Classroom Teacher - Special Education

Job type: Full time / From 28/01/2025
Organisation: Schools (Government)
Salary: Salary not specified
Occupation: Teacher
Reference: 1458912
Job posted: 13/12/2024
Closes: 19/01/2025
Classification: Classroom Teacher
Job duration: From 28/01/2025
Contact: Rhonda Fletcher | 9704 4800
Location ProfileDandenong Valley SDS is a specialist school located in Narre Warren Victoria. We cater for students with significant intellectual disability. The school was built in 1990 with an addition of a purpose built BER building in 2012. The school facilities include a PMP room, a Hydrotherapy pool which was refurbished in 2018 as a sensory space. We also have a sensory garden, horticulture centre, bike track, fitness room, engine room and sensory room, generous sized classrooms and stimulating play spaces. Our enrolment criteria are moderate to severe intellectual disability and students must reside within our transport zone.
Students at our school range in age from Foundation to year twelve and we also have an Early Education Program which caters for children from 2.8 -4.8 years. The three year olds attend one day a week and the four year olds come two days a week.
The senior transition program caters for students who are in their last two years of schooling. Its aim is to provide students with a diverse range of age appropriate learning experiences in preparation for post school options and adult life.
Our Vision for Dandenong Valley School is to achieve excellence in learning and teaching and provide the best outcomes for each of its students.
Our school also has a Mission Statement; Dandenong Valley SDS endeavours to equip students with the capacities to manage themselves and their relations with others, understand their world and act effectively in that world.
Our Values are;
IntegrityRespectResponsibilityDandenong Valley SDS is a Schoolwide Positive Behaviour community. This Framework is fully embedded across the school and enables us to promote a happy positive learning environment for all. Our school rules are explicitly taught across all areas of the curriculum and the school. The rules are;
Be responsibleBe respectfulBe a learnerBe safeOur Special Education programs are fully supported by a large therapy team which comprises three speech therapists, two occupational therapists, one physiotherapist and two music therapists. The role of the therapy team is to support the students to enable them to access their educational program. Therapists also work in close cooperation with teachers to ensure individual goals are achieved by all students.
Student Individual learning goals are based on our strategic plan priorities which are;
The need to develop a functional communication system.The need to develop their independence skillsThe need to develop their social competencies.These areas are the most important for our students and their families. Without these basic skills our students cannot engage in meaningful activities, nor reach their full potential.
Dandenong Valley SDS is committed to child safety. Our school actively promotes the safety and wellbeing of all students, including the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, children with disabilities and vulnerable children. All school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards.
At Dandenong Valley SDS we provide programs that cater for individual needs, interests and abilities of our students. The school's curriculum is based on The Victorian curriculum (levels A-D). In addition, we offer a range of specialised programs that occur within the school environment or out in the local community.
These include;
Perceptual motor programSwimming (in our purpose built hydrotherapy pool)Community accessPersonal safetyInterschool sportsPerforming artsSTEMVisual artsPECampsSelection CriteriaSC1 - Demonstrated high quality classroom teaching capabilities, appropriate to a special setting, which enable all students to reach their maximum potential
SC2 - Demonstrated record of contribution as a cohesive team member committed to making an enthusiastic personal and professional contribution to a harmonious environment
SC3 - Demonstrated high level of knowledge of the relevant learning areas and the way students learn, specifically in relation to the development of communication skills
SC4 - An ability to communicate and liaise effectively with parents, staff and other professionals
RoleThe classroom teacher classification comprises two salary ranges- range 1 and range 2. The primary focus of the classroom teacher is on the planning, preparation and teaching of programs to achieve specific student outcomes. The classroom teacher engages in critical reflection and inquiry in order to improve knowledge and skills to effectively engage students and improve their learning.
As the classroom teacher gains experience his or her contribution to the school program beyond the classroom increases. All classroom teachers may be required to undertake other duties in addition to their rostered teaching duties provided the responsibility is appropriate to the salary range, qualifications, training and experience of the teacher.

Classroom teacher Range 2
Range 2 classroom teachers play a significant role in assisting the school to improve student performance and educational outcomes determined by the school strategic plan and state-wide priorities and contributing to the development and implementation of school policies and priorities.
A critical component of this work will focus on increasing the knowledge base of staff within their school about student learning and high quality instruction to assist their school to define quality teacher practice.
Range 2 classroom teachers will be expected to:
- Have the content knowledge and pedagogical practice to meet the diverse needs of all students
- Model exemplary classroom practice and mentor/coach other teachers in the school to engage in critical reflection of their practice and to support staff to expand their capacity
- Provide expert advice about the content, processes and strategies that will shape individual and school professional learning
- Supervise and train one or more student teachers
- Assist staff to use student data to inform teaching approaches that enable targets related to improving student learning outcomes to be achieved.

Classroom teacher Range 1
The primary focus of the range 1 classroom teacher is on further developing skills and competencies to become an effective classroom practitioner with structured support and guidance from teachers at higher levels and the planning, preparation and teaching of programs to achieve specific student outcomes. These teachers teach a range of students/classes and are accountable for the effective delivery of their programs. Range 1 classroom teachers are skilled teachers who operate under general direction within clear guidelines following established work practices and documented priorities and may have responsibility for the supervision and training of one or more student teachers.
At range 1, teachers participate in the development of school policies and programs and assist in the implementation of school priorities.
The focus of a range 1 classroom teacher is on classroom management, subject content and teaching practice. New entrants to the teaching profession in their initial teaching years receive structured support, mentoring and guidance from teachers at higher levels.
Under guidance, new entrants to the teaching profession will plan and teach student groups in one or more subjects and are expected to participate in induction programs and other professional learning activities that are designed to ensure the integration of curriculum, assessment and pedagogy across the school.
Teachers at range 1 are responsible for teaching their own classes and may also assist and participate in policy development, project teams and the organisation of co-curricula activities.
ResponsibilitiesThe role of classroom teacher may include but is not limited to:
Direct teaching of groups of students and individual students;Contributing to the development, implementation and evaluation of a curriculum area or other curriculum program within the school;Undertaking other classroom teaching related and organisational duties as determined by the School Principal;Participating in activities such as parent/teacher meetings; staff meetings; camps and excursions;Undertaking other non-teaching supervisory duties.Who May ApplyTeachers currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching and qualified to teach and/or have demonstrated experience in the curriculum area(s) specified for the position.
EEO AND OHS CommitmentApplicants seeking part-time employment are encouraged to apply for any teaching service position and, if they are the successful candidate, request a reduced time fraction. Such requests will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and will be subject to the operational requirements of the school.
The Department of Education is committed to the principles of equal opportunity, and diversity and inclusion for all. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for roles within the Department. The Department recognises that the provision of family friendly, supportive, safe and harassment free workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work, diversity and safety across all schools and Department workplaces.
Child Safe StandardsVictorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards. All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the department's exemplar available at:
The department's employees commit to upholding the department's Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. The department's Values complement each school's own values and underpin the behaviours the community expects of Victorian public sector employees, including those who work in Victorian Government Schools.
To apply for this role, you will be redirected to the Schools (Government) job application system.

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