Special Education Teacher (3115)

Pay: $28.33/hour

Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM

About the Role

The Special Education Teacher at the Seven Hills Foundation Pediatric Center provides special education to students with severe or intensive special needs in a nurturing and structured classroom environment. This role involves developing and implementing individualized curriculum and educational plans, coordinating classroom staff and ancillary personnel, and fostering communication with an interdisciplinary team, including nursing staff, social workers, and parents or legal guardians.

Responsibilities

• Curriculum Development and Implementation:
  • Develop and implement a curriculum tailored to meet the specific needs of students with severe/intensive special needs.
  • Prepare weekly educational plans aligned with each student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or Individualized Service Plan (ISP).
  • Conduct ongoing assessments to track academic progress and adjust teaching methods as needed.
• Classroom and Schedule Management:
  • Plan and oversee the daily classroom schedule, ensuring educational, personal care, and medical needs are met.
  • Supervise and evaluate teacher assistants, cooperating teachers, and other classroom personnel.
  • Coordinate schedules of ancillary personnel, including speech therapists, occupational therapists, and nursing staff.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration:
  • Maintain regular communication with nursing staff regarding students' medical conditions and health status.
  • Foster open communication with social workers, parents, guardians, and team members about students' progress.
  • Actively participate in team meetings, IEP/ISP meetings, clinics, and in-services.
• Student Supervision and Support:
  • Directly supervise educational and personal care needs, including physical management (e.g., lifting, positioning).
  • Ensure implementation of individualized goals outlined in each student's IEP/ISP.
  • Support students' social and emotional development, encouraging positive behavior and self-advocacy.
• Documentation and Reporting:
  • Complete and distribute progress notes detailing each student’s progress toward IEP goals.
  • Assist in drafting IEPs, ISP updates, MDS, and quarterly progress reports.
  • Ensure timely completion of state assessments (MCAS) and required reporting.
• Staff Training and Development:
  • Model and teach new skills to teacher assistants and classroom staff.
  • Plan and participate in in-services, staff development programs, and educational workshops.
  • Promote a cooperative and flexible environment for smooth transitions between departments.
• Materials and Equipment Management:
  • Identify, order, and maintain educational materials and equipment.
  • Oversee classroom maintenance, including specialized areas like the cooking room and storage spaces.
• Additional Responsibilities:
  • Participate in departmental committees as assigned or volunteered.
  • Collaborate with other departments to ensure seamless transitions for students.
  • Develop communication systems for students, utilizing consultants as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Standard driver’s license (Class C or D).
• Current Massachusetts teaching license or provisional certification in Severe/Intensive Special Needs, or a certificate from another state that allows certification in Massachusetts.
• Certification in another area but must be actively enrolled in a program leading to Massachusetts certification in Severe/Intensive Special Needs.
• 3–5 years of related experience.

Benefits

• Health Insurance: Offered through Blue Cross Blue Shield with a generous company contribution.
• Enhanced Retirement Plan: 25%–33% employer match based on tenure.
• Student Loan Assistance: Consolidation, counseling, and limited employer contribution.
• Discounted Tuition: Available through college and university partnerships.
• Tuition Assistance: Reimbursed or prepaid college coursework.
• Home Mortgage Initiative: Favorable down payment (3–5%) and reduced closing costs co-paid by Seven Hills.
• Work-Life Balance:
  • Generous accrued paid vacation: 3 weeks in your first year.
  • Vacation cash-out option.
  • 3 paid personal days.
  • 11 paid holidays.
  • Accrued paid sick time.