25-26 Special Education Teacher Social Communications (Secondary)

Rio Rancho Public Schools; Rio Rancho (NM); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Rio Rancho Public Schools seeks a dedicated Special Education Teacher for the 2025-2026 school year at Rio Rancho Middle School. This role requires a Bachelor's degree and a valid New Mexico teaching license, focusing on the academic and social needs of students with significant communication and behavioral needs. The position involves collaboration with a multidisciplinary team to create a supportive learning environment tailored to individual educational plans, ensuring each student’s success in both special and general education settings.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from accredited college or university.
• Current NM teaching license or ability to obtain within 90 days.

Responsibilities

• Instructs and assists students in motor, language, socio-emotional, and cognitive development.
• Coordinates teaching program with district-wide objectives.
• Assures completion of goals in Individual Educational Plans (IEPs).
• Maintains records of student performance and attendance.

Skills

Organizational ability

Professional communication skills

Confidentiality

Education

Bachelor’s degree

New Mexico Department of Education license

Job description

This job posting is for the 2025-2026 school year

Rio Rancho Middle School- Social Comminications classroom

190-day contract

Job Title: Special Education Teacher

Secondary

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
• Current New Mexico Department of Education license appropriate to the teaching assignment with applicable endorsements or ability to obtain proper licensure within 90 days of hire.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Efficient organizational ability;
• Professional written and oral communication skills;
• Ability to maintain high level of professionalism and confidentiality regarding students, staff, parents, and school matters.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Coordinates teaching program with site-based goals and district wide objectives;
• Instructs and assists students in motor, language, socio-emotional and cognitive development;
• Assures that goals and objectives in Individual Educational Plans (IEPs) are completed;
• Assists students with special needs, such as feeding, moving non-ambulatory students, bathroom assistance, diapering, and bathing;
• Plans and directs instruction activities of educational assistants;
• Instructs students in one-on-one activities and in small groups;
• Provides regular communication with educational assistants, ancillary staff and regular education teachers on student progress;
• Arranges physical environment of the classroom for optimum learning and safety of students;
• Provides accurate delivery of curriculum to students within the scope of teaching assignment;
• Uses and applies appropriate conflict resolution skills with students; maintains positive attitude and ensures classroom environment is conducive to student learning;
• Develops goals and objectives for self, grade level/content group and student academic achievement;
• Maintains documentation to assure accountability;
• Provides appropriate instructional classroom activities for students; maintains order in the assigned classroom;
• Maintains records of student performance and attendance;
• Completes required reports and report cards within prescribed time frames, attends staff meetings and in-service training activities and school activities in compliance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement;
• Demonstrates the competencies as required by Regulation Title 6, Chapter 69, Part 4.12 New Mexico Administrative Code Performance Evaluation System Requirements for Teachers and effectiveness as required by Regulation Title 6, Chapter 69, Part 8 of the New Mexico Administrative Code Teacher and School Leader Effectiveness;
• Complies with state-approved New Mexico Administrative Code of Ethical Responsibility of the Education Profession and the RRPS Employee Standards of Conduct and upholds and enforces rules, administrative directives and regulations, school board policies, and local, state and federal regulations;

• Employee may be assigned other duties based on the needs of the district during the term of employment.

Social CommunicationSkills Classrooms (District cluster program)

This small group classroom is designed for students with significantcommunication,socialand behavioral needs. The purpose of this setting is to provide a highly structured, language-rich learning environment targeting specific skill development in the areas of functionalcommunication, pragmatic language,socialskills, and academics, based on an individualized educational plan. The support and service are provided by a multidisciplinary team (e.g. special and general education teachers, educational assistants, and ancillary/support providers such as the speech pathologist, schoolsocialworker, school psychologist, and behavior specialist utilizing a co-support/co-teach model). Evidence- based instructional strategies and interventions, such as systematic instruction, applied behavior analysis (e.g., antecedent intervention, differential reinforcement schedules, task analysis, token economies etc.) visual supports and functionalcommunicationtraining are designed to support the student’s access and ability to make progress with the general education curriculum and/or alternate curriculum, and State Standards. Each student’s individualized education plan includes support services, accommodations and modifications within the small group special education classroom as well as general education settings as determined by the IEP team to be appropriate. Special education and general education staff work in collaboration with one another to ensure that the instruction provided in both settings meets the unique needs of the student.

Work Hours: Work hours are established in the employment contract. Additional work hours may be assigned by the School Principal within the parameters of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Application Procedure:

Applicant must attach:

• Copy of Professional LicenseORcopy of licensure application with money order sent to NMPEDORa written statement as to the status of your NM licensure.
• Copy of transcript from each crediting college or university

An Equal Opportunity Employer

https://www.rrps.net/page/salaries