Special Educator - Substantially Separate Elementary Program

Canton Public Schools•Canton, MA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Hansen Elementary School is seeking an exceptional and dynamic candidate to serve as a Special Educator for our Substantially Separate ACCESS Program for the upcoming school year beginning August 28, 2026. The Hansen Elementary School is an inclusive community for all students and staff and serves over 530 students in grades K-5. The Special Educator will join a vibrant and supportive ACCESS team that places a high priority on collaboration, creativity, flexibility, and commitment to the goals of the District and to our students, families and staff. As a special educator in the substantially separate ACCESS program, you will work closely and collaboratively with a team of providers including a BCBA, ABA Tutors, SLP and SLPA, OT, PT, AAC Consultant, TVI, School Psychologist, and School Adjustment Counselor. Bi-weekly consultation with New England Center for Children will guide our programming. We are eager to find the next member of our team who collaborates with other educators to create the conditions necessary so that every child experiences the true joy of learning, the excitement of achievement, areas of passion, and an authentic sense of belonging in their school. The ACCESS substantially separate elementary program serves a cohort of students requiring specialized instruction and structured supports in addition to academic programming. Teachers provide a well-organized, academically challenging, culturally and linguistically responsive class environment in which students can access curriculum and make progress towards Massachusetts standards and develop social and emotional skills in order to participate in society, while providing a safe, supportive, and welcoming educational environment for all students.

Requirements

Valid Massachusetts DESE teacher certification in Severe or Moderate Disabilities.
Bachelor’s Degree required
Highly Qualified as per Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)
Experience working with children who have moderate to severe disabilities
Knowledge of social emotional learning strategies
Proven ability to relate to a variety of constituencies, including but not limited to: administrators, parents/guardians, teachers, students, other school staff, and visitors
Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
Well-organized with excellent leadership abilities
Exceptional interpersonal and presentation skills
Working knowledge of relevant technologies: internet and email systems; word processing, presentation, and spreadsheet software; and educational software

Nice To Haves

Licensed or teaching experience in severe disabilities preferred
Master’s Preferred

Responsibilities

Provide individual and small group instruction to students with significant delays in conginition and/or communication who require specialized instruction outside of the general education classroom. Most students are on the autism spectrum.
Develop/modify curriculum and lessons that align to DESE Standards using access and entry points as needed.
Develop activities to support social, communication, and daily living skills within the classroom.
Create self-regulation and social skills lessons to implement both within and in addition to the classroom setting.
Support students who are in emotional or behavioral crisis
Collaborate with the building BCBA, adjustment counselors, classroom ABA Tutors and educational assistants to develop schedules and responsibilities to meet the individual needs of students.
Collaborate with staff to foster successful and meaningful inclusion opportunities for students as deemed appropriate.
In collaboration with the Team, develop an appropriate Individualized Education Plan for all students that are determined eligible for special education services. This includes the creation of short and long term goals, based on assessment data and targeted curriculum standards, for all of the student’s areas of identified disability
Collect consistent behavior and academic data on student performance to drive instruction and monitor student progress
Communicate consistently and effectively with students, families, program staff (ABA tutors, educational assistants, OT, SLP, school psychologists etc.), and administration
Contribute to the goals and success of all teams and team members through collaboration, cooperation, and flexibility in team discussions, activities, and decision-making
Participate in all federal and state mandated procedures and timelines for case management for all identified students, i.e. team meetings and liaison to regular education settings
Maintain accurate and complete, student records as required by law, district policy, and administrative regulation
Follow and implement individual student safety plans, IEPs, 504s, health care plans, behavior support plans, etc.
Participate in department, school meetings, and parent/guardian meetings
Keep up to date with developments in subject area, teaching resources, and methods, and make relevant changes to instructional plans and activities
Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with others
Perform other duties specifically articulated within the collective bargaining agreement as assigned by building principal and/or District administration