Special Education Teacher-Elementary BRIDGE Therapeutic Classroom

Newton Public Schools•Newton, MA

19d

About The Position

The Special Education Teacher for the Bridge Program provides specialized instruction and therapeutic intervention for elementary school students with social emotional learning needs. This teacher provides small group specialized instruction in both substantially separate and general education settings targeting curriculum frameworks with modifications as needed, positive social/emotional outcomes, and explicit skills related to IEP goals. This teacher contributes to the development of a healthy and safe environment by advancing the understanding of the social, emotional and developmental needs of students and their families and has a strong belief that all kids can succeed.

Requirements

Requisite licensure as defined by the DESE (Severe/Multiple Disabilities licensure strongly preferred)
3-5 Years of experience required, preferably working with teens/young adults/families in a school setting
Experience running programs/programming for youth with social emotional learning needs.
Desire to provide direct instruction in social, organizational, and life skills to adolescents with social emotional learning needs.
Experience implementing all parts of the IEP process
Understanding of special education regulations and laws
Knowledge of a wide range of disabilities
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Ability to use technology effectively
Ability to handle a multitude of varying and complex issues
Ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with numerous building stakeholders
Believes in helping all students achieve their potential, including minority and low socio-economic students

Responsibilities

Provide small group specialized instruction with modifications, as needed, to curriculum frameworks in a substantially separate setting in areas including, but not limited to, English Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies
Provide small group specialized instruction to promote skill building in the areas of planning and organization, as well as skills related to IEP goals/objectives
Partner with counselor/clinician to co-lead small group interventions targeting social emotional skill building
Embed therapeutic strategies as part of content instruction to promote access for students with social emotional learning needs
Collaborate with general education teachers and embed supports in the general education setting, as appropriate, to foster generalization of skills
Establish and maintain home/school connections for students and work with families concerning home situations that relate to school performance.
Partner with team members to develop and enhance community partnerships with varied community agencies to meet the identified needs of students and families
Partner with team members to support crisis intervention to children and their families
Serve as IEP liaison for students, conduct IEP meetings and complete all related paperwork in a timely fashion
Administer testing as part of the process for determining eligibility for special education services, including students in the Bridge program and for other students as necessary
Use formal and informal assessment strategies to monitor student progress to inform instruction and to revise IEPs as appropriate
Participate in the process for students referred to the Bridge program, or prior to referral when appropriate, and contribute to the placement decision making process through planning and consultation with the team
Engage students in activities related to transition planning to post-high school life
Attendance at departmental and school-wide meetings
Consistent and on-time attendance is required or supervision and instruction of the students
Responsible for implementing “other job related duties” as needed