Therapeutic Teacher

Serendipity Center Inc.; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent PTO

Comprehensive Benefits

Free Lunch

Casual Dress Code

Growth Opportunities

Job summary

Serendipity Center Inc. is seeking a dedicated Therapeutic Teacher to guide educational and administrative efforts within a private nonprofit setting. The role emphasizes IEP planning, collaboration with mental health staff, and delivering personalized instruction to students needing extra time and skill development.

Join a community-focused team with excellent PTO, comprehensive benefits, free lunches, and a supportive growth environment on campus.

Qualifications

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to effectively present information to students, groups of staff, and public groups.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

Responsibilities

• Contributes to the development of IEP Plan and oversees the implementation of IEP and Treatment Plan goals and documentation.
• Ensures learning activities and materials support instructional goals and promote pro-social skills.
• Evaluates student progress on academic, social and emotional goals for annual IEP meetings.
• Maintains knowledge of each student's abilities, goals, strengths, and mental health needs.
• Develops and implements age-appropriate lesson plans.
• Collaborates with mental health and classroom staff on goals, strategies, and interventions.
• Seeks guidance from the mental health team when behavior requires intervention.
• Maintains a safe, respectful classroom culture and professional rapport with students.
• Protects confidentiality of information related to students and families.
• Completes daily feedback to parents on Goal Sheets.
• Oversees activities of Program Assistants and Skills Trainers.
• Other duties may be assigned.

Skills

Reading & interpretation

Business writing

Public speaking

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Education certificate

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Transforming Education, Empowering Lives: Lead as our Therapeutic Teacher at Serendipity Center

Serendipity Center is leading the way in therapeutic education, offering a holistic approach that integrates Mental Health, Special Education, Wellness, and Transition Readiness. Our mission is clear: to empower students who need extra time, attention, and skill development to reach their full potential. As we grow, we are seeking a dedicated Therapeutic Teacher to help guide our educational and administrative efforts.

Why Serendipity Center?

At Serendipity Center, you'll find more than just a job - you'll find a community committed to excellence and support. As a private non-profit institution, we provide all the resources necessary for student success conveniently located on campus. Our commitment to small class sizes ensures that each student receives personalized attention, supported by a diverse team that includes teachers, Program Assistants, and a comprehensive array of professionals.

Perks and Benefits:

• Excellent PTO: Enjoy plenty of time off (48 hours of PTO/ 1st year) allowing for a healthy work-life balance, including breaks during school closures calculated out to a minimum of 32 paid days off during the school year.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Receive full health benefits starting on the 1st of the month following 30 days of employment. Participate in our 403(B)-retirement plan with a match after 1 year.
• Free Lunch: Enjoy free lunches during scheduled school days prepared by our kitchen team, featuring fresh ingredients from our garden.
• Casual Dress Code: Show up as your most authentic self and wear what makes you feel confident, comfortable and expresses your individual style.
• Growth Opportunities: Benefit from opportunities for personal and professional growth within a supportive and synergetic environment.

You'll Drive the Mission By:

• Contributes to the development of IEP Plan and oversees the implementation of IEP and Treatment Plan goals and documentation.
• Ensures that learning activities and materials support the instructional goals, engages all learners possible, and promotes pro-social and independent functioning; adjusts strategies as the conditions of the day require.
• Evaluates regularly student progress on academic, social and emotional goals; compiles this information for each student's annual IEP meeting.
• Maintains knowledge of each student's skill and achievement levels, learning modalities, IEP goals, strengths, disabilities, effective strategies, and mental heath issues. Applies this knowledge appropriately in planning and instructing.
• Develops and implements lesson plans appropriate for age and developmental ability.
• Collaborates with mental heath and classroom staff regarding goals, criteria, strategies, protocols and interventions for use inside and outside of class for individual students.
• Seeks advice, guidance and support from the mental health team when student behaviors require intervention.
• Establishes and monitors classroom learning culture defined by safety, respect, acceptance, creative problem solving, structure and positive responses to the efforts of students.
• Manages student behavior by adapting the prescribed discipline protocol system based upon individual needs and the needs of the group.
• Evaluates outcomes of disciplinary, intervention and instruction approaches making adjustments to maximize student behavioral learning, independence, and self-esteem.
• Maintains complete and accurate records for attendance, classroom performance, grades, credits, and lesson planning purposes; documents progress on IEP goals, behavioral contracts and other student plans.
• Facilitates Core Group; provides instruction, practice and support for students to acquire life skills such as goal setting and evaluation, self-management, planning, understanding, understanding rules of conduct, self-advocacy, effective communication, establishing and maintaining relationships, accessing resources and self-care.
• Coaches and provides support needed by students.
• Establishes and maintains a rapport with students characterized by professionalism and respect.
• Protects confidentiality of information related to students and families.
• Reports all suspicions of potential child abuse, neglect, self-harm and/or endangerment of others.
• Completes daily written feedback to parents on Goal Sheets.
• Oversees activities of Program Assistants and Skills Trainers working as a part of the classroom team; gives direction, guidance and feedback to these staff.
• Other duties may be assigned.

What Makes You Qualified?

• Education/experience: Bachelor's Degree plus Fifth year college or university program certificate in Education; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Certification/Licenses: Current Oregon Teaching License or current license from another state pending Oregon licensure; current CPI certification (can be obtained on the job).
• General Skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information to students, groups of staff, and public groups. Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Computer Skills: Microsoft Office.
• Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to bend, reach, twist, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must be able to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds. The employee must occasionally perform physical management techniques on children. Regular attendance is a necessary and essential function.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

While this position directs the activities of classroom staff, it does not include any supervisory responsibilities such as appraising performance, rewarding and disciplining employees, interviewing, and hiring.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to assault by a student. The employee is frequently exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but occasionally may be very loud.