Job Description

2025-2026 SY - Teacher - Special Education; Signing Incentive $17,000 - $20,000; Relocation Expenses $3,000 (300+ Miles) - Elementary JobID: 4912

• Position Type:

Special Education Certifiied/Teacher - Special Education - Elementary

• Date Posted:

11/14/2025

• Location:

Del Norte Elementary School

• Date Available:

SY2025-2026

• Closing Date:

Untill Filled
Title: Teacher - Special Education - Elementary
Work Location: Del Norte Elementary Elementary School
Work Hours: 7.5 hours/Day
Contract Length: 194 Days
Minimum Salary: $57,678.00
Maximum Salary: $80,796.00
To provide educational services and carry out programs to average and gifted students, students with physical and mental disabilities, and to students who may not be enrolled in school due to health limitations, distance from school, etc., enabling students to attain their maximum achievement and adjustment which interfere with the individual students' ability to benefit from the District's educational program.
Supervision Received and Exercised:

• Receives general direction from the Special Education Director or designee.
• May exercise technical and functional supervision over supervisory, professional, technical and clerical staff.

Essential Function Statement - Essential duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Plans curriculum and prepares lessons and other materials, considering factors such as individual needs, abilities, teaming levels, and limitation of students, and to meet the goals and objectives of the Individualized Educational Program (IEP).
• Serve as a member of a multidisciplinary team consisting of administrators, school personnel, students and families by implementing the educational plans as developed by appropriate specialists, serve as an advocate for students.
• Determines parents ability to comprehend and apply therapeutic and behavior modification techniques and parent's social and emotional needs to formulate teaching plan.
• Instructs students and develops individual teaching plans covering self-help, motor, social, cognitive, and language skills development for parents to implement in the home.
• Revises teaching plan to correspond with child's rate of development, when necessary.
• Counsels parents to provide social and emotional support for parents; and refers parents and child to social service agencies and facilities for additional services and financial assistance.
• Maintain confidential individual records for the purpose of making appropriate referrals and for maintaining continuation of service, and in compliance with Federal, State and District regulations and policies.
• Maintain professional skills through consultations, in service activities, and self-selected professional growth activities.
• Maintain an awareness and respect for the cultural diversity of students and their families and assists direct personnel in understanding these variations when planning for students and families.
• Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

Marginal Functions:

• Delivers educational services to children who are homebound due to health limitations, distance from school etc.
• Daily travel from site to site, and from home to home.

For Assignment as a Teacher for the Hearing Impaired: In addition to the essential functions stated, a Teacher for the Hearing Impaired may perform these duties specific to their field of specialization:

• Instructs students and teachers in various forms of communication such as sign language, finger spelling and speed cues.
• Encourages students to participate in verbal communication, classroom learning experiences to ensure their comprehension of subject matter, development of social skills and ability to communicate in situations encountered in daily living.

Qualification Requirements
Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of early childhood development and exceptional learning.
• Local and state educational structure and organization.
• The manner in which concepts of cultural diversity relate to an understanding of individuality.
• Educational foundations of a school district, including the organization, administration, funding resources, and record keeping.
• Current state and federal legislation, and district policies regarding identification, evaluation and placement procedures for children with disabilities.
• Cultural diversities of the local area and the traditional Native American beliefs of students and families.

Ability to:

• Plan, coordinate, and implement corrective educational plans. Interact effectively with the educational professionals in the District.
• Utilize and understand formal assessment instruments, procedures and techniques for evaluation and remediation for learning disorders.
• Understand statistical analysis and evaluation, testing materials and results, counseling and interpersonal relations.
• Handle and maintain the records of students in a confidential manner.
• Understand and respect the cultural diversities, and Native American traditional beliefs and practices of students and their families.
• Interpret and apply Federal, State and local policies, laws and regulations.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

Experience and Training Guideline:
Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Experience: One year of related work experience in a school setting is desirable.
Education: Equivalent to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university is an appropriate educational field.
Licensure & Certificates: Applicants must have BA degree and possess or have the ability to obtain a NM teaching license (New Mexico has an alternative licensure program for applicants who possess a BA degree or higher)
Working Conditions
Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential responsibilities and functions of the job and are not meant to be all inclusive. While performing this job the staff member shall:

• Use strength to lift items need to perform the functions of the job.
• Sit, stand and walk for required periods of time.
• Speak and hear.
• Communicate effectively in English, using proper grammar and vocabulary. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.

In addition, while performing the duties of this job, the employee while performing will constantly stand/walk, bend neck and back, use hands for repetitive grasping and pushing/pulling. The employee is frequently required to use hands for fine manipulation, squat, kneel, knee stand, and push/pull. The employee will occasionally be required to sit, climb stairs/ladder, lift and reach overhead, crawl, and lift/carry. The employee must constantly lift/carry up to 50 pounds and must frequently lift/carry up to 20 pounds. The employee is occasionally required to push/pull a maximum weight of 10 pounds.
Environmental Demands: The environmental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential responsibilities and functions of the job and are not meant to be all inclusive.

• Exposure to a variety of childhood and adult diseases and illnesses.
• Occasional exposure to a variety of weather conditions.
• Exposure to heated/air conditioned and ventilated facilities.
• Exposure to a building in which a variety of chemical substances are used for cleaning, instruction, and/or operation of equipment.
• Function in a workplace that is usually moderately quiet but that can be noisy at times.
• Works near video display.
• The employee is required to properly wear any personal protection equipment supplied by the District.

Full and complete job descriptions are available from the Personnel Department.
All GMCS schools are eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF).
All Applicants must upload copies of official transcripts or evaluation of foreign transcripts from any and all accredited colleges/universities attended by you for review in order to be considered for this position.
Gallup-McKinley County Schools: 2025-2026 SY Incentives
Relocation Expenses for New Teachers
All New Classroom Teachers & SPED Teachers
300+ miles: $3000
Signing Incentive for New Teachers
McKinley County Graduates (HS): $20,000
NM Graduates (HS or College) or Within Navajo Nation Boundaries: $18,500
All Others: $17,000
Signing Incentives
Relocation incentive for all new teachers, counselors and administrators will be paid in full on the first paycheck of the school year.
All other incentives for teachers and counselors will be paid out over the course of two school years in four installments. Payment will be made in December of the first contract year, in May of the first contract year, in December of the second contract year and in May of the second contract year. The incentive will be prorated for hires made after the official work calendar start date but prior to December 31, 2025. Any hires made on or after December 31, 2025, will not be eligible to receive the signing incentives listed above. Failure to complete the terms of the employment contract in either/both of the two school years will result in the forfeiture of the entire signing incentive and relocation incentive. Signing Incentives are effective February 3, 2025.
Eligibility Requirements: To be eligible for the signing incentives, you must be a new employee who was not employed in any position or certified capacity by GMCS during the 2024-2025 school year. For the relocation incentive, you cannot have received a relocation incentive within the last two (2) years to qualify for the Relocation Incentive for SY 25-26.

• Exception: Employees moving job class level up to new position (EA to Teacher or Teacher to Principal)

Administration will provide processes and administrative clarification/decision-making for specific situations involving these incentives. This includes creating rules to support the incentives' successful implementation. The superintendent or his designee will make any final decision on implementing these incentives.

Skills Required