RFK Community Alliance·Lancaster, Massachusetts
Educators collaborate with staff to build a supportive learning community, fostering student success through engaging activities and providing opportunities for career and vocational engagement aligned with postsecondary visions. Key duties include fostering a nurturing environment, coordinating student-centered transition activities, providing job coaching, and delivering instruction tailored to IEP goals.
$70,000 - $80,000 per year Lancaster, MA RFK Community Alliance has an exciting opportunity for a High School Special Education Teacher for our Job Readiness Program to join our incredible team!
More Than Just a School Our classes are structured with low student-to-staff ratios, and the curriculum is taught in accordance with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. Engaging lessons, projects, and activities are taught and reinforced through a hands-on approach and using 1:1 devices. In addition to core content, students attend Physical Education/Fitness/Health, Art, Music, and Technology elective classes. High school students receive credit toward their local graduation requirements, engage in Transition & Career options, and have options for credit recovery, as well. Our school-based clinical services provide individualized therapeutic treatment to assist each student to function successfully across all environments. Services include individual and group sessions and crisis intervention, which target social/emotional growth and problem-solving. Using the Attachment, Regulation, and Competency (ARC) model, our trauma informed, therapeutic integrated program combines education and related services. Our clinicians and staff members are also trained in the use of Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS), a therapeutic model that addresses behaviors that stem from lagging skills. Our clinical team collaborates closely with classroom staff and other service providers to implement specific strategies and methodologies across all environments to consistently develop student social, emotional, and behavioral regulation. Our curriculum and support services promote healthy relationships with peers and staff and instill educational and social confidence, helping students to reach their full potential. Each of our RFK Community Alliance schools are year-round, state-approved special education day school programs that serve students 6-21 years of age with social, emotional, and behavioral needs. We focus on each student’s ability to develop attitudes and actions that promote problem-solving, independence, and academic achievement. We believe in a comprehensive educational environment that focuses on social competence, character development, and personal values for learning.
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 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 learning community that recognizes and values each student’s unique strengths and challenges. Our teachers and support staff collaborate to create engaging learning activities and provide opportunities for students to access career and vocational opportunities, volunteer, and engage with the broader community aligned with their postsecondary vision.
• Plan and supervise purposeful assignments for teacher assistants across multiple settings
40 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, Moderate Disabilities
The ideal candidate is a compassionate, collaborative educator committed to supporting students in a therapeutic private special education day school environment. Qualified candidates must have or be eligible for Massachusetts educator certification in Special Education: Moderate Disabilities 5-12 and possess a valid Massachusetts driver's license.
Market context
High school special education teachers in Massachusetts are often sought for therapeutic private day school settings, where collaboration, behavior support, and individualized instruction are central to the role. This position is competitive for candidates with Massachusetts Special Education: Moderate Disabilities 5-12 certification or eligibility, plus experience working closely with multidisciplinary teams. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to quickly compare fit and confirm the school’s support package before applying.