head Start classroom teacher and Growing Up NM teachers and staff.
• Employs instructional methods and materials that are most appropriate for meeting stated objectives.
• Establishes and maintains standards of appropriate student behavior and discipline as prescribed in the school handbook and IEP plans of each student, and to achieve a functional learning atmosphere in the classroom, and assists in its maintenance campus-wide.
• Evaluates the learning progress of students regularly.
• Maintains documentation of students' progress in IEPs.
• Prescribes effective learning programs and initiates referrals to appropriate personnel when concerns arise.
• Assesses the accomplishments of students on a regular basis and provides progress reports as required.
• Administers standardized tests in accordance with the District testing program.
• Establishes and maintains open lines of communication with students and parents concerning students' academic, social, and behavioral progress.
• Provides developmentally appropriate practices supporting the Essential Indicators/PreK standards.
• Meets and instructs assigned classes in the locations and at the times designated.
• Selects and requests appropriate books and instructional materials and maintains required inventory records.
• Plans for and supervises classroom aides, guests, and volunteers, and directs the activities of assigned classroom Educational Assistants.
• Cooperates with staff and support personnel in assessing and helping students with health, attitude, learning, and behavioral problems.
• Participates in all IEP meetings and ensures the educational goals of the IEP are met in the classroom.
• Provides directions and materials for substitute teachers. Plans for and supervises classroom aides, guests, and volunteers.
• Participates in SFPS Pre-K professional development.
• Provides additional duties as assigned.

Salary Range and Benefits:

Level 1: $55,000+

Level 2: $65,000+

Level 3: $75,000+

Resources Used in Performing the Job Include (but are not limited to):

Specialized and standard PreK classroom and office equipment, including software platforms such as Microsoft Office and the Google Suite.

Physical/Cognitive Requirements:

Regularly required to stand; move throughout a room and/or facility. Communicate verbally and electronically. Use hands to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls, and reach with hands and arms. Frequently required to stoop, kneel, crouch, and/or crawl. Occasionally required to sit, climb, balance, and drive. May have occasion to perform heavy lifting up to 35 pounds. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus. Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license and private automobile.

Environmental Conditions:

Duties performed in typical school settings that may include offices, music room, classrooms, gym, and auditorium. Working from a remote location may be required. The teacher will be subject to indoor and outdoor environmental conditions, noise, and hazards. The environment may be hectic with frequent interruptions and noise. May be exposed to bodily fluids.,

Personal Accountability:

• Demonstrates reliability as evidenced by attendance records and punctuality.
• Properly notifies supervisor and/or designee of absences or tardiness.
• Begins and completes work within the allotted time.
• Consistently appears in attire appropriate to the work environment.
• Demonstrates skill in the use of equipment, including its capabilities, limitations, and appropriate/special applications
• Protects the district's resources through appropriate and careful use of supplies and equipment.
• Utilizes appropriate body mechanics to aid in the prevention of muscle strain/injury.

Santa Fe Public Schools does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy, disability, age, veteran status, medical/genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.