Special Education (AIMS) Teacher - Amherst Regional High School

Amherst Pelham Regional School District•Amherst, MA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Amherst-Pelham Regional School District is seeking a full-time highly qualified special education teacher for our highly inclusive high school Academic Individualized Mainstream Support (AIMS) Program. This program provides specialized programming and services to students who have a high functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder or other similarly presenting neurological conditions. The position includes providing direct instruction to students at Amherst Regional High School in social skills, self-regulation strategies, executive function, modifying and adapting curriculum, and developing, implementing and monitoring social and positive behavioral supports.

Requirements

Strong positive, effective written and oral communication skills.
Ability to build effective, collaborative relationships with students, paraeducators, teachers, service providers, administration, families, educational team leaders, and outside agencies.
Ability 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 formal and informal evaluations.
Experience with mild/moderate and/or intensive special needs, autism, and atypical learning profiles.
Experience with research-based methodologies including Applied Behavior Analysis.
Experience with completing all aspects of the IEP process including implementation, monitoring, and development.
Experience and training in providing individual and small group social skills instruction, familiarity with social skills and self-regulation programs.
Ability to support students within the general education classroom, and/or co-teach with general education teachers as directed by building-based administration.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Licensure in Moderate Disabilities, level 5-12, or Severe Disabilities, All levels.

Nice To Haves

Highly qualified candidates who are bilingual (Spanish / English) are desirable but not required.
Trained, or willing to be trained in, a MA approved physical restraint procedure.

Responsibilities

Providing direct instruction to students in social skills, self-regulation strategies, and executive function.
Modifying and adapting curriculum.
Developing, implementing, and monitoring social and positive behavioral supports.
Designing, collecting, and analyzing data, and developing appropriate interventions and monitoring systems.
Completing all aspects of the IEP process, including implementation, monitoring, and development.
Providing individual and small group social skills instruction.
Creating and maintaining an environment conducive to the student population, making accommodations and modifications to support sensory, social, and emotional needs.
Understanding and responding to the perspectives displayed by the student population, helping them understand their learning profile, learn to self-advocate, self-determine their vision, and develop their talents and strengths.
Facilitating and developing student independence in communicative interactions with peers and adults, analyzing and navigating through the social/behavioral expectations in structured and unstructured school environments.
Providing supplemental or alternative instruction in core curricular areas as individually needed by students.
Supporting students within the general education classroom and/or co-teaching with general education teachers as directed by building-based administration.