Middle School Special Education Teacher

Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter School • Boston, MA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter Public School (APR) is seeking a Special Education Teacher for their middle school program. APR is a tuition-free, public charter school serving 540 students in Grades 5-12 from Boston, with a focus on a rigorous, college preparatory program. The school is committed to empowering diverse learners and fostering a supportive, inclusive community. The ideal candidate will be a driven, passionate educator dedicated to their craft, embracing feedback and continuous learning. This role involves a variety of responsibilities focused on student outcomes through excellent teaching and teamwork.

Requirements

• Demonstrated belief that all children can achieve their full intellectual and social potential
• Epitomizes APR’s values in all interactions
• A Bachelor’s degree is required
• Teachers must either be certified or licensed to teach in Massachusetts or have passed, prior to the end of their first year of employment, the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL). This includes a passing score on the Communication and Literacy Skills test and a passing score on the relevant subject matter knowledge test(s).
• Teachers should hold an SEI (Sheltered English Immersion) endorsement or complete this prior to the end of their first year of employment;

Nice To Haves

• A Master’s degree is preferred
• A minimum of two years teaching experience in a charter or district school setting serving a similar demographic preferred, but not required.

Responsibilities

• Leading and supporting classrooms in which students are affirmed for their brilliance, curiosity and intellect
• Modeling a deep passion, expertise and excitement for content matter
• Designing and implementing standards-aligned courses and curricular units that are rigorous, enriching and foster critical thinking
• Creating a classroom with a strong culture of achievement, through the use of best practices, that promotes student growth and achievement
• Continually providing students with feedback to strengthen their mastery of daily, weekly and unit learning targets
• Collaborating with teachers and other specialists to modify curriculum, internalize, and deliver instruction to meet the individual needs of students with diverse learning needs. In some instances, leverage existing curriculum to plan intentionally for Foundations classes.
• Leveraging data to provide students with high impact, targeted and individualized intervention
• Developing students understanding of core values, critical consciousness and social-emotional capacity through APR’s advisory structure, Dragon Circles
• Writing and implementing IEPs, assess students’ performance, and track their progress
• Providing test accommodations to students
• Providing regular tutoring and office hour supports for students
• Developing Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) annually to reflect students’ progress and goals for students on assigned caseload
• Writing quarterly progress reports for students with IEPs
• Attending all initial, reevaluation, and annual review meetings for students on caseload
• Conducting educational assessments as needed (i.e. WIAT IV)
• Preparing and presenting all educational evaluations for initial and reevaluation meetings
• Collaborating with other evaluators to ensure that all assessments are completed to gain full insight into the student’s needs
• Skillfully interpret assessment findings and relate them to educational performance and needs
• Making recommendations regarding accommodations, modifications, services and/or other supports to address those needs
• Presenting key, relevant assessment findings to students and families in a clear, concise, non-technical, respectful manner, and engage them in a constructive conversation to promote student learning
• Supporting intervention planning and intentional implementation for students who require additional academic and/or social-emotional support
• Mentoring 10-15 students, through regular advisory meetings and family meetings
• Developing strong relationships and partnerships with families through regular communication around academic and behavioral successes and challenges
• Maintaining and communicating up-to-date, accurate student grades and progress relative to academic benchmarks
• Attending occasional family and community partnership events
• Actively participating in professional development at the school and individual level including summer Dragon Institute, weekly professional development and individualized coaching sessions
• Engaging in a reflective process to continually strengthen teaching and learning practices
• Performing necessary support duties including (but not limited to) coverage, bus, lunch, and dismissal duties to ensure that students learn and thrive in a safe and supportive school environment
• Regular, predictable attendance according to APR’s school calendar and staff attendance policy
• Embodying our belief that all students can achieve
• Active, regular collaboration and communication with the team to advance APR’s mission
• Committing to continual personal and organizational growth
• Tenaciously fostering the learning of every student
• Embracing diversity and the goals of equity and inclusion

What This Job Offers

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