CERTIFIED_High School Special Education Teacher 2026/2027 - Gretna, Nebraska

Job Title: High School Special Education Teacher · Department: Instruction · Education Level and Certification: Bachelor's degree required.  Must at all times during employment possess a Nebraska Teaching Certificate with such endorsements as required by NDE Rule 10 and all other ...

Job description

Job Title: High School Special Education Teacher

Department: Instruction

Education Level and Certification: Bachelor's degree required.  Must at all times during employment possess a Nebraska Teaching Certificate with such endorsements as required by NDE Rule 10 and all other certification and training as required or assigned.

Reports To: Principal or Principal's Designee

Required Job Tasks:

1. Develop and implement individualized education programs (IEPs) that align with students' needs, strengths, and goals.
2. Teach functional academics, communication, social skills, self-care, vocational skills, and community-based learning.
3. Use evidence-based strategies and differentiated instruction to engage students in meaningful and effective learning experiences.
4. Adapt and modify instructional materials to meet diverse learning needs.
5. Implement positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS) to encourage appropriate behaviors and reduce challenges.
6. Foster a respectful, inclusive classroom environment that promotes social-emotional learning and peer interactions.
7. Collaborate with behavior specialists and other team members to address specific behavioral needs.
8. Work closely with parents, caregivers, and multidisciplinary teams, including speech therapists, occupational therapists, and paraprofessionals.
9. Provide regular progress updates to families and participate in IEP meetings.
10. Collaborate with general education teachers to facilitate inclusion opportunities, as appropriate.
11. Create a safe, structured, and accessible classroom environment tailored to the needs of students with significant disabilities.
12. Supervise and mentor paraprofessionals to support student learning and safety effectively.
13. Ensure compliance with all district, state, and federal special education regulations and guidelines.
14. Stay current on best practices in special education, life skills instruction, and related technologies.
15. Participate in district-provided training and professional development opportunities.
16. Serve as a role model to all students.
17. Serve as a positive member of the community in a way that does not negatively affect the District's reputation or image in the community.
18. Refrain from engaging in conduct that interferes with the operations of the District, including the education of students.
19. Develop and maintain a positive and professional working relationship with other staff and administration.
20. Adhere to all District policies, rules, regulations, and supervisory directives.
21. Maintain confidentiality of information concerning staff, students, and parents in accordance with law and District rules.
22. Adhere to the code of ethics of the District and the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE Rule 27).

FLSA Status: Exempt.

1. Professional exemption:  The employee has a primary duty of performing work requiring knowledge of an advanced type in a field of science or learning customarily acquired by a prolonged course of specialized intellectual instruction and study or has a primary duty of teaching, tutoring, instructing, or lecturing in the activity of imparting knowledge and is employed and engaged in this activity as a teacher

Essential Functions: The essential functions of the Life Skills Teacher position include: (1) regular, dependable, in-person attendance on the job; (2) the ability to perform the identified tasks and to possess and utilize the identified knowledge, skills, and abilities and to perform the identified work activities; and (3) the ability to perform the following identified physical requirements:

Physical Requirements
Life Skills Teacher

E = Essential

      NE = Non-Essential

NE

NE

E

E

E

Stamina

Sitting

X

Walking

X

Standing

X

Sprinting/Running

X

Flexibility

Bending or twisting at the neck more than the average person

X

Bending or twisting at the trunk more than the average person

X

Squatting/Stooping/Kneeling

X

Reaching above the head

X

Reaching forward

X

Repeating the same hand, arm or finger motion many times (For example:  typing, data entry, etc.)

X

Activities

Climbing (on ladders, into large trucks/vehicles, etc.)

X

Hand/grip strength

X

Driving on the job

X

Typing non-stop

X

Use of Arms and Hands

Manual dexterity (screwing a lid on a jar)

X

Finger dexterity (typing)

X

Lifting Requirements

Lifting up to 10 pounds (Mark all that apply)

Floor to waist

X

Waist to shoulder

X

Shoulder to overhead

X

Lifting 11 to 25 pounds (Mark all that apply)

Floor to waist

X

Waist to shoulder

X

Shoulder to overhead

X

Lifting 26 to 50 pounds (Mark all that apply)

Floor to waist

X

Waist to shoulder

X

Shoulder to overhead

X

Lifting 51 to 75 pounds (Mark all that apply)

Floor to waist

X

Waist to shoulder

X

Shoulder to overhead

X

Lifting 76 plus pounds (Mark all that apply)

Floor to waist

X

Waist to shoulder

X

Shoulder to overhead

X

Can load/items weighing over 50 pounds that are lifted or carried be shared, or reduced into smaller loads?

X

Pushing/Pulling

to 50 pounds

X

to 75 pounds

X

to 90 pounds

X

Over 90 pounds

X

Carrying

to 25 pounds

X

to 50 pounds

X

to 75 pounds

X

to 90 pounds

X

Over 90 pounds

X

It is the policy of Gretna Public Schools to not discriminate on the basis of sex, disability, race, color, religion, veteran status, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, or other protected status in its educational programs, admission policies, employment policies or other administered programs.  Persons requiring accommodations to apply and/or be considered for positions are asked to make their request to the Superintendent.