The Douglas Primary School is looking for a 1.0 FTE Special Education Teacher for the 2025-2026 School Year to join our team.
Job Title: Severe or Moderate Needs Special Education Teacher – Therapeutic Setting
Location: Douglas Primary School, Douglas, MA
Reports To: Building Principal / Director of Student Services
Position Type: Full-Time, School-Year
Position Overview:
Douglas Primary School is seeking a dedicated and compassionate Special Education Teacher to support students with moderate/severe needs in a therapeutic classroom setting. This role is ideal for an educator with a strong foundation in both academic instruction and social-emotional learning, who is committed to helping students succeed in a supportive, structured, and inclusive environment.
Key Responsibilities:
Individualized Instruction
-Develop and implement Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) aligned with DESE standards and tailored to each student’s unique learning profile.
-Design differentiated lessons and scaffolded instruction to meet academic, behavioral, and developmental needs.
Therapeutic Milieu
-Foster a classroom culture that is safe, predictable, and nurturing, with a focus on emotional regulation, social skill development, and self-advocacy.
-Integrate therapeutic supports into daily routines to promote student stability and engagement.
Behavior Management
-Utilize evidence-based behavior management strategies and positive behavioral supports.
-Collaborate with the school-based team to implement individualized behavior intervention plans (BIPs).
Crisis Intervention
-Apply de-escalation and crisis prevention techniques (e.g., CPI or similar training) during challenging situations.
-Provide calm, supportive responses to student dysregulation and work to restore a positive learning environment.
Collaboration
-Partner closely with general education teachers, school psychologists, speech/language pathologists, occupational therapists, behavior specialists, and paraprofessionals.
-Actively engage families in the IEP process and ongoing progress discussions.
Assessment and Progress Monitoring
-Conduct ongoing formal and informal assessments to monitor student growth and inform instructional planning.
-Collect and analyze data to adjust strategies and ensure progress toward IEP goals.
Instructional Strategies
-Use a variety of multisensory, trauma-informed, and developmentally appropriate teaching methods to reach diverse learners.
-Implement tools and technology to enhance student access and engagement.
Communication
-Maintain regular, clear, and professional communication with families and caregivers.
-Provide timely documentation of student progress, behavior, and classroom activities.
Training and Mentoring
-Offer coaching and modeling for paraprofessionals and other support staff in therapeutic and instructional strategies.
-Participate in ongoing professional development to enhance skills in special education and mental health-informed teaching.
Program Development
-Assist with the refinement of therapeutic programming within the elementary school.
-Contribute to school-wide efforts that support inclusive and trauma-sensitive practices.
Qualifications:
Massachusetts DESE licensure in Moderate Disabilities (PreK–8) required.
Experience in a therapeutic or special education setting preferred.
Training or certification in behavioral/crisis intervention (e.g., Safety Care) strongly preferred.
Strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative mindset.