RFK Community Alliance·Lancaster, Massachusetts
The teacher will implement academic lessons aligned with curriculum frameworks while fostering a supportive and trauma-responsive classroom environment. They will collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team to develop and implement individualized educational plans for students with diverse needs.
$70,000-$80,000/year 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 hold a Massachusetts teacher certification in Moderate Disabilities K-8. Strong communication, crisis management, and collaboration skills are required to support students in a therapeutic day school setting.
Market context
Elementary special education roles in Massachusetts are often in steady demand, especially for candidates with a Moderate Disabilities K-8 certification and experience supporting students in therapeutic settings. These positions can be competitive because schools look for strong communication, cultural competence, and calm crisis-management skills. Review the AI-summarized job requirements and benefits here to save research time, then confirm your certification match and prepare examples of student support and de-escalation work.