Special Education Teacher (Building Blocks Program)

The Amherst Public School District is seeking a full-time, qualified Special Education Teacher for our elementary therapeutic program at Amethyst Brook for the 26-27 school year. The Building Blocks Program provides specialized programming and services to students with one or more of the following challenges: academic, social, emotional, and/or behavioral. Students require therapeutic support throughout the day and may be integrated into the general education setting for portions depending on their individual needs. The program staff includes teachers, related service providers and para educators. This position requires strong leadership skills, organization, and a growth mindset.

The special education teacher will lead a substantially separate classroom which requires providing academic planning and instruction for students in grades K through 6th. It also includes direct instruction and support with social skills, self-regulation strategies, executive function, modifying and adapting curriculum, and developing, implementing and monitoring social and positive behavioral supports.

Highly qualified candidates possess the following:

• Strong positive, effective written and oral communication skills
• Ability to build effective, collaborative relationships with students, paraeducators, teachers, service providers, program coordinator, administration, families, educational team leaders, outside agencies, and to work as part of a professional learning community and multi-disciplinary team
• Strong case management and home-school communication skills
• Highly effective executive function skills including being well organized, strong time management skills, and able to work independently to meet timelines. Ability to multitask, show flexibility, and work within a fast paced environment
• Well developed skills to supervise and work collaboratively with paraeducator staff, including completing para formal and informal evaluations
• Experience with mild/moderate and atypical learning profiles
• Experience with completing all aspects of the IEP process including implementation, monitoring, and development
• Experience with a diverse population of students within a multicultural school community
• Experience with and commitment to inclusion that benefits students socially, emotionally and academically
• Strong skills in de-escalation. Trained, or willing to be trained in, a MA approved physical restraint procedure
• Ability to support students within the general education classroom, and/or co-teach with general education teachers as directed by building-based administration.

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

All candidates must hold Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Licensure in Moderate Disabilities, level K-8 or 5-12, 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.