Instructional Specialist, Special Education

The School District of Philadelphia; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The School District of Philadelphia seeks an Instructional Specialist, Special Education (Pre-Kindergarten) to collaborate with schools, teachers and staff to implement Pennsylvania's Early Learning Standards and the district's core curriculum for Pre-K.

The role emphasizes data-driven instruction, professional development, classroom assessments, and strategies to support students with special education needs, including collaboration with therapists and families.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Five years of full-time, paid, professional prekindergarten classroom or site-based teaching experience including supporting teachers in improving instructional practices.

Responsibilities

• Assist schools and teachers with special education students to implement Pre-K core curriculum and Early Learning Standards.
• Provide professional development and instructional support to teachers and schools.
• Plan and deliver strategies to improve student achievement through data-driven instruction.
• Support early intervention processes and collaborate with therapists, families, and staff.
• Visit schools and partner sites to improve instructional and assessment practices for special education students.

Skills

Special Education

Data analysis

Curriculum implementation

Professional development

Collaboration

Communication

Education

Master's degree program

Tools

SchoolNet

PELlCAN

Job description

Title: Instructional Specialist, Special Education (Pre-Kindergarten)

Department: Specialized Services / Head Start Central Office

Reports To: PreK Education Field Administrator

The School District of Philadelphia is committed to becoming the fastest improving District in the country and transforming the educational opportunities it offers to our city's more than 198,000 students. The District seeks leaders who have a passion for working with schools and communities who are committed to ensuring all students achieve. Serving a population as diverse as ours requires creativity, commitment and vision. Will you join us?

Job Summary

For the Pre-Kindergarten specialty, assists schools and teachers with special education students in creating a consistent implementation of the schools’ core curriculum for Pre Kindergarten and the Pennsylvania’s Early Learning Standards. Supports and facilitates the continuity of differentiated and rigorous instruction of students by working with school administration, teachers and staff. Plans, delivers and assists teachers and school teams in effective teaching and student engagement to increase student achievement. Ensures that the proper educational tools are used to meet the specialized needs of the student population served. Provides professional development support based on teacher or school site needs and uses ongoing instructional best practices to meet the needs of individual teachers and students.

Essential Functions

• Serves as a member of the Early Childhood Team and participates in regular Walk Throughs of Pre-Kindergarten classes in schools, off-sites, and community-based child care partner sites.
• Analyzes teaching practices, support schools, early childhood centers and teachers, to attain high quality instructional practices, and provide professional development support based on teacher, school, or early childhood site needs.
• Provides on-going, daily informal and formal classroom assessments and instructional best practices to meet the needs of individual student in attaining educational excellence.
• Assist parents and staff through the Early Intervention referral process.
• Debriffs with teachers, school leadership teams, partner directors, and Early Childhood staff to analyze and support the instructional practices in schools and/or early childhood sites.
• Plans and administers (in collaboration with the central and academic offices) the implementation of instructional strategies to support academic achievement.
• Develops, designs and delivers professional development for central and academic offices, principals, leadership teams, teachers, classroom assistants, and partner staff based on the needs of schools, early childhood sites and teachers.
• Visits schools, partner sites, and classrooms and provides support to improve instructional and assessment strategies for special education students, outside of the Walk Throughs.
• Ensures that therapeutic techniques are integrated into the classroom activities as advised by speech, occupational and physical therapists.
• Ensures that students in need of early intervention services are identified; provides training and information on early intervention strategies and techniques for teachers; maintains and disseminates resource information to teachers, staff and families.
• Encourages a continuous exchange of ideas and maintains a relationship with the assigned academic division.
• Develops strategies that connect curriculum, instruction, assessment and professional development for effective data driven interventions to improve teaching and learning.
• Supports teachers in delivering on-the-spot, in-classroom data-driven instruction.
• Supports teachers in creating interventions (strategy groups, conferencing, small groups, etc) based on formal and informal assessment results.
• Supports teachers and schools in the use of SchoolNet , PELICAN, and Pennsylvania’s Early Learning Network to obtain on-going periodic assessment results on their students and how to best use the results to deliver differentiated instruction.

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s degree program from an accredited college or university.
• Five years of full-time, paid, professional appointed prekindergarten classroom or site based teaching experience which has included supporting teachers in improving instructional practices.

Certificates/Licenses

• Possess a valid Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Instructional II special education certificate for PreK-8.*
• Must have at least three years of teaching experience with preschoolers.

The candidate must ensure that all of their relevant work experience is reflected on their resume prior to the submission of their application for District employment.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

Demonstrated knowledge of:

• the modern methods, principles and practices of special education.
• all aspects of the content and implementation of the core curriculum, strategies guide.
• best instructional practices and federal and state guidelines.
• periodic assessments and on-going informal assessments and strategies to support students based on the results.
• site visit protocol for walks for learning.
• current research regarding communities of learners, instructional practices linked to student achievement, differentiated instruction, mentoring, coaching and emergent technologies.
• increasing achievements for all students.

Demonstrated Knowledge Of

• collecting, analyzing and using data.
• the use of technology to access students' assessment results.
• all aspects of the content and implementation of the PA Early Learning Standards.

Demonstrated Ability To

• ensure that the instructional needs of students with mental and physical challenges are met.
• provide interventions (strategy groups, conferencing, small groups, etc) based on formal and informal assessment results and support differentiation.
• design and facilitate school and/or early childhood site led workshops for staff development incorporating assessments and interventions into current curriculum as well as regulatory topics.
• build relationships and help teachers feel comfortable with and understand instruction.
• communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

Nondiscrimination

The School District of Philadelphia provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, age, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, disability, pregnancy, marital status, gender identity, or genetic information. Please refer to Board Policy 348 for further information regarding the District's commitment to Nondiscrimination in Employment Practices.

Primary Location

Head Start Partnership Support (9391)

Schedule

Regular

Employee Status

Non-Management

Job Posting

Sep 9, 2026, 2:57:41 PM

Union Affiliation

Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT)

Unposting Date

Sep 30, 2026, 11:59:00 PM