Special Ed Teacher

Arbor Associates; Springfield (MA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Arbor Associates is seeking a dedicated Special Education Teacher to provide academic, social-emotional, and behavioral support within a highly structured therapeutic school environment. The teacher will work with a multidisciplinary team to implement IEPs, differentiated instruction, and individualized supports.

Responsibilities include supervising students, assessing progress, developing daily lesson plans, maintaining grading and progress notes, and collaborating with families and staff to

Responsibilities

• Supervise students to ensure safety, engagement and participation.
• Provide individualized support based on academic, behavioral, social, and emotional needs.
• Develop individualized plans to support skill development and credit recovery.
• Maintain continuity of instruction during disruptions and collaborate with support staff for student safety.
• Assess students' current performance to inform instruction.
• Develop and implement differentiated instruction tailored to students' needs and strengths.
• Teach content areas and implement daily schedules across content areas and related services.
• Develop and display daily, standards-based learning targets and weekly lesson plans.
• Collect and analyze benchmark data to set goals and monitor progress.
• Prepare quarterly IEP progress notes and report cards within timelines.
• Actively participate in the IEP process and ensure goals and services are implemented.
• Maintain an organized, structured classroom environment and promote safety.
• Assess social, emotional, and behavioral performance to guide instruction.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and communicate with families and staff.

Job description

Special Education Teacher – Moderate Disabilities Position Overview

We are seeking a dedicated Special Education Teacher to provide comprehensive academic, social-emotional, and behavioral support within a highly structured therapeutic school environment. The teacher will work as part of a multidisciplinary team to develop and implement individualized education programs (IEPs), differentiated instruction, and individualized supports that address the diverse needs of students. The ideal candidate will be committed to creating a safe, engaging, structured, and supportive learning environment while helping students make meaningful academic, behavioral, and social-emotional progress.

Student Supervision & Support

• Supervise and monitor students throughout the school day to ensure their safety, engagement, and participation.
• Provide individualized support based on students' academic, behavioral, social, and emotional needs.
• Develop individualized plans when necessary to support skill development and credit recovery.
• Maintain continuity of academic instruction during disruptions while collaborating with support staff to maintain student safety.

Academic Instruction & Assessment

• Assess students' current academic performance levels to inform instruction.
• Develop and implement differentiated instruction tailored to students' individual needs and strengths.
• Teach assigned content areas based on the needs of the school community.
• Implement daily schedules across content areas and related services.
• Develop and display daily, standards-based, student-friendly learning targets.
• Create weekly lesson plans using the school's designated planning format.
• Collect and analyze benchmark assessment data throughout the school year to establish goals and monitor student progress.
• Maintain accurate grading records, including at least three graded assignments per week.
• Use student data to prepare quarterly report cards and inform IEP goals and objectives.

IEP Responsibilities

• Actively participate in the IEP process.
• Ensure IEP goals, accommodations, modifications, and service delivery are current and appropriately implemented.
• Prepare and submit quarterly IEP progress notes and report cards within established timelines.

Classroom Environment

• Develop and maintain an organized, highly structured classroom environment conducive to learning and appropriate to students' maturity and interests.
• Employ a variety of instructional techniques and media while considering students' physical limitations and individual capabilities.
• Maintain a clean, welcoming, organized, and safe classroom environment.
• Take appropriate precautions to protect instructional materials, electronics, and facilities.

Behavioral & Social-Emotional Support

• Assess students' social, emotional, and behavioral performance levels to guide instruction and support.
• Employ therapeutic approaches to reduce maladaptive behaviors and promote prosocial skills.
• Discuss student strengths and areas of need using a trauma-informed, strengths-based approach.
• Maintain compliance with required safety and behavior-management training.

Collaboration & Communication

• Collaborate closely with the multidisciplinary student team.
• Effectively oversee and utilize instructional assistants to support student needs.
• Communicate professionally with parents, guardians, and other members of the student support team.
• Attend staff meetings, professional development activities, and school functions as directed.

Professional Responsibilities

• Demonstrate cultural awareness and respect for students' diverse backgrounds.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and adhere to applicable policies, practices, and regulations.
• Pursue ongoing professional development to maintain licensure and certification requirements.
• Participate actively in performance evaluations and other professional assessments.
• Perform other duties as assigned by school administration.