Certified Special Education Teacher

Area Cooperative Educational Services•North Haven, CT

About The Position

The ASCEND program at ACES Mill Road School supports students on the autism spectrum through an individualized, structured, and supportive learning environment. The program fosters academic achievement, social-emotional growth, communication, and independence. It recognizes each student's strengths, interests, and unique learning profile while supporting academic, social, emotional, and behavioral needs. The teacher implements a rigorous, engaging, integrated curriculum that promotes access to grade-level standards through targeted instruction, differentiated learning strategies, and assistive technology. The role also supports the development of social communication, self-advocacy, executive functioning, and problem-solving skills, and fosters an inclusive classroom community through predictable routines, structured learning opportunities, positive relationships, and individualized sensory and behavioral supports. The teacher builds partnerships with families, related service providers, and community resources to support consistency and continuity across settings, and prepares students for transitions beyond the program by building academic, social-emotional, communication, and independent-living skills. The ideal candidate is collaborative, flexible, and student-centered, understands the learning profiles of students on the autism spectrum, and balances high academic expectations with individualized support.

Requirements

Connecticut teacher certification in special education is required.
Candidates currently enrolled in a Special Education Teacher preparation program may be considered if eligible for a Durational Shortage Area Permit (DSAP).
Strong knowledge of Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Knowledge of and ability to facilitate reading, writing, and mathematics.
Knowledge of standards-based instruction and reporting.
Ability to establish and maintain an environment conducive to learning with groups and individuals.
Knowledge of and ability to use current and appropriate assessment instruments and practices.
Ability to develop clear and specific written documentation of assessment results.
Ability to participate in ongoing evaluation of students and maintain written documentation of learner progress.

Responsibilities

Provide individualized instruction that recognizes students' strengths, interests, and learning profiles while supporting their academic, social, emotional, and behavioral needs.
Implement a rigorous, engaging, integrated curriculum that provides access to grade-level standards using targeted instruction, differentiated strategies, and assistive technology.
Develop students' social communication, self-advocacy, executive functioning, and problem-solving skills.
Establish a supportive and inclusive classroom environment with predictable routines, structured learning opportunities, positive relationships, and individualized sensory and behavioral supports.
Partner with families, related service providers, and community resources to ensure consistency, collaboration, and continuity of support.
Prepare students for successful transitions beyond the program by building academic, social-emotional, communication, and independent-living skills.
Facilitate reading, writing, and mathematics.
Apply standards-based instruction and reporting.
Establish and maintain an environment conducive to learning for groups and individuals.
Use appropriate assessment instruments and practices, document assessment results, participate in ongoing student evaluation, and maintain written documentation of learner progress.