Temporary Learning Specialist/Special Education Teacher - Hood River Middle School - 1.0 FTE

Hood River County SD; Oregon; On-site; USD 50,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

HOOD RIVER COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT is seeking a Learning Specialist (Special Education Teacher) for the 2025/26 school year on a temporary basis. The role focuses on facilitating SPED student success, implementing district curricula, and maintaining IEPs for compliance and progress reporting.

The ideal candidate will establish positive relationships with students, parents and staff; adapt instruction to IEP goals and collaborate with general education and specialists to create inclusive learning

Qualifications

• Experience working with students with disabilities in MTSS/SPED settings.
• Experience handling IEPs and behavior plans.
• Prior school-level SPED experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Adapts lessons to implement IEP goals and meet student needs.
• Evaluates abilities and progress to establish eligibility and goals.
• Collaborates with staff and agencies to maximize outcomes.
• Develops and maintains IEPs in compliance with IDEA/state rules.
• Directs instructional assistants and volunteers to support students.
• Instructs students with special needs to build academics and daily living skills.
• Manages student behavior to maintain a safe learning environment.
• Convenes MDT/IEP/Placement Team meetings and documents outcomes.
• Maintains student files and prepares teaching materials and reports.
• Reports incidents to ensure student safety and district compliance.

Skills

Motivates students

Communicates across cultures

Directs support personnel

Evaluates student progress

Addresses student health care needs

Bilingual English/Spanish preferred

Education

Oregon Teaching License with SPED endorsement

Job description

Open until filled. This is aTemporaryposition, for the 2025/26 school year.

Learning Specialist (Special Education Teacher)

Job Purpose Statement

The job of “Teacher - Special Education” is done for the purpose of facilitating Special Education student success in academics, interpersonal skills and activities of daily living through implementing District approved curriculum; documenting teaching and student progress/activities, outcomes; addressing specific needs of students; providing a safe and optimal learning environment, placement and maintenance of students on an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and providing feedback to students, parents and administration regarding student progress, expectations, goals, etc.

The ideal candidate will work to create a vibrant learning community for students receiving special education support. Establish positive relationships with students, parents, and staff. Educate the whole child academically, socially, emotionally, and physically. Flexibly provide instruction to students either in the general education setting or in a special education setting depending on the individual needs of the student. Use a variety of assessments to understand student learningto inform instruction and annual goals. Demonstrate a commitment to improving instructional practices, creating more inclusive cultures, and increasing student voice. Collaborate with general education teachers, instructional assistants, teaching specialists, administration, and parents to create and implement cohesive individualized educational plans. Communicate progress around student learning.

HRVHS employs an innovated model to deliver special education services to our students. Learning specialists meet individually and in small groups with their students for specially designed instruction throughout the day. Students often attend during study halls or other available periods to maximize inclusion in general education classes. Learning specialists provide SDI for students they case manage leading to strong relationships with both students and families.

Essential Job Functions

• Adapts lessons for the purpose ofimplementing the IEP goals and meeting the special needs of students.
• Evaluate student’s abilities and performance (e.g. behavioral, motor development, communication academic, vocational etc.) for the purpose of establishing eligibility under Individuals with Disabilities Act (I.D.E.A) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, setting educational goals, determining placement and evaluating student progress.
• Collaborates with school personnel, agencies and community agencies (e.g. social service agencies, caretakers, etc.) for the purpose ofdeveloping and modifying the program to maximize the quality of student outcomes.
• Develops and maintainsIndividualized Education Plans (IEP) on each student served for the purpose of compliance with IDEA and state regulations.
• Directs instructional assistants, volunteers and/or student aides for the purpose ofproviding an effective school program and addressing the needs of individual students.
• Instructs students with individualized special needs for the purpose ofdeveloping appropriate academic, interpersonal and daily living skills through a defined course of study.
• Manages student behavior for the purpose ofproviding a safe and an optimal learning environment.
• Maintains consistent and predictable attendance to meet the requirements of the district and the needs of the position.
• Convenes, chairs and documentsthe activity ofthe Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), IEPteam and Placement Team for the purpose ofproviding a free, appropriate public education to the student and maintaining compliance with IDEA and state regulations.
• Creates and maintainsstudent special education files in accordance withdistrict direction for the purpose of maintaining compliance with IDEA and state regulations.
• Preparesteaching materialsand reports (e.g. grades, attendance, anecdotal records, etc.) for the purpose of implementing lesson plans and providing documentation of teacher and student progress.
• Reports incidents (e.g. fights, suspected child abuse, suspected substance abuse, etc.) for the purpose of maintaining personal safety of students, providing a positive learning environment and following district and/or school policies.

Other Job Functions

• May administermedication, first aid, personal hygiene and/or health care requirements as may berequired for the purpose of providing care, treatment and/or monitoring for medical conditions of students.
• Assists other personnelas may berequired for the purpose ofsupporting them in the completion of their work activities.
• Participates in various meetings (e.g. parent conferences, in-service training, site meetings, etc.) for the purpose of receiving and/or providing information and/or meeting credential requirements.
• Updateslob knowledge as needed by participating in inservicesand staff development offerings.
• Other related duties as directed.

Job Requirements - Qualifications

Experience Required

• Experience working with students with special needs in a MTSS/special education setting.
• Training and experience working with IEPsandbehavior plans.
• Prior school level special education experience preferred.

Skills, Knowledge and/or Abilities Required

• Skills to motivate students, communicate with individualsfrom varied educational and cultural backgrounds, direct support personnel, evaluate performance, address student health care needs.
• Knowledge of special education disabilities, age appropriate teaching methods, state curriculum framework. Knowledge of of inclusive practices and the ability to plan accordingly.
• Abilities to stand and walk for prolonged periods, performa variety of specialized and responsible tasks, maintainrecords, establishand maintaincooperative working relationships with students, parents, and other school personnel, and meet scheduling deadlines. Significant physical abilities include lifting/carrying, stooping/crouching, reaching/handling/fingering, talking/hearing conversations, and near/far visual acuity/depth perception/color vision/field of vision.
• Bilingual English/Spanish skills are preferred but not required.

Licenses Required

• Valid Oregon TeachingLicense with a Special Education endorsement.

Testing/Background Check Required

Any offer of employment made by Hood River County School District to an external candidate is contingent upon satisfactory results of:

• Drug screening tests for any illegal drug or substance classified in Schedules I through V under the Federal Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. 811 to 812. This includes, but is not limited to, marijuana, mind-altering substances or narcotic drugs such as hallucinogens, amphetamines, barbiturates, or any other illegal drug or controlled substance, except those federally recognized as legally prescribed by a physician and used as directed.
• Post offer physical abilities assessment.
• Nationwide criminal history verification - a background check for any convictions directly related to the duties and responsibilities of the position. Unless otherwise required by law, only job-related convictions will be considered and will not automatically disqualify the applicant from employment.

The salary range listed below is for the 2025/26 school year.

HOOD RIVER COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. Reasonable accommodations for the application and interview process will be provided upon request and as required in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Disabled persons may contact Hood River County School District at 541/387-5016 for additional information or assistance. Speech or hearing-impaired persons may contact Hood River County School District for assistance through the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing 1-800-735-2900.