Special Education Teacher (Long Term Substitute)

Martha Jones Elementary School; Westwood (MA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

The Westwood Public Schools at Martha Jones Elementary School in Westwood, MA, seeks a Special Education Teacher for a long-term substitute role. The position requires MA teaching certification in Special Education and a strong commitment to equity-based, inclusive education.

The teacher will plan, deliver, and assess instruction, collaborate with families and staff, and support students with IEPs and 504 plans, while maintaining high expectations and strong communication with guardians.

Qualifications

• Massachusetts teaching certification in relevant area.
• Certification in Special Education.
• Bachelor's degree; Master's degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Plan engaging lessons aligned with state frameworks and district goals.
• Deliver instruction and assess student progress with formative and summative measures.
• Collaborate with special education and support staff to implement IEPs and 504 plans.
• Communicate student progress with families and guardians respectfully.
• Participate in team meetings and contribute to instructional strategies.
• Maintain high behavioral and academic expectations and safe learning environments.
• Fulfill duties assigned by building leadership and adhere to bargaining provisions.

Skills

Strong communication

Collaboration

Classroom management

Technology proficient

Education

Massachusetts teaching certification

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Special Education Teacher (Long Term Substitute)

Westwood Public Schools Martha Jones Elementary School - Westwood, Massachusetts Open in Google Maps

This job is also posted in Westwood Public Schools

Job Details

Job ID: 5960316
Application Deadline: Apr 07, 2027 11:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time)
Posted: Oct 08, 2026 4:00 AM (UTC)

Starting Date: Apr 7, 2027

Job Description

The Westwood Public Schools are committed to active equity-based, anti-racist education and the creation of a welcoming and inclusive school community in partnership with parents and community members.

NATURE AND SCOPE

The teacher plans, delivers, and implements effective instruction and assesses student learning in accordance with state curriculum frameworks and district goals. The teacher creates an educational environment in which all students are safe and achieve. The teacher collaborates with other professionals and students' families to help students succeed.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Plan engaging lessons with clear and measurable objectives that are relevant to the appropriate curriculum and the students in the class.
• Manage class operation by enforcing high academic and behavioral expectations, implementing routines, anticipating potential problems and taking appropriate preventative measures, and treating all students with respect.
• Create a positive class environment by building a relationship with each student, encouraging students to build relationships with one another, treating all students fairly, promoting students' self-discipline and responsibility for learning, and not tolerating dangerous or destructive behaviors.
• Deliver instruction effectively by establishing high expectations for all students, presenting new material explicitly and in a developmentally appropriate manner, connecting new learning to students' prior knowledge, helping students understand the relevance of what they are learning, differentiating based on students' needs, and using a variety of pedagogic approaches.
• Assess student understanding of learning objectives with student self-assessments, frequent formative measures, and periodic summative measures.
• Collaborate with other professionals to analyze student work, draw conclusions, develop interventions and extensions, and implement new teaching strategies based on assessment data.
• Understand the Individual Education Programs and 504 Accommodation Plans of students in the class, participate in team meetings, and collaborate with special education and support staff members.
• Communicate the students' academic, social, and behavioral progress to their parents or guardians in a respectful and responsive manner.
• Fulfill professional responsibilities by collaborating with other professionals and students' parents or guardians, using good judgment, participating in professional development, reflecting on performance and making positive changes to improve student learning, being receptive to feedback, and completing assigned duties.
• Assuming other responsibilities assigned by the building principal in accordance with collective bargaining provisions.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Massachusetts teaching certification in relevant area

Certification in Special Ed
Bachelor's degree, Master's degree preferred

KNOWLEDGE, ABILITY, AND SKILL

• Knowledge of the standards set forth in the MA curriculum frameworks and the Westwood learning expectations.
• Knowledge of the relevant content.
• Knowledge of relevant School Committee Policies, district and building goals, needs of the students in the class, and relevant state and federal laws.
• Ability to execute the performance standards set forth in the WPS teaching rubric.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational and planning skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues.
• Ability to forge effective working relationships with students and parents.
• Technological proficiency, both in the use of technology for communication and for instruction.
• Ability to work under time constraints and meet deadlines.

PERSONAL QUALITIES

• Demonstrates caring and concern for all students.
• Conveys a love of learning to students.
• Makes positive contributions to the larger school community.
• Communicates clearly.
• Uses good judgment.

JOB ENVIRONMENT

Work takes place in classrooms and other building rooms/areas, including offices, auditorium, gym, lunchroom and hallways, within a school building setting, primarily indoors. Job takes place in a high-performing school district with high expectations.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Requires sufficient vision to read printed documents and to view detail on a computer screen for extended periods.
• Requires frequent standing, walking, sitting, bending, and reaching, as well as carrying and occasionally lifting up to 30 lbs.
• Ability to speak in an understandable voice with sufficient volume to be heard in normal conversation, on the telephone, and in the classroom.
• Ability to hear sounds clearly up to twenty feet.
• Travel among buildings may be required.

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.

The Westwood Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status.

Position Type: Full-Time
Salary: $150 to $272 Per Day
Job Categories:

Substitute > Substitute

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Westwood Public Schools prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin or sexual orientation and is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates of diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Job Requirements

• Master degree preferred.
• Citizenship, residency or work visa required

Contact Information

• HR Department
• 220 Nahatan Street
• Westwood, Massachusetts 02090
• Phone: [phone]
• Email: [e-mail]