Special Education Teacher-Essential Skills Program (Middle School)

Sylvania; Amherst (MA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The Amherst Pelham Regional School District is seeking a full-time special education teacher for our Middle School Essential Skills Program (ESP). The program serves a neurodiverse group requiring intensive programming and oversight throughout the school day for grades 6–8.

Qualified candidates will hold Massachusetts licensure in Moderate Disabilities PK-8 or Severe Disabilities at all levels, with experience in autism, inclusion, IEP processes, and data-driven instruction.

Qualifications

• Massachusetts DESE licensure required.
• Experience with autism, cognitive/health impairments preferred.
• Inclusion-focused instruction and IEP involvement.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct instruction in core academic areas and adaptive living skills for grades 6–8.
• Develop and monitor social skills and self-regulation strategies.
• Plan lessons aligned with standards and accommodations; complete IEP processes.

Education

Massachusetts Licensure: Moderate Disabilities PK-8 or Severe Disabilities (All Levels)

Job description

The Amherst Pelham Regional School District is seeking a full -time highly qualified special education teacher for our inclusive Middle School Essential Skills Program (ESP) which provides specialized programming and services to a neurodiverse group of students that require intensive programming and oversight throughout the school day. Students served in the program may have one or more disabilities in areas such as autism, cerebral palsy, cognitive impairment, and/or health impairments.

The position includes providing direct instruction to students, ranging in grades 6, 7 and 8, in core academic areas, adaptive living skills, social skills training and self-regulation strategies, modifying and adapting curriculum, and developing, implementing and monitoring social and positive behavioral supports.

Highly qualified candidates possess the following:

• Experience teaching students with autism, cognitive impairments, health impairments, and other neurodiverse learning profiles
• Experience with and commitment to inclusion that benefits students socially, emotionally and academically
• Provide instruction in the core curricular areas including lesson planning and development, implementation and modification of materials
• Ability to plan lessons to ensure alignment with standards and accommodations
• Experience with completing MCAS alt assessments
• Strong positive, interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships with students, staff, program coordinator, administration caregivers
• Ability to work closely and collaborative effectively with a team of teachers, service providers, and caregivers; ability work as a member of a professional learning community and multi-disciplinary team
• Strong case management skills including regular home-school communication and communication with outside agencies and service providers
• Strong ability to multitask and work within a fast paced environment focused on student learning, data collection, and measurable outcomes
• Highly effective executive function skills including being well organized, strong time management skills, and able to work independently to meet timelines
• Highly effective oral and written communication skills that promote and encourage collaboration with colleagues, parents, and administrators
• Strong ability to oversee and work collaboratively with paraprofessional staff
• Experience with research based methodologies including Applied Behavior Analysis and differential reinforcement
• Ability to design and implement effective positive behavioral supports and plans
• Strong skills with de-escalation and ability to use and supervise the use of DESE approved physical restraint
• Ability to design, collect and analyze data, as well as develop appropriate interventions and monitoring systems
• Experience with complete all aspects of the IEP process including implementation, monitoring, and development
• Experience with a diverse population of students within a multicultural school / community

Highly qualified candidates who are bilingual (Spanish / English) are desirable but not required.

Candidates must hold a Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Licensure in Moderate Disabilities, Level PK-8 or Severe Disabilities, All levels.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to assist students perform tasks, speak to deliver instruction and behavioral directives, and hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit, reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance and taste or smell. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. The employee may also be required to use physical interventions to maintain the safety of students.