Special Education Teacher - Middle School

Young World Physical Education; North Smithfield (RI); On-site; USD 52,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

North Smithfield School Department in North Smithfield, Rhode Island is seeking a Special Education Teacher for the middle school to provide inclusive instruction and targeted support for students with a range of needs. The role emphasizes creating individualized programs, data-driven progress monitoring, and collaboration with building leadership.

Responsibilities include implementing behavioral approaches, monitoring progress, and aligning with Rhode Island educator standards and school

Qualifications

• Must be certified in Rhode Island in special education for secondary grades.
• Master's in Special Education preferred.
• Bachelor's degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist individual programmatic needs for each student using criteria referenced assessment.
• Develop individual programs for each student using a behavioral approach with data collection.
• Integrate skills from structured behavioral classroom into other activities and environments.
• Evaluate data and monitor each student's program to maximize skill acquisition.
• Comply with Rhode Island Reading Act and related standards;

Education

RI certification in special education (secondary grades)

Master's in Special Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Special Education Teacher - Middle School

North Smithfield School Department
North Smithfield Middle School
North Smithfield, Rhode Island

Job Details

Job ID: 5840257
Application Deadline: Posted until filled
Posted: Jul 20, 2026 12:00 AM (UTC)
Starting Date: Aug 24, 2026

Job Description

Title: Special Education Teacher

Qualifications:

• Certification as required (RI and special education teacher, certified in secondary grades)
• Master’s in Special Education (area of concentration) preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Reports to:

• Director of Pupil Personnel Services
• Building Principal

Terms of Employment: School year and/or as required. All conditions per contractual agreement with School Committee.

Evaluation: Annual evaluation in accordance with provisions of the School Committee Policy on Evaluation.

Job Goal: To provide a learning environment for moderately, severely and profoundly handicapped students which will maximize and ensure growth in all developmental areas in order to fulfill the student's physical, social, emotional and intellectual potential.

Rhode Island Professional Teaching Standards

• Standard 1: Teachers create learning experiences using a broad base of general knowledge that reflects an understanding of the nature of the communities and world in which we live.
• Standard 2: Teachers have a deep content knowledge base sufficient to create learning experiences that reflect an understanding of central concepts, vocabulary, structures, and tools of inquiry of the disciplines/content areas they teach.
• Standard 3: Teachers create instructional opportunities that reflect an understanding of how children learn and develop.
• Standard 4: Teachers create instructional opportunities that reflect a respect for the diversity of learners and an understanding of how students differ in their approaches to learning.
• Standard 5: Teachers create instructional opportunities to encourage all students’ development of critical thinking, problem solving, performance skills, and literacy across content areas.
• Standard 6: Teachers create a supportive learning environment that encourages appropriate standards of behavior, positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation.
• Standard 7: Teachers work collaboratively with all school personnel, families, and the broader community to create a professional learning community and environment that supports the improvement of teaching, learning, and student achievement.
• Standard 8: Teachers use effective communication as the vehicle through which students explore, conjecture, discuss, and investigate new ideas.
• Standard 9: Teachers use appropriate formal and informal assessment strategies with individuals and groups of students to determine the impact of instruction on learning, to provide feedback, and to plan future instruction.
• Standard 10: Teachers reflect on their practice and assume responsibility for their own professional development by actively seeking and participating in opportunities to learn and grow as professionals.
• Standard 11: Teachers maintain professional standards guided by legal and ethical principles.

Rhode Island Educator Code of Professional Responsibility

• Responsibility to Students: Ensure all students achieve at the high levels needed to lead fulfilling and productive lives, to succeed in academic and employment settings, and to contribute to society.
• Responsibility to Self: Commit to establishing high professional standards for practice and striving to meet these standards through individual performance.
• Responsibility to Colleagues and the Profession: Work with school and district colleagues and as members of professional communities to establish and implement initiatives that will further student learning.
• Responsibility to Parents and the Community: Collaborate with families and communities to offer a quality education to all students.
• Responsibility to Rhode Island Board of Regents: Demonstrate commitment to Rhode Island standards for educator quality through certification requirements and support of state initiatives within districts.

Performance Responsibilities

• Assist individual programmatic needs for each student utilizing criteria referenced assessment as a baseline in all developmental areas.
• Develop individual programs in all areas for each student utilizing a behavioral approach with a data collection system.
• Implement a process whereby all skills acquired in a structured behavioral classroom approach will be integrated and generalized into other activities, experiences and environments so that they are maintained.
• Evaluate data, update and monitor each student's program to insure the maximum rate of skill acquisition as well as maintenance of skills.
• Comply with The Rhode Island Right to Read Act requiring educators to exhibit either proficiency in or awareness of the knowledge and practices of the Science of Reading and Structured Literacy.
• Assume all required responsibilities as might be assigned by the Director of Pupil Personnel Services and Building Administrator.

Position Type

Full‑time

Job Requirements

• Must be certified in Rhode Island and as a special education teacher, certified in secondary grades.
• Citizenship, residency or work visa required.

Application Instructions

Applicants must bring the following items to the first interview:

• Copy of Rhode Island Teaching Certificate
• Copy of test scores for the NTE or Praxis
• Certified transcripts
• Original, signed letters of recommendation

Applicants must bring the following items to an interview with the Superintendent in addition to the above:

• Completed paper application, which would include:
• W-4
• Authorization Release and Waiver Form
• Federal BCI (Done through your local police department or State Attorney General's Office)
• I‑9 (Must be filled out in person). Please bring proof of citizenship with: a passport or permanent resident card, a driver's license and social security card, or a driver's license and birth certificate.

Application documents should be brought in person unless requested otherwise.

Contact Information

• Christine Welch, Special Educator
• 412 Greenville Road
• North Smithfield, Rhode Island 02896
• Phone: [phone]
• Email: [e-mail]