Special Education (Emotional Support)

 Job description last updated: 4/28/2025

Position Summary: The Emotional Support Teacher provides specialized instruction and support to students with emotional and behavioral needs that interfere with their ability to learn in a general education environment.This educator plays a vital role in fostering students' academic, behavioral, social, and communication development within a structured, supportive, and inclusive classroom environment. Key responsibilities include implementing and monitoring students’ Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), collaborating with families and interdisciplinary teams, and ensuring that instructional strategies align with each student's unique needs. The teacher ensures compliance with state educational standards while promoting measurable progress and overall student success.

District Summary

The William Penn School District is located in southeastern Delaware County and serves approximately 5,000 students who reside in Aldan, Colwyn, Darby, East Lansdowne, Lansdowne, and Yeadon Boroughs. We share a collective vision to educate, nurture and empower all students to become career and/or college ready.

Key Responsibilities & Essential Duties: 

• Instructional Support:

  • Develop and deliver customized lesson plans that address each student's specific IEP goals.

  • Tailor teaching strategies to meet the diverse academic, behavioral needs, and social-emotional learning of students with autism.

  • Use evidence-based strategies such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), visual supports, and social skills training to foster learning and development.

  • Work with small groups or individuals, adjusting instruction based on students’ abilities and progress.

• IEP Development & Monitoring:

  • Collaborate with other educators, specialists, and parents to create and implement effective IEPs for students on the spectrum with emotional and behavioral challenges.

  • Ensure that the IEPs are followed and consistently updated based on ongoing assessments and student needs.

  • Regularly monitor and document student progress, making necessary adjustments to teaching approaches.

• Behavioral Support:

  • Establish and maintain a structured, predictable classroom environment that promotes learning and minimizes distractions.

  • Implement and manage positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS), addressing both academic and behavioral challenges.

  • Provide direct support to students during challenging behavioral situations, using de-escalation techniques and strategies to ensure a safe environment.

• Collaboration:

  • Work closely with general education teachers, paraprofessionals, and related service providers (e.g., speech and occupational therapists) to ensure comprehensive support for each student.

  • Participate in team meetings, IEP meetings, and professional development opportunities to stay updated on best practices for working with students with emotional and behavioral needs

  • Foster a positive relationship with families, providing regular updates on student progress and strategies to support learning at home.

• Compliance & Reporting:

  • Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations regarding special education and student accommodations.

  • Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of student performance, behavioral plans, and IEP documents.

  • Advocate for resources and supports that will help enhance the educational experience for students with autism.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Strong understanding of trauma-informed practices and behavior management strategies.
• Ability to remain calm and patient in challenging situations.
• Knowledge/awareness of own cultural identity and how this influences behavior, and desire to learn about the cultural identity of others. 
• Ability to establish and nurture an environment that promotes cultural competence and equitable treatment of staff, students, and patrons of the District. 
• Ability to understand and hold self and others accountable for promoting and attaining the goals as outlined in Focus Forward 2025. 
• Ability to recognize that each person is a unique individual even as we celebrate their group cultural heritage. 
• Knowledge of PA Core Standards and Eligible Content 
• Knowledge of Instructional Planning Guides as it relates to the instructional block 
• Knowledge of Digital Curriculum components 
• Ability to courageously lead conversations focused on equity, closing opportunity gaps, and equal access to technology-infused lessons of rigor. 
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with District staff and administrators, students, parents or guardians, outside agencies, and the public, in a multi-ethnic, multicultural, multilingual environment. 
• Ability to receive and implement feedback to improve practice and systems.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree from accredited college or university
• Valid Pennsylvania Certification: Special Education PK-12 or a confirmed pathway to certification

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in Education or a related field of study
• 2 years of experience teaching in education environments

Pre-employment Paperwork Requirements:

• Pennsylvania Criminal Background Check, FBI Fingerprinting Background Check, Pennsylvania Child Abuse Clearance
• Sexual Misconduct/Abuse Disclosure Release (Act 168) forms 
• School Personnel Health Record and TB test

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements:

• Work scheduled hours on a consistent basis
• Indoor office environment is subject to frequent interruptions
• Pushing, moving and lifting objects with a strength factor of light work
• Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a variety of standard office equipment
• Clarity of vision at varying distances
• Verbal, auditory and written capabilities to effectively communicate in an articulate manner
• Sitting and standing for extended periods of time
• Frequent sitting, standing and walking
• Reaching overhead, above the shoulders and horizontally to retrieve and store files and supplies
• Lifting objects with a strength factor of light work
• Occasional bending, reaching and stretching
• Occasional kneeling, crouching and squatting
• Occasional pulling, pushing

Level of Compensation: $51,619 - $102,820

Disclaimer:

The preceding list is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary. The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the scope of responsibility, and the level of knowledge and skills typically required, but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements, skills or duties so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside their normal responsibilities from time to time as needed.

All employment open positions are made available on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability, or veteran status.

Job descriptions are written as a representative list of the ADA essential duties performed by the entire classification. They cannot include and are not intended to include, every possible activity and task performed by every specific employee.

Salary : $51,619 - $102,820