Special Education Teacher

Rainier School District 13; Oregon; On-site; USD 50,000 - 98,000; Full time

Job summary

Rainier School District is seeking a full-time Special Education Teacher for the 2025-2026 school year. The role involves direct instruction and collaboration with general education staff to support students with a range of needs from moderate to severe impairment.

Responsibilities include assessment, planning, and implementing individualized programs aligned with IDEA, FAPE, and IEP requirements, with supervision by the Director of Student Services.

Qualifications

• Must hold a valid Oregon Teaching License with endorsement for the assignment or be willing to obtain it.
• Current Oregon Driver License and CPR/First Aid card preferred.
• Experience working with adolescent students in a school setting is preferred.
• Ability to communicate fluently in English, both verbally and in writing.
• Proficiency in MS Word, Outlook, Excel and related educational software.

Responsibilities

• Meet District, State, and Federal requirements and maintain documentation.
• Conduct specialized student assessments and evaluations with clear communication of results.
• Organize and facilitate effective meetings and discussions with all participants.
• Collaborate with team members to develop and implement appropriate instructional plans.
• Provide direct services to students and families with professionalism and cultural sensitivity.
• Develop and monitor student behavior plans and school-wide programs to support students.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Leadership skills

Adolescent experience

English language

MS Office suite

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Oregon Teaching License

Tools

Synergy gradebook

MS Word/Outlook/Excel

Database software

Job description

2025 - 2026 School Year

Rainier School District

Special Education Teacher

$50,416.43 - $97,906.65

Job Description

Position Title : Special Education Teacher (1.0 FTE)

Reports to : Director of Student Services

Date Available : August 18, 2025

Description : Rainier School District is in search of a Full-time Special Education Teacher.

Job Summary:

Under general supervision, this Special Education Teacher serves as a specialist for students who require special education programming and support. This Special Education teacher works to provide appropriate educational programming for students who experience a continuum of needs from moderate to severe impact on their education due to their disability and who require support services in order to access and benefit from general education instruction.

This teacher provides students with direct instruction in academic, functional, cognitive processing, social skills, and life skills in the areas of hygiene, communication, self-care and personal management. In addition to these specific individualized programs, the staff may assist general education classroom teachers with selection of appropriate curricula and the development of behavior management programs.

Students may receive instruction within the Special Education classroom or in general education classes as appropriate. The Special Education teacher will follow the regulations associated with IDEA, FAPE, and procedural safeguards and IEP development and implementation. The Special Education teacher works under the supervision of the Director of Student Services.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities :

• Meet District, State, and Federal Requirements, including; Displays knowledge of procedures, policies, and regulations, incorporates requirements into work habits, follows corrective procedures, Maintains proper and sufficient documentation.

• Conduct Specialized Student Assessments and Evaluations, including; Is well-versed in a multitude of measurement techniques, selects appropriate measurement tools, is accurate and complete in clerical aspects of measurement, clearly communicates analysis of results and recommendations clearly.

• Establish and Facilitate Meetings and Discussions, including; Identifies situations requiring group discussion, Organizes and facilitates effective meetings, involving all participants, follows up and monitors any intended actions and outcomes.

• Consult with Others to Develop a Plan that Guides Appropriate Instruction and Other Services for students, including; Works effectively as a member of a team, contributes creative solutions to problems, assumes case management responsibilities when necessary, uses training and experience to support classroom instruction.

• Utilize Support Personnel, including; Determines skills and abilities of assigned support personnel, Delegates duties to provide the most effective opportunities for students, Monitors the effectiveness of the support personnel and provides direction and training as needed, supervises interns as needed.

• Demonstrates Responsiveness in Supporting Teachers’ Instructional Needs, including; Supports instruction by being aware of teachers’ resource needs, searches out and provides, or makes teachers aware of, available and appropriate learning resources, Consults with teachers regarding appropriate use of resources.

• Provide Effective Direct Service to Students, Families, and Colleagues, including; Takes initiative in determining needed services, provides developmentally appropriate face-to-face services, based on the staff member’s recognized level of competence, displays unconditional positive regard with individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds, displays flexibility in the nature and location of services provided, Communicates skillfully to each audience.

• Engages in the Determination of and Provision of Primary Prevention Activities When Needed, including; Recognizes need for prevention, involves others in the planning and delivery of prevention activities, Performs prevention, follow-up, and program evaluation activities.

• Develops student behavior plans, monitors and oversees implementation.

• Create and/or Coordinate School-wide or Community Programs to Support Students and Families, including; Demonstrates thorough knowledge of a variety of developmental assets, resilience/protective factors, and related community supports, engages in a variety of activities to create programs that support students and families, evaluates intended outcomes of programs created.

• Participate in professional in-service and ongoing training to further develop specialized skills.

• Fulfills all other related duties as assigned.

• Fulfills working conditions and physical effort listed below.

• Demonstrates proficiency in planning and preparation of instruction for students.

• Create an environment of respect and create a culture of learning through proficient classroom procedures and appropriate management of student behavior.

• Demonstrates professional responsibilities, including; reflecting on teaching, maintaining accurate records, communication with families, participating in a professional learning community, growing and developing professionally, and demonstrating professionalism.

Marginal Duties and Responsibilities :

• Attends educational support meetings, including individualized education plan (IEP) meetings, and school board meetings as directed.

• Reports safety, sanitary and fire hazards immediately to the supervisor.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities :

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Education, Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: Must hold a valid Oregon Teaching License with the appropriate endorsement and authorization for the assignment, or be willing to obtain the appropriate license. Licenses as determined by the District including, a valid Oregon Driver License and ability to obtain a valid CPR/First Aid card.

• Interpersonal Skills: Works well with others from diverse backgrounds. Focuses on solving conflict; maintaining confidentiality; listening to others without interrupting; keeping emotions under control; remaining open to others’ ideas and contributing to building a positive team spirit.

• Leadership Skills: Demonstrated ability to successfully lead adults in a student environment that may include constant interruption. Ability to plan and assign work to adults supporting a continuum of services.

• Experience: Demonstrated ability to successfully work with adolescent students and the public in a school setting. Student teaching also applies.

• Language Skills: Ability to communicate fluently verbally and in writing in English. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from students, parents, staff or members of the community. Ability to draft simple correspondence and some routine reports. Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals.

• Mathematical Skills: Ability to provide students with an intuitive understanding of the concepts of math at the established grade-level standards.

• Reasoning Ability: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, verbal or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

• Computer Skills: Proficiency in the usage of database software, internet software, and email. Ability to proficiently use the following programs: MS Word, Outlook, and Excel. Ability to type accurately and proficiently. Ability to effectively use Synergy gradebook.

• Other Skills and Abilities: Ability to appropriately communicate with students, teachers, parents, members of the community and others including vendors, law enforcement and other agencies. Ability to exercise good judgment and work in an environment with constant interruptions. A belief that all students can learn.

Minimum Qualifications :

• Bachelor’s Degree

• Current Oregon License issued by Teachers Standards & Practices Commission

• Positive & current letters of recommendation from recent supervisors

Preferred Qualifications :

• Master’s Degree

• 2 years special education teaching experience

Physical Demands :

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to walk; sit; use hands for fine manipulation, handle or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stand and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee is sometimes required to assist a student in standing, walking or sitting and may be required to support weighing up to 200 pounds. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance and peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment :

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Occasionally perform work beyond a standard 40-hour work week when work-load requires.

The employee is occasionally exposed to wet or humid outdoor weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.

Salary: $47,088.00 - $87,024.00 (2024 - 2025 certified salary schedule; 2025 - 2026 salary schedule to be determined). Based upon education, training and prior work experience. Excellent benefits package and Employer-paid PERS.

Job Requirements

• At least 2 year(s) of relevant experience preferred.

• Bachelor degree

• Citizenship, residency or work visa required

Job Description Subject to change

NOTE: This is not necessarily an exhaustive or all-inclusive list of responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts, functions or working conditions associated with the job. This job description is not a contract of employment or a promise or guarantee of any specific terms or conditions of employment. The school district may add to, modify or delete any aspect of this (or the position itself) at any time it deems advisable.

RSD believes that every individual makes a significant contribution to our success. The administration reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties as necessary that still reflect the essential functions of the department. It is our expectation that every employee will offer their services wherever and whenever necessary to ensure the success of the RSD’s goal

Equal Opportunity Employer

The district prohibits discrimination and harassment on any basis protected by law, including but not limited to, an individual’s perceived or actual race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, marital status, age mental or physical disability or perceived disability, pregnancy, familial status, economic status, or veterans’ status, or because of the perceived or actual race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, marital status, age, mental or physical disability or perceived disability, pregnancy, familial status, economic status, or veterans’ status of any other persons with whom the individual associates.

The district prohibits discrimination and harassment, including but not limited to, employment, assignment and promotion of personnel; in educational opportunities and services offered students; in student assignment to schools and classes; in student discipline; in location and use of facilities; in educational offerings and materials; and in accommodating the public at public meetings.