Special Education Lead Teacher - Toddler Classroom (Part-time, 10-month)

Special Education Lead Teacher - Toddler Room (Part-Time)

Location: Syracuse, NY (On-Site)
Schedule: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu: 8:15am-11:45am, Wed: 8:15am-3:00pm, plus 2-3 hours/week for planning and meetings

Pay: $31,746/10 months

Job Type: 10-month school-year position (optional summer hours)

📌 Compensation is pre-determined based on our salary structure and is non-negotiable.

* This position starts in September 2026 *

About Jowonio School

Jowonio School is a not-for-profit, inclusive preschool located in Syracuse, NY. The name “Jowonio,” from the Onondaga Nation language, means “to set free”—reflecting our belief that all children deserve to learn, grow, and thrive together.

Since 1969, Jowonio has been nationally recognized for its commitment to inclusive education, family support, and transdisciplinary collaboration. Our classrooms integrate children with and without disabilities and provide individualized supports through therapy, adaptive strategies, and creative teaching. We are dedicated to:

• Creating innovative learning environments where all children are full participants.


• Offering a range of therapeutic and family support services.


• Providing professional development for educators and families in partnership with community organizations.


• Advocating for the inclusion of all children in schools and in society.

Position Summary

The Lead Special Education Teacher is responsible for providing educational leadership and implementing a developmentally appropriate, inclusive early childhood program for children with and without disabilities. This role involves designing and managing a structured yet flexible classroom environment, supervising classroom staff, collaborating with families and interdisciplinary teams, and ensuring compliance with educational and regulatory requirements.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Classroom Leadership & Instruction

• Design, implement, and manage a classroom environment that supports developmentally appropriate goals in behavior, communication, socialization, pre-academic skills, and life skills for all children, including those with special needs.


• Plan and lead daily programming that balances child-initiated and teacher-directed activities.


• Implement individualized instructional strategies and adaptations to meet the needs of students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).

Assessment, Documentation & Reporting

• Assess each child’s current level of functioning on an ongoing basis using established evaluation tools and observation.


• Develop, update, and implement IEPs in collaboration with parents, related service providers, and interdisciplinary team members.


• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of student progress.


• Prepare and submit progress reports for parents, school districts, and external agencies.


• Develop student portfolios for children transitioning to other educational programs.


• For students without IEPs, assess skill development, document progress, write annual progress reports, and conduct parent conferences at least twice per year with written documentation.

Family & Community Engagement

• Build warm, collaborative relationships with families and foster a strong sense of classroom community.


• Communicate regularly with parents or parent surrogates through written communication, phone calls, home visits, school observations, and open houses.


• When appropriate, design and support home-based training programs in partnership with families.


• Participate in family engagement activities, including open houses, school events, and community programs.

Team Collaboration & Supervision

• Provide leadership, supervision, and support to assistant teachers, teacher aides, interns, and volunteers.


• Coordinate and collaborate with in-school support services, including speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and other related services.


• Lead and actively participate in weekly meetings, including:
  
  
  
  • Child support meetings with related service and administrative staff (and families when appropriate)
  
  
  • Classroom planning meetings
  
  
  • Weekly school-wide in-service meetings
  
  
  
  

Professional Development

• Engage in ongoing professional development through workshops, conferences, staff in-services, coursework, and special projects.


• Maintain required certifications, credentials, and training relevant to the position.

• Other duties may be assigned as necessary.

Qualifications

• NYS Teacher of Students with Disabilities (Birth – Grade 2) certification is required


• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or related field is required


• Experience in inclusive or early childhood settings is strongly preferred


• Excellent communication, organizational, and collaboration skills

Physical Requirements

• Frequent movement throughout the school building, including classrooms, offices, and playground areas.


• Occasional lifting, carrying, or moving of materials and equipment up to 25 pounds.


• Ability to engage in floor-level and outdoor interactions with young children.


• Sufficient vision and hearing to observe, communicate, and maintain safety within a classroom and community setting.


• Capacity to manage occasional high-stress situations calmly and professionally, including crisis intervention or emergency response.

Benefits for part-time employees working 60% FTE:

• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match


• Paid time off (PTO)


• Company-paid life & AD&D insurance, long-term disability


• Voluntary life insurance


• Aflac supplemental insurance


• Vision insurance


• 50% tuition discount for children of employees


• Supportive and collaborative work environment


• Opportunities for professional growth and leadership

Equal Opportunity Employer

Jowonio School is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status.