RFK Community Alliance·Lancaster, Massachusetts
Educators collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team to build a safe and supportive classroom community, implementing lessons aligned with DESE Curriculum Frameworks to help students access academics. Key duties include fostering a nurturing learning environment, preparing students for transitions, and developing plans to meet individual educational needs.
$70,000 - $80,000 per year Lancaster, MA
The RFK Community Alliance is a therapeutic day school that provides educational and clinical services to students with diverse social, emotional, behavioral, mental health, and learning disabilities. Our educational and related services support students in reaching milestones such as graduation, the transition to post-secondary educational or vocational opportunities, or a return to their local school district. We strive to ensure that each of our students is Connected, Capable, and Healthy so that when they leave us, they are well-positioned to experience sustained and meaningful well-being over the course of their lives. Who You Are You are a compassionate, collaborative, and resourceful educator who is committed to supporting and empowering students in our year-round, therapeutic private special education day school. You want to teach in a learning environment that has an academically challenging curriculum, a philosophy that builds on individual student strengths, and MA an emphasis on seeing students succeed. You understand the importance of trauma-responsive practices, and you support every student every day with unconditional positive regard. You are an educator who seeks out opportunities to learn, reflect, and collaborate with colleagues. What You Will Do Educators are a vital part of our team approach to supporting the students we proudly serve. They collaborate with other staff to build a safe and supportive classroom community that recognizes and values each student’s unique strengths and challenges. Our teachers implement lessons that meet grade-level academic standards aligned with the DESE Curriculum Frameworks [https://www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/current.html], creating engaging instructional content to support our students in accessing academics. Key Responsibilities:
Foster a creative, supportive, and nurturing learning environment for students by building strong relationships and mutual respect.
Prepare students academically, socially, and emotionally for the transitions ahead of them.
Help students learn how to be self-disciplined and respectful contributors to their classroom, family, and community.
Collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team of colleagues and leaders Evaluate student-specific educational needs and develop and implement plans to meet them.
Assumes other responsibilities necessary to ensure program safety and continuity
Plan and supervise purposeful assignments for teacher assistants across multiple settings.
• 37.5 hours per week: Monday – Friday, days; 12-month, benefited position
Special Education, Teacher, Teaching, IEP, Special needs, Autism, Emotional Impairment, Learning Disabilities, Curriculum development, Education, SPED
Candidates must possess a Massachusetts teacher certification in Moderate Disabilities K-8 or 5-12 and demonstrate proven ability to communicate effectively with students, colleagues, parents, and leaders. Essential qualifications also include cultural competence, excellent teaching and writing skills, flexibility, and comfort with crisis management.
Market context
Classroom teacher openings in Massachusetts are often driven by school staffing needs, student support priorities, and subject-area coverage. These roles are competitive because employers look for strong communication, classroom management, and the ability to meet state and district expectations; in this listing, the requirements and benefits are AI-summarized from the original job description, which can save candidates research time. Before applying, review the certification, schedule, and any required documentation to confirm you meet the posted qualifications.