2025-2026 SY - Teacher - Special Education: Signing Incentive $17,000 - $22,000; Relocation Expenses $3,000 (300+ miles) - Elementary en Gallup-Mckinley County Schools

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

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

Gallup-McKinley County Schools: 2025-2026 SY Incentives
 
          Relocation Expenses for New Teachers, SPED Teachers & Counselors
          300+ miles: $3,000
 
          Signing Incentive for New Teachers & Counselors
          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 ¼ in December of the first contract year, ¼ in May of the first contract year, ¼ in December of the second contract year and ¼ 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)