Special Education (AIMS) Teacher - Amherst Regional Middle School

Amherst-Pelham Regional School District; Amherst (MA); On-site; USD 51,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Amherst-Pelham Regional School District is seeking a highly qualified, full-time Special Education Teacher for the Academic Individualized Mainstream Support (AIMS) Program at Amherst Regional Middle School. The role includes serving a cohort of sixth-grade students at Chestnut Street Academy and requires a Massachusetts license in Moderate Disabilities (Grades 5-8) or Severe Disabilities, All Levels.

Ideal candidates bring a neurodiversity-affirming lens, experience with Autism Spectrum

Qualifications

• Experience working with students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and neurodiverse profiles.
• Neurodiversity-affirming approach that respects differences and centers strengths.
• Knowledge of instructional and behavioral methodologies including Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).
• Experience creating and implementing positive behavioral supports and IEP processes.
• Strong case management and home-school communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide individualized and small-group instruction for middle school students and sixth-grade cohort at Chestnut Street Academy.
• Modify curriculum and assessments based on IEPs and student needs.
• Develop and monitor social-emotional and behavioral supports.
• Serve as case manager for IEP process including progress monitoring and documentation.
• Collaborate with general education teachers and service providers to support inclusion.

Skills

ASD experience

Neurodiversity-affirming

IEP knowledge

Social-emotional support

Executive functioning support

Family communication

Education

BA/BS in Education or related field

Job description

Special Education (AIMS) Teacher - Amherst Regional Middle School

Amherst-Pelham Regional School District Amherst-Pelham Regional School District - Amherst, Massachusetts Open in Google Maps Amherst Regional Middle School - Amherst, Massachusetts Open in Google Maps

Job Details

Job ID: 5944714

Application Deadline: Posted until filled

Posted: Sep 29, 2026 12:00 AM (UTC)

Starting Date: Immediately

Job Description

The Amherst-Pelham Regional School District is seeking a highly qualified, full-time Special Education Teacher for the Academic Individualized Mainstream Support (AIMS) Program at Amherst Regional Middle School. This position will also serve a cohort of sixth-grade students attending Chestnut Street Academy, which is located within the Middle School. The ideal candidate will bring a neurodiversity-affirming lens to their work, recognizing and building upon each student’s unique strengths, interests, communication style, and learning profile.

The AIMS Program provides specialized programming and services within a highly inclusive environment for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other similarly presenting neurological or learning profiles. The Special Education Teacher provides direct instruction in social skills, self-regulation, executive functioning, and academic content while supporting students’ successful participation in general education settings.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide individualized and small-group instruction to students at Amherst Regional Middle School and a cohort of sixth-grade students at Chestnut Street Academy.
• Provide instruction based on students’ academic, social-emotional, behavioral, and executive functioning needs.
• Modify and adapt curriculum, instruction, and assessments in accordance with students’ IEPs.
• Develop, implement, and monitor social-emotional and positive behavioral supports.
• Serve as a case manager and complete all aspects of the IEP process, including development, implementation, progress monitoring, and documentation.
• Maintain consistent and effective communication with students, families, educators, service providers, and educational team leaders.
• Collaborate with general education teachers, related service providers, administrators, outside agencies, and other members of multidisciplinary teams.
• Support students in general education classrooms and co-teach with general education teachers, as directed by the building administration.
• Provide supplemental or alternative instruction in core academic areas based on students’ individual needs.
• Teach students to understand their learning profiles, develop self-advocacy skills, and build upon their individual strengths and interests.
• Support students in developing independence and navigating social and behavioral expectations across structured and unstructured school environments.
• Design systems to collect and analyze student data and use the results to develop and monitor appropriate interventions.
• Supervise and collaborate with paraeducators, including providing guidance, feedback, and formal or informal evaluations.
• Create and maintain a structured, supportive learning environment that addresses students’ sensory, social, emotional, behavioral, and academic needs.
• Participate as an active member of the school’s professional learning community and multidisciplinary teams.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the building administration.

Qualifications

• Experience working with students with mild-to-moderate or intensive special needs, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and atypical learning profiles.
• A neurodiversity-affirming approach that respects neurological differences and centers students’ strengths, autonomy, dignity, communication preferences, and self-advocacy.
• Knowledge of research-based instructional and behavioral methodologies, including Applied Behavior Analysis.
• Experience developing and implementing positive behavioral supports and intervention plans.
• Experience providing individual and small-group instruction in social skills, self-regulation, and executive functioning.
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusive practices that support students academically, socially, and emotionally.
• Strong case management, organizational, time-management, and home-school communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple responsibilities, work independently, meet required timelines, and adapt within a fast-paced school environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to build effective, collaborative relationships with students, families, educators, paraeducators, service providers, administrators, educational team leaders, and outside agencies.
• Strong de-escalation skills.
• Training in, or willingness to be trained in, a Massachusetts-approved physical restraint prevention and intervention program.
• Experience working with a diverse student population within a multicultural school community.

Licensure

All candidates must hold or be eligible for an appropriate Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education license in Moderate Disabilities, Grades 5-8, or Severe Disabilities, All Levels.

Bilingual candidates who speak Spanish and English are strongly encouraged to apply.

Position Type: Full-time

Salary: $51,302 to $105,158 Per Year

Special Education > Excessive Needs/Severe/Profound Disabilities

Special Education > Mild/Moderate Disabilities

Special Education > Multiple Disabilities

Welcome to Amherst-Pelham Regional School District, Amherst Regional Middle School

The mission of our schools is to provide all students with a high quality education that enables them to be contributing members of a multi-ethnic, multicultural society. We seek to create an environment that achieves equity for all students and ensures that each student is a successful learner, is fully respected and learns to respect others.Our teachers, schools, and our community-at-large play an essential part of that mission., Amherst Regional Middle School is a 7th and 8th grade school serving students in the towns of Amherst, Pelham, Leverett and Shutesbury. We are located at 170 Chestnut Street in Amherst, MA. The school has approximately 625 students, organized into seven different teams. This team structure provides every student with an opportunity to study in a small learning community and to be known well by teachers and peers.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Amherst Public, Amherst-Pelham Regional and Pelham Public School Districts prohibits discrimination against employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, genetic information and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor degree preferred.
• Citizenship, residency or work visa required

Contact Information

• Damany Gordon , Diversity & Equity Specialist
• 170 Chestnut Street
• Amherst, Massachusetts 01002
• Phone: [phone]
• Fax: [phone]
• Email: [e-mail]