Albuquerque Public Schools
High School Special Education Teacher
Native American Community Academy is currently seeking to fill their open High School Special Education Teacher position.
Job Overview
- Posting Date: April 11, 2025 - Closing Date: Open until filled
- Salary Range:
- Job Description or School Website
School Overview:
The Native American Community Academy (NACA) is a free, public charter school within Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) that integrates culture, wellness, language, community, and college preparation into education. Rooted in Native traditions and rigorous academics, we foster excellence in students, dedication in teachers, and commitment from families. Serving Kindergarten through 12th grade, NACA welcomes students from over 60 tribes and diverse backgrounds. Our goal is to develop confident, academically prepared, and healthy individuals who embody our core values. Joining NACA means becoming part of a community dedicated to innovative, identity-affirming education.
Position Summary:
NACA is seeking a skilled, knowledgeable, compassionate and accountable special education teacher who is eager to engage students, educators, families, and community in a culturally supportive and holistic manner to prepare exceptional learners to thrive as empowered, healthy, well-rounded, responsible adult members of their communities.
Key Responsibilities:
Primary job responsibilities include creating and maintaining safe learning environments; planning, adapting, delivering and evaluating culturally appropriate and ability-appropriate instruction; serving as case manager for exceptional learners; lending expertise to families and educator teams; and helping to build a network of supportive relationships around each exceptional learner. Develop positive, trusting relationships with students with disabilities.
Instructional Planning and Delivery:
• Plan or co-plan instruction for students with Individual Education Plans (IEPs).
• Provide special education services for students with IEPs, including specialized direct instruction, inclusion support, curriculum adaptations, differentiated assessment, consultation, transition support, communication support or behavior support as needed.
• Complete – or assist co-teachers to complete – appropriately differentiated unit plans by the first week of each quarter or submit completed weekly lesson plans.
Case Management:
• Carry a special education caseload of up to 1.01 FTE.
• Serve as a point of contact for teachers and families of students with IEPs, for disability-related concerns they may have; provide concerned parties with timely responses or carry concerns to the appropriate team member.
• Assess the progress of students served or on caseload with respect to their annual IEP goals, in advance of special education meetings and Progress Towards Goal (PTG) deadlines.
• Complete quarterly Progress Towards Goals (PTGs) for students served or on caseload.
• Prepare students to lead or participate meaningfully in their IEP meetings.
• Provide relevant data and advice to IEP teams with respect to annual goals and special education placement decisions for students served or on caseload.
• Assist the ESS Administrative Assistant with IEP scheduling duties by providing timely suggestions regarding meeting dates and times, and by proofreading IEP participant lists.
• Prepare timely draft documents and attend special education meetings (re-evaluation/IEP/FBA/BIP/MDR) for students.
• Facilitate and document IEP team meetings, as necessary.
Assessment and Evaluation
• Proctor and/or assist with testing accommodations for state and school-wide assessments.
• Assess students’ performance and monitor progress to ensure they are mastering the skills described in their IEP goals regularly.
• Complete regular progress reports in preparation for parent/teacher meetings.
• Maintain grade books and attendance records.
Classroom Management
• Follow and comply with teaching standards and safety regulations.
• Manage student behavior in the classroom by utilizing approved disciplinary procedures.
• Follow the NACA Nutrition Policy during school hours and all NACA events and school activities.
Professional Collaboration
• Serve as an ongoing point-of-contact for colleagues who may have questions about IEP goals, accommodations, or their reporting roles relative to PTGs.
• Attend and participate in assigned whole staff, content, and grade-level team meetings.
• Attend IEP/BIP/EDT/Manifestation meetings as necessary.
• Attend team meetings for development and implementation of intervention plans.
• Provide guidance and direction to classroom educational assistants to ensure effective support for students.
Family Contact and Support
• Communicate with families as needed/required regarding academic, behavioral and social-emotional progress of students served or on caseload.
• Schedule and formally meet with students’ parents/guardians/families during Student-Led Conferences (SLCs) to review progress and outline holistic student goals.
• Connect and communicate with parents/guardians for any grade/attendance concerns, classroom behavior, syllabus updates/changes, and any other student concerns, providing documentation to Dean of Student/Head of School when needed.
Professional Development
• Complete all Professional Development Plan Requirements and the New Mexico Teacher Evaluation Requirements by outlined due dates.
• Attend NACA Professional Development (PD) sessions as scheduled, including specialized training, grade-level, content, and whole staff PD.
Compliance and Ethical Standards
• Adhere to NACA’s Staff Handbook.
• Demonstrate NACA Core Values and NMPED Professional Ethics
Supervision and Reporting:
The employee will work under the supervision of the NACA Director of Exceptional Student Services. This is a full-time position: 40 hours per week. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Lunch break is 30 minutes daily.
Application Process & Contact Information:
Contact Bill Nichols, Director of Exceptional Student Services (nichols@nacaschool.org) Phone: 505-713-0800
Required Skills
• New Mexico Pre K-12 Special Education license required (Level I, II or III).
• Secondary English Language Arts, Math or Gifted endorsement desirable.
• Knowledge of common disabilities, including their educational impacts and related interventions and supports.
• Preferred prior experience working in Native American or community school settings.
• Bachelor’s Degree or higher.
• Knowledge of how to design, implement and evaluate the success of targeted instruction.
• Effective communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Flexibility, organization, decision making, and critical thinking skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills.
• Basic knowledge of classroom technology, computers, email, document preparation and shared electronic workspaces.
• Ability to meet deadlines, work on multiple projects, and coordinate the work of others.
• Knowledge of how laws, regulations and guidelines affect teaching of students with disabilities.
• Knowledge of effective classroom management techniques.
• Ability to maintain positive relationships with students, parents, community members and staff.
• Growth mindset.
Benefit Information
Application Process
Interested candidates should email a cover letter and resume, including working phone number(s). Salary for this position is competitive and depends on prior experience. In addition, a comprehensive benefits package is included.
Contact Information
Bill Nichols, Director of Exceptional Student Services, Email: nichols@nacaschool.org