Teacher - Transitions Academy Special Education

Holyoke Public Schools; Holyoke (MA); On-site; USD 57,000 - 93,000; Full time

Job summary

Holyoke Public Schools seeks a Transitions Academy Special Education Teacher to serve students ages 18–22 with disabilities, guiding functional academics, independent living skills, vocational development and postsecondary readiness. You will develop IEP-aligned plans, collaborate with families and partners, manage work-based learning, and maintain accurate records.

A valid Massachusetts Moderate Disabilities license (grades 5–12) and one year teaching experience are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Valid Massachusetts Moderate Disabilities license for grades 5–12 required.
• At least one year of full-time teaching experience.
• At least three years of experience supporting students with autism in an inclusive setting.
• Experience working with students ages 18–22 or providing transition services preferred.
• Knowledge of IEP development, transition planning, person-centered planning, and community-based instruction.
• Ability to interpret and apply student performance data to instructional planning.
• Commitment to supporting the academic, vocational, social, and independent-living success of every student.
• Strong written, verbal, organizational, and teamwork skills.
• Experience working in an urban school setting preferred.
• Experience working with diverse student populations preferred.
• Bilingual applicants, particularly Spanish-speaking applicants, are strongly encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a Moderate Disabilities Special Education Teacher for students ages 18–22.
• Develop lesson plans and provide targeted instruction aligned with students’ IEP goals.
• Provide instruction in functional academics, vocational skills, social skills, independent living, and postsecondary readiness.
• Assist with the development and implementation of person-centered plans.
• Ensure that all IEP services, accommodations, and modifications are implemented consistently.
• Develop individualized transition activities based on each student’s needs, interests, strengths, and vision for adulthood.
• Plan and support work-based learning, community-based instruction, travel training, recreational opportunities, and other real-world learning experiences.
• Collaborate with families, school staff, community partners, and adult service agencies to coordinate transition planning and services.
• Maintain positive and consistent communication with families through outreach, progress updates, meetings, and family events.
• Create a safe, supportive, and engaging classroom environment that promotes independence and self-advocacy.
• Use a variety of instructional strategies, materials, and technology to meet individual student needs.
• Establish and communicate clear objectives for lessons, units, projects, and community-based activities.
• Regularly assess student progress, provide required progress reports, and use data to adjust instruction.
• Maintain accurate and complete student records in accordance with state law, district policy, and administrative requirements.
• Participate in IEP meetings, staff meetings, professional learning, and school committees as required.
• Plan and supervise purposeful assignments for paraprofessionals, educational coaches, and volunteers.
• Support the professional growth and evaluation of assigned support staff in collaboration with school leadership.
• Maintain and strengthen professional knowledge related to special education and transition programming.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Strong written communication

Strong verbal communication

Organizational skills

Teamwork

Bilingual (Spanish) encouraged

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Massachusetts Moderate Disabilities license (grades 5–12)

Job description

Teacher - Transitions Academy Special Education

Teacher - Transitions Academy Special Education Holyoke Public Schools PUPIL SERVICES - HOLYOKE, Massachusetts Open in Google Maps

This job is also posted in Holyoke Public Schools

Job Details

Job ID: 5954403
Application Deadline: Oct 30, 2026 11:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time)
Posted: Oct 08, 2026 4:00 AM (UTC)
Starting Date: Aug 19, 2026

Job Description

DISTRICT OVERVIEW

Holyoke Public Schools is a PreK-12 public school district serving nearly 4,800 students, of whom 80 percent are Latino/Latina, in 11 schools. We employ nearly 1,300 people who together educate and support a richly diverse community of learners. We are committed to recruiting and retaining top-quality educators who believe all children can and will learn and who strive daily to make school a joyful place of discovery, support, and belonging.

Holyoke Public Schools’ strategic plan , "Moving Forward Together," builds on the strengths of our past while serving as a call to action to accelerate student learning by thinking differently about how we teach, how we work together, and how we support students’ well-being.

Many successes contributed to Holyoke’s return to local governance after 10 years in state receivership. These include:

• The highest graduation rate on record of 77.1 percent, an increase of more than 15-points over 10 years
• Meaningful, applied learning opportunities for high school students, including theme-based academies, career vocational technical education programming, work-based learning, and advanced coursework
• A comprehensive approach to early literacy that includes strong core instruction and one-on-one tutoring, contributing to more students reading at grade level
• A thriving dual language English/Spanish program, where nearly 900 students are on their path to becoming bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural

• More than one-third of Holyoke teachers identify as people of color, a 19-point increase over 10 years. Many partnership programs support staff to earn licensure or additional certification.

Please visit the Holyoke Public Schools website to learn more about us , our recent accomplishments , and our commitment to equity .

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PERSPECTIVA GENERAL DEL DISTRITO

Las Escuelas Públicas de Holyoke son un distrito escolar público que cuenta con 11 escuelas de prekínder a 12.° grado y acoge a casi 4 800 estudiantes, de los cuales el 80 % se identifica como latino o latina. Empleamos a casi 1 300 personas que, en conjunto, educan y apoyan a una comunidad de estudiantes altamente diversa. Estamos comprometidos a contratar y retener educadores de alta calidad que creen firmemente que todos los niños pueden aprender y aprenderán, y que se esfuerzan diariamente por hacer de la escuela un lugar alegre de descubrimiento, apoyo y pertenencia.

El plan estratégico de las Escuelas Públicas de Holyoke , “Avanzando Juntos”, se basa en nuestras fortalezas previas y, al mismo tiempo, sirve como un llamado a la acción para acelerar el aprendizaje estudiantil a través de una nueva perspectiva sobre cómo enseñamos, cómo trabajamos en colaboración y cómo apoyamos el bienestar de los estudiantes.

Existen numerosos logros que permitieron a Holyoke recuperar el control local después de 10 años de administración judicial. Entre estos logros se encuentran:

• La tasa de graduación más alta registrada, del 77.1 %, lo que representa un aumento de más de 15 puntos porcentuales en 10 años
• Oportunidades significativas de aprendizaje práctico para estudiantes de secundaria, que incluyen academias temáticas, programas de educación técnica y vocacional, aprendizaje basado en el trabajo y cursos avanzados
• Un enfoque integral de la alfabetización temprana que combina una sólida instrucción básica con tutorías individuales, lo cual ha contribuido a que más estudiantes lean a nivel de grado
• Un próspero programa bilingüe de inglés/español, en el que casi 900 estudiantes avanzan hacia el bilingüismo, la biliteracidad , y la biculturalidad.

• Más de un tercio de los maestros de Holyoke se identifican como personas de etnicidad diversa, lo que representa un aumento de 19 puntos porcentuales en 10 años. Diversas colaboraciones con programas que han contribuido a que miembros del personal obtengan sus certificaciones o credenciales adicionales.

Visite el sitio web de las Escuelas Públicas de Holyoke para obtener más información sobre nuestra comunidad , nuestros logros recientes y nuestro compromiso con la equidad .

Holyoke Transitions Academy is designed to prepare students with disabilities, ages 18-22, for their change in status from a student to an emergent adult role. We focus on such facets of life as employment, post-secondary education, home care and maintenance, community involvement, and social and personal

relationships.

TRANSITIONS ACADEMY OUR MISSION AND PROGRAM

The Transition Specialist works closely with the student, family, and team to understand the student’s vision. Students are provided with a coordinated set of individualized activities to meet that vision. Coordinated activity examples include work-based learning experiences, recreational opportunities, community-based education, and daily workshops in social, vocational, and functional academics, based on the student's individual education program (IEP). The Transition Specialist works closely with state agency services for adults to assure students have a smooth transition into adulthood once they turn 22.

Transitions Academy Special Education Teacher

Position Overview

The Transitions Academy Special Education Teacher serves students ages 18–22 and works closely with students, families, staff, and community partners to support each student’s vision for adulthood. The teacher develops coordinated, individualized programming based on each student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), strengths, interests, and postsecondary goals.

Programming includes functional academics, independent living skills, vocational development, community-based education, recreational opportunities, and work-based learning experiences. The teacher also collaborates with adult service agencies to help students experience a smooth transition into adult services when they exit the program.

Essential Responsibilities

• Serve as a Moderate Disabilities Special Education Teacher for students ages 18–22.
• Develop lesson plans and provide targeted instruction aligned with students’ IEP goals.
• Provide instruction in functional academics, vocational skills, social skills, independent living, community access, and postsecondary readiness.
• Assist with the development and implementation of person-centered plans.
• Ensure that all IEP services, accommodations, and modifications are implemented consistently.
• Develop individualized transition activities based on each student’s needs, interests, strengths, and vision for adulthood.
• Plan and support work-based learning, community-based instruction, travel training, recreational opportunities, and other real-world learning experiences.
• Collaborate with families, school staff, community partners, and adult service agencies to coordinate transition planning and services.
• Maintain positive and consistent communication with families through outreach, progress updates, meetings, and family events.
• Create a safe, supportive, and engaging classroom environment that promotes independence and self-advocacy.
• Use a variety of instructional strategies, materials, and technology to meet individual student needs.
• Establish and communicate clear objectives for lessons, units, projects, and community-based activities.
• Regularly assess student progress, provide required progress reports, and use data to adjust instruction.
• Maintain accurate and complete student records in accordance with state law, district policy, and administrative requirements.
• Participate in IEP meetings, staff meetings, professional learning, and school committees as required.
• Plan and supervise purposeful assignments for paraprofessionals, educational coaches, and volunteers.
• Support the professional growth and evaluation of assigned support staff in collaboration with school leadership.
• Maintain and strengthen professional knowledge related to special education and transition programming.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Valid Massachusetts Moderate Disabilities license for grades 5–12 required.
• At least one year of full-time teaching experience.
• At least three years of experience supporting students with autism in an inclusive setting.
• Experience working with students ages 18–22 or providing transition services preferred.
• Knowledge of IEP development, transition planning, person-centered planning, and community-based instruction.
• Ability to interpret and apply student performance data to instructional planning.
• Commitment to supporting the academic, vocational, social, and independent-living success of every student.
• Strong written, verbal, organizational, and teamwork skills.
• Experience working in an urban school setting preferred.
• Experience working with diverse student populations preferred.
• Bilingual applicants, particularly Spanish-speaking applicants, are strongly encouraged to apply.

Position Type: Full-Time

Salary: $56,650 to $92,875 FT10

Job Categories:
Special Education > Mild/Moderate Disabilities

Equal Opportunity Employer

Holyoke Public Schools is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of a person's race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national Origin, ancestry, age, sex, genetic information, military or veteran status, gender identity or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally, we prohibit retaliation against individuals who oppose such discrimination and harassment or who participate in an equal opportunity investigation.

Job Requirements

• Citizenship, residency or work visa required

Contact Information

• Email: [e-mail]