Vista Autism Services·Hershey, Pennsylvania
The Special Education Teacher plans and delivers specialized instruction, guiding a learning environment to maximize student benefit from the curriculum, and leads the development and progress reporting for Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). Essential functions include employing special education strategies, adapting classroom work, administering assessments, teaching behavior, and collecting routine progress data.
The Special Education Teacher plans and provides appropriate learning experiences for students in a variety of educational settings. They are responsible for creating and guiding a learning environment that provides specialized instruction, such that the students benefit from the curriculum and classroom structure to the greatest extent possible, with input from a variety of other team members in a collaborative manner. This position leads the development and delivery of the Individualized Education Plan and progress reporting on defined student goals and objectives.
Essential functions
Employs special educational strategies and techniques during instruction to improve the development of the student as defined in the Individualized Education Plans (“IEP”)
Plans the instructional and staffing arrangement and assignments within the classroom for the school day as well as long term classroom instructional planning
Adapts classroom work to provide students with instructional materials that address the IEP within established lesson plans, and differentiate individualized needs within group learning contexts
Administers developmental testing programs and subject specific assessments for the purpose of assessing student competency levels and/or developing the IEP
Teaches socially acceptable behavior, as determined by the student’s IEP and treatment plans, by employing techniques of Applied Behavior Analysis
Assesses and creates data collection systems to collect data and update student programs routinely for meaningful progress for each learner
Implements curriculum (academic, social) within the classroom with fidelity and facilitates the training of classroom staff with teacher programs and academic curriculum
Provides direct supervision of the direct support behavioral services classroom staff (LBT, BT, and EBS) in conjunction with the Behavior Consultants and Program Coordinators
Provides coaching to all team members in a supportive and collaborative manner and receives and implements coaching and feedback
Collaborates with instructional staff, other school personnel, parents, and a variety of a community resources to improve the quality of student outcomes and achieve established classroom objectives
Maintains accurate and complete student records (attendance, special education paperwork, etc.) and prepares reports, as required by laws, organizational policies, and administrative regulations
Monitors students in a variety of educational environments (e.g. classroom, campus locations, community outings, transition back to LRE, etc.) to provide a safe and positive learning environment
Completes other duties as assigned
This position co-supervises the direct support behavioral services classroom staff.
The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The following positions or movements are typical of the job: sitting, walking, standing, reaching, pushing, pulling, lifting, stooping, kneeling, and crawling, often for extended periods of the workday.
The position requires that an individual be able to learn new tasks quickly and effectively.
Job requirements may change frequently.
The ability to understand and carry out detailed, involved, instructions is mandatory.
The incumbent must be able to travel to multiple locations as needed, when needed to conduct organizational business.
Subject to inside environmental conditions.
This is a full time position with a 40 hour per week expectation unless otherwise agreed upon by management, the department needs, and the student calendar. Position follows the 205 student school day calendar (RSY and ESY) in addition to 13 days of professional development. In addition, position must attend one Back to School Night.
A Bachelor's degree in an education-related subject and Special Education Certification from the Commonwealth of PA are required, along with satisfactory completion of Safe and Positive Approaches Training. A Master's degree in Special Education and experience directing staff or working with Autism using ABA principles are highly desired.
Market context
Special education teachers are consistently needed in Pennsylvania schools, especially for candidates who can support students with behavioral health challenges in classroom settings. These roles are competitive because they require both the proper PA certification and the ability to manage individualized instruction, behavior support, and collaboration with school teams. Review the school’s caseload and support model closely, and note that the requirements and benefits shown here are AI-summarized from the original job description to save you research time.
Special Education Teacher
Educational Behavioral Support
Health Nurse