Part-Time Faculty - Special Education, Fall 2025

The University of Southern Maine’s Special Education Program is seeking part-time instructor applicants for our Fall 2025 semester, beginning September 1, 2025.

We are seeking instructors for the following courses:

Students with Exceptionalities in General Education (SED 235) - The primary goal of this course is to construct an understanding and knowledge of the range of exceptionalities, including students with disabilities and those identified as gifted and talented. The course is based on the premise that students with exceptionalities should be educated and socially interact to the greatest extent possible with their peers in the general education curriculum and program. The general educator’s role in teaching learners who are exceptional will be emphasized. Topics include characteristics of areas of exceptionality; classroom management; assistive technology; state and federal legislation regarding exceptional students; Response to Intervention (RTI); Universal Design for Learning (UDL); individual education programs (IEP); building relationships with parents; students who are culturally and linguistically diverse; and inclusion and collaboration philosophy and practices.

Special Education Regulations, Procedures, and IEP Team (SED 282) - This course is for educators working directly with students who are suspected of, or who are identified with, disabilities. The course focuses on the role of special education in both a multi-tiered system of student support (MTSS) and the process for developing and implementing Individualized Education Programs (IEP). Participants examine current federal and state statutes and accompanying regulations governing special education services.  Emphasis is placed on the functioning of the IEP team, including collaborating with families, from a teacher’s or service provider’s perspective.

Targeted and Individualized Instructional Strategies for Students with Disabilities (SED 318) - The primary purpose of this course is to learn and analyze principles and skills of teaching and learning which are effective in instructing students who need more intensive and individualized instruction. Such practices can be used with students who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or are participating in Tier 2 or 3 of the continuum of a multi-tiered system of student support (MTSS).  Students who are English Language learners with suspected disabilities are included.  The course will address applying and analyzing evidence-based instruction and assessment to evaluate progress toward learning goals.

Multi-Tier Mathematics Instruction and Assessment (SED 425) - This course includes lectures, discussions, guided practice and applied learning experiences in the scope and sequence of progressively more intensive mathematics instruction and assessment for students with mathematics difficulties in kindergarten through grade 12, including students with diverse abilities and backgrounds.  Starting with the five foundations of math instruction (e.g., conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, strategic competence, adaptive reasoning, productive disposition), the course describes the features of universal (e.g., Tier 1) core math instruction then provides guided practice and applied learning experiences to prepare teachers to use progressively intensive math instruction based on student learning needs. Participants will learn how to select and use scientifically validated mathematics instruction and assessment practices for students needing supplemental (e.g., Tier 2) and intensive (e.g., Tier 3), and special education mathematics instruction and assessment.

Multi-Tier Reading Instruction and Assessment (SED 427) - This course includes lectures, discussions, guided practice and applied learning experiences in the scope and sequence of progressively more intensive reading instruction and assessment for students with reading difficulties in kindergarten through grade 12, including students with diverse abilities and backgrounds. Starting with the five foundations of reading instruction (e.g., phonemic awareness, alphabetic principle, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension), the course describes the features of universal (e.g., Tier 1) core reading instruction then provides guided practice and applied learning experiences to prepare teachers to use progressively more intensive reading instruction and assessment based on student learning needs. Participants will learn how to select and use scientifically validated reading instruction and assessment practices for students needing supplemental (e.g., Tier 2), intensive (e.g., Tier 3), and special education reading instruction and assessment.

Assessment of Academic Achievement (SED 453) - This course is designed to prepare special educators to select, administer, score and interpret measures