Position: Extended Term Substitute, Teacher Special Educator, Post Grad

Available September 2023 through no later than December 2023

Office of Student Services/Cambridge Rindge & Latin School

Cambridge is a vibrant, diverse city and a central hub and driver of the nation’s innovation economy. Home of the renowned educational institutions of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge is also the center of an impressive array of biotechnology, science, and information technology companies.

Educating about 7,000 students JK-12, the Cambridge Public Schools includes award-winning faculty, cutting edge technology, and innovative programs. While each of our public schools is unique, they are joined in a shared vision of rigorous, joyful, and culturally responsive learning plus personalized support for every student. Over 30% of CPS students speak a language other than English at home, and over 65 languages are spoken by our families. Among the most common are Spanish, Haitian Creole, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, and Portuguese. Our schools proudly embrace this diversity.

The Office of Student Services (OSS) is responsible for providing a variety of supports and services to students in Cambridge Public Schools (CPS). Our programs are dedicated to ensuring equitable access and success for students with disabilities and students who have advanced learning needs.

The Role:

The Special Educator is responsible for providing specially designed instruction and community programming for students who are 18-22 years old in a broad and flexible post graduate program. The Special Educator will work collaboratively with special education and related services staff, outside agencies, and community partners to ensure that students with disabilities have positive post-secondary outcomes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide instruction to students using systematic, structured, and multisensory approaches to learning
• Demonstrate knowledge of researched based strategies and methodologies to address students with a wide range of disabilities including mild to moderate cognitive delays, ASD, weaknesses in communication, social pragmatics, emotional/social, and/or behavioral areas
• Create and implement robust transition plans for students that include self-determination, self-advocacy and student goal setting
• Support students’ progress in a variety of community college, training and workplace settings
• Provide direct, explicit instruction in transition/vocational areas
• Consult and collaborate with outside agencies, job sites, educational sites, related service providers, and the School to Work and Transition specialists
• Assist parents in accessing community resources to enrich their student’s learning and actively involve parents in all areas of planning for their student’s education
• Integrate technology within the instruction to increase student comprehension and interests
• Progress monitor student mastery of IEP goals and objectives using various assessments and data collection tools
• Provide paraprofessionals with specific training regarding their responsibilities with regular feedback on performance
• Chair team meetings, develop Individual Education Programs (IEPs - goals and objectives) and complete all required documentation in a timely manner
• Administer formal and informal assessments and analyze data to inform decisions regarding IEP goals/objectives, learning approaches/content and support
• Any related duties as outlined by the Assistant Superintendent, Special Education Director and/or Coordinator of the Office of Student Services

Your Skill Set:

As the incoming Post Grad Special Educator, you will possess many, though perhaps not all, of the following characteristics and qualifications:

• Broad knowledge and experience of programs and services specific to students’ areas of eligibility (eg. autism, academic, behavior, learning, etc.)
• Above average skills in collaboration
• Excellent skills in oral and written communication
• Demonstrated ability in collaborating and supporting parents and families
• Demonstrated ability to problem solve
• General knowledge of various formal and informal assessments to monitor student progress and skills
• General knowledge of state and federal special education guidelines and requirements
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university in Special Education, Master’s preferred
• Experience teaching or student teaching in urban environments
• Willingness to be trained and certified in (CPI) Crisis Prevention
• Massachusetts Certification for Students with Moderate Disabilities (5-12) or for Students with Severe Disabilities preferred

Cambridge Public Schools is committed to slowing and/or stopping the spread of COVID-19. Therefore, as a condition of employment with Cambridge Public Schools, all new hires will be required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 no later than their first day of work. Written requests for either a religious exemption from this requirement based on sincerely held religious beliefs, or for a medical exemption based upon clear documentation from a medical provider should be submitted to the attention of the Chief Talent Officer.

How to Join Our Team:

Please upload a resume and thoughtful cover letter, outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position and stating how you heard about this opportunity. 

At the Cambridge Public Schools, we are committed to cultivating an environment where diverse perspectives and backgrounds are embraced, acknowledging that a team reflecting diversity of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, gender, marital/domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, and veteran status allows us to serve our communities better. To that end, we welcome and encourage applicants to bring their authentic selves when considering employment opportunities within our school district.