Program Instructor / Special Education Instructor / ESE

The WOW Center Miami; Miami (FL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

The WOW Center Miami is seeking a compassionate Wellness Instructor to empower adults with developmental disabilities through person-centered activities that build confidence and independence.

You will design adaptive programs around healthy living, movement, nutrition, and life skills, track goals, document progress, and collaborate with instructors and clinical staff to ensure consistent support for each participant.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Proficient in documentation and basic computer use.
• Ability to develop creative, structured, and adaptive lesson plans.
• Comfortable facilitating activities that include physical movement, arts, or life skills.
• Bachelor's degree in field related to special education, psychology or related field (education).

Responsibilities

• Create a positive, structured classroom environment that supports learning and independence.
• Plan and implement daily instructional activities across life skills, arts, wellness, and community integration.
• Adapt lesson plans to meet diverse needs of individuals with varying support levels.
• Facilitate activities that promote independence at home and in the community; track progress.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Documentation & computer use

Lesson planning

Patient & empathetic

Activity facilitation

Education

Bachelor's degree in special education / psychology or related field

Job description

AboutTheWOW Center

At The WOW Center, we believe that every person deserves the opportunity to grow, connect, and thrive. Our culture is rooted in compassion, inclusion, and genuine joy in what we do. We don’t just teach — we empower adults with developmental disabilities to live more confidently, independently, and meaningfully within their communities.

We are guided by our core values of Empathy, Excellence, Passion, Serving, Teamwork, and Continuous Improvement— principles that shape how we support the individuals we serve, collaborate with one another, and grow as an organization every day.

Ifyou’resomeone who loves uplifting others, celebrates wins big and small, and thrives in a collaborative environment,you’llfeel right at home here.

You Might Be a Great Fit If...

You’re warm, patient, and encouraging, and you enjoy helping others build confidence, independence, and healthy habits. You’re passionate about whole-person wellness and can make topics like movement, nutrition, self-care, emotional wellness, creative expression, and everyday life skills engaging and meaningful.

You’re creative and adaptable, with the ability to meet people where they are and adjust activities for different interests, abilities, and support needs. You’re also organized, dependable, and proactive—comfortable planning structured activities, tracking individual goals and progress, and creating a positive, supportive learning environment.

Most importantly, you bring compassion, positivity, and a person-centered approach to your work. You recognize that wellness looks different for everyone and enjoy helping each person discover what makes them feel healthy, confidence, connected, and successful. If that sounds like you, you could be a great fit for our team!

What You'll Do…

As our Wellness Instructor, you’ll create and lead engaging, person-centered activities that help adults with developmental disabilities build skills that support their overall well-being, confidence, and independence.

You’ll develop structured and adaptive programming around healthy living, movement, nutrition, self-care, emotional wellness, creative expression, life skills, and community participation—finding fun and meaningful ways to make wellness accessible to individuals with different abilities, interests, and support needs.

You’ll encourage individuals to actively participate and work toward their personal goals while adapting activities so everyone has an opportunity to learn and succeed. You’ll also track individual goals and progress, maintain accurate documentation, support health and safety, and collaborate with other members of the program team to provide consistent, individualized support.

Above all, you’ll create a welcoming environment where individuals are encouraged to try new things, express themselves, build healthy habits, and celebrate their progress along the way.

Qualifications

• 2+ years' experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities in a classroom, community, or recreational setting.
• Bachelors’ degree in field related to the field of special education, psychology or related field.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to develop creative, structured, and adaptive lesson plans.
• Comfortable facilitating activities that include physical movement, arts, or life skills.
• Proficient in documentation and basic computer use.

Professional Responsibilities and Duties

Health, Safety, and Record Keeping

• Ensure the health, safety, and welfare of individuals at all times, both on-site and during community outings.
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date documentation for each participant, in compliance with The WOW Center’s policies and state guidelines.
• Monitor participant progress and behaviors, reporting any concerns to supervisory or clinical staff.

Program Delivery & Instruction

• Create a positive, structured classroom environment that supports learning, social connections, and individual expression.
• Plan and implement daily instructional activities across a variety of areas including life skills, creative arts, communication, wellness, personal development, and community integration.
• Adapt lesson plans to meet the diverse needs of individuals with varying support levels.
• Facilitate activities that promote independence at home and in the community, such as cooking, budgeting, hygiene, and social skills.
• Encourage active participation and engagement in a variety of enrichment experiences.
• Support healthy living initiatives through wellness lessons, movement activities, and nutrition education.

Individual Goals

• Develop Individual Program Plans (IPP) aligned with each participant’s personal goals, needs, and interests.
• Track and document progress toward goals; maintain updated individual tracking sheets.
• Collaborate with homeroom Instructors, occupational support, and clinical staff to monitor individual outcomes and adjust instructional strategies.
• Participate in IPP meetings and interdisciplinary team planning.

Collaboration and Communication

• Partner with other WOW Center staff to coordinate and support center-wide activities and special events.
• Communicate regularly with social services and support staff regarding participant progress, engagement, and any issues observed in class.
• Actively contribute to a positive, mission-driven team culture that promotes respect, collaboration, and continuous learning.