Description

Summary:

Under the overall direction/supervision of the Associate Director of Education and as part of an interdisciplinary team, the special education teacher develops, implements, and monitors academic curriculum for an assigned classroom of 5-8 students within a 1:3 ratio. The teacher of special education is responsible for planning and providing appropriate learning activities for students with disabilities that provides specialized instruction and appropriate learning accommodations and modifications, so that students benefit from the curriculum frameworks to the greatest extent possible.

Primary Job Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement relevant sections of Individual Education Plans (IEPs), Individual Service Plans (ISPs), Quarterly Reports and Discharge Reports for assigned students.
• Provide differentiated instruction to students in academic, social and life skills using a variety of best evidenced based practices.
• Participate in and administer alternate assessment and on-demand MCAS testing for assigned students.
• Train and provide ongoing supervision to teacher assistants and 1:1 aides assigned to the classroom.
• Develop and submit lesson plans that are aligned with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks, including appropriate modifications for individual student learners.
• Serve as member of a multi-disciplinary team and collaborate with related service providers to provide individualized programming designed to meet students’ educational, communication, and social emotional development.
• Provide direct and indirect instructional supports to students in a positive learning environment.
• Participate and contribute to ongoing curriculum development initiatives.
• Attend scheduled meetings for assigned students.
• Maintain an environment conducive to learning through implementation of specific communication and Individual Behavior Treatment Plans for assigned students.
• Responsible for ensuring all data collection of student specific skill acquisition plans and all specified target behaviors.
• Maintain regular contact with parents to discuss their children’s progress and priorities for their child’s educational needs.
• Maintain effective and ongoing contact with other day and residential staff to ensure continuity and consistency of programming for assigned students.
• Work as a member of a team to maintain a clean, safe, positive learning environment for each individual.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Essential Job Functions:

• Regular attendance at work is an essential function of the job including weekends, holidays and inclement weather situations.
• Demonstrated evidence of mature judgment, good interpersonal skills, a desire to enrich individuals' lives and a willingness to learn from skilled professionals.
• Physical and mental capacity to work in stressful situations and de-escalate individuals who have limited cognition and complex needs
• Must be able to organize, plan, and prioritize activities with specific attention to higher level strategies while ensuring that details are also effectively addressed.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English is an essential function of the job.
• Pass Guild Driving test to access Guild vehicles for transportations of individuals. 
• The ability to implement crisis intervention techniques as necessary, including Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (via certification through CPI)
• The ability to assist individuals in evacuation from the residence

Qualifications

Qualifications:

• Bachelor required, Master's eligible/enrolled 
• Massachusetts Certification in Moderate or Severe Special Needs, enrollment in approved teacher prep program, or participation in structured guidance and supports required.
• Training or experience teaching skills to a students who have mental health diagnoses and/or developmental disabilities
• Ability to demonstrate supervisory and administrative skills.
• Must meet Massachusetts Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) background check requirements.
• Reliable transportation to residential homes located in Massachusetts