District-Wide Instructional Coach - Special Education (SY26-27)

Malden Public Schools • Malden, MA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Special Education Instructional Coach provides job-embedded coaching, professional development, and instructional support to special education teachers and paraprofessionals across district substantially-separate programs, including autism, social-emotional, and life skills settings. The position may also support the implementation of inclusion models for students with disabilities, including co-teaching. Reporting directly to the Program Manager for Instructional Support, the Instructional Coach works collaboratively with educators to strengthen instructional practices, implement evidence-based strategies, and improve outcomes for students with disabilities. This is a non-evaluative, capacity-building role focused on adult learning and continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Master in Special Education or a related field
• Valid state licensure/certification in Special Education (e.g., DESE license or equivalent)
• Minimum of five (5) years of successful teaching experience in special education, with a strong background in autism and/or substantially-separate programming
• Demonstrated knowledge of evidence-based practices for students with autism spectrum disorder and other complex needs
• Strong understanding of IEP development, data collection, and progress monitoring
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to build trusting relationships with adults and support a culture of continuous learning

Nice To Haves

• Experience in an instructional coaching or teacher leadership role
• BCBA certification or training in applied behavior analysis
• Familiarity with AAC systems and assistive technology
• Experience facilitating professional development and leading collaborative teams

Responsibilities

• Provide consistent, job-embedded coaching to special education teachers and Education Support Professionals in substantially-separate settings across the district
• Support special and general education co-teachers to effectively include students with disabilities in general education settings aligned with state curriculum frameworks and students’ individual needs
• Conduct regular non-evaluative classroom observations followed by structured, reflective coaching conversations focused on instructional growth and student engagement
• Model evidence-based instructional strategies, including structured teaching, co-teaching, applied behavior analysis (ABA) principles, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), and social-emotional learning frameworks
• Support teachers in designing and implementing high-quality, individualized lessons and interventions aligned with students' IEP goals
• Assist educators in using data to drive instructional decisions, adjust programming, and document student progress toward IEP goals
• Collaborate with related service providers (e.g., speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, BCBAs) to promote integrated, consistent support across settings
• Partner with district Special Education and Teaching and Learning teams to design and deliver ongoing targeted professional development for special education staff and general education co-teachers
• Facilitate small-group learning sessions, workshops, and collaborative teams focused on best practices for students with autism and other complex needs
• Support the onboarding and training of newly hired special education teachers and paraprofessionals
• Stay current with research, trends, and best practices in special education, autism programming, and instructional coaching
• Work closely with Special Education and school leaders to align coaching priorities with district program goals and the needs of individual school sites
• Assist in the development, implementation, and evaluation of program materials, tools, and instructional resources
• Support the implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and other behavioral frameworks across substantially-separate settings
• Serve as a resource and thought partner for school-based teams navigating complex student needs
• Maintain coaching logs, observation notes, and records of professional development activities
• Collect and analyze data related to coaching cycles and instructional improvement to share with the Program Manager
• Assist teachers in developing systems for tracking and documenting student progress toward IEP goals

Benefits

• Position is included in Malden Education Association Bargaining Unit (Unit A)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior