Teacher- Special Education- Autism / ABA PK (Anticipated)

DISTRICT OVERVIEW

Holyoke Public Schools is a PreK-12 public school district serving nearly 5,100 students, of whom 80 percent are Latino/Latina, in 11 schools. We employ nearly 1,300 people who together educate and support a richly diverse community of learners. We are committed to recruiting and retaining top-quality educators who believe all children can and will learn and who strive daily to make school a joyful place of discovery, support, and belonging.

Holyoke Public Schools’ strategic plan, “Moving Forward Together,” builds on the strengths of our past while serving as a call to action to accelerate student learning by thinking differently about how we teach, how we work together, and how we support students’ well being. 

Our Equity Commitments are pledges we are making to address systemic equity challenges. 

• We intentionally build a community that is anti-racist, inclusive, and culturally responsive.
• We ensure that students, families, and staff get the support they need to be successful.
• We seek out and incorporate the voices of those impacted, with a commitment to include those who have been excluded in the past. 
• We promote access and inclusion for all students, staff, and families.
• We respect, embrace, and honor the diversity of our students, families, staff, and community.
• We reflect on our own behavior to minimize harm to others.
• We create a culture of acceptance and empathy so that everyone feels valued and is able to contribute to our community’s success.

Please visit the Holyoke Public Schools website to learn more about us as well as some of our recent accomplishments. 

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Spanish:

Las Escuelas Públicas de Holyoke son un distrito escolar público de prekínder a 12.° grado que acoge a casi 5100 estudiantes, de los cuales el 80 por ciento son latinos/latinas. Empleamos a casi 1300 personas que, juntas, educan y apoyan a una comunidad de estudiantes muy diversa. Estamos comprometidos a contratar y retener educadores de alta calidad que tengan la certeza de que todos los niños pueden y podrán aprender, y que también se esfuercen diariamente por hacer de la escuela un lugar alegre de descubrimiento, apoyo y pertenencia.

El plan estratégico de las Escuelas Públicas de Holyoke , "Avanzando Juntos", toma en cuenta nuestras fortalezas anteriores y al mismo tiempo sirve como un llamado a la acción para acelerar el aprendizaje de los estudiantes a través de una perspectiva diferente sobre cómo enseñamos, cómo trabajamos juntos y cómo apoyamos el bienestar de los estudiantes.

Nuestros compromisos de equidad son promesas que hacemos para abordar los desafíos de equidad sistémica.

• Construimos intencionadamente una comunidad antirracista, inclusiva y culturalmente receptiva.
• Nos aseguramos de que los estudiantes, las familias y el personal reciban el apoyo que necesitan para tener éxito.
• Buscamos e incorporamos las voces de los afectados, con el compromiso de incluir a los que han sido excluidos en el pasado. 
• Promovemos el acceso y la inclusión de todos los estudiantes, el personal y las familias.
• Respetamos, acogemos y honramos la diversidad de nuestros alumnos, familias, personal y comunidad.
• Reflexionamos sobre nuestro propio comportamiento para minimizar el daño a los demás.
• Creamos una cultura de aceptación y empatía para que todos se sientan valorados y puedan contribuir al éxito de nuestra comunidad.

Por favor, visite el sitio web de las Escuelas Públicas de Holyoke en www.hps.holyoke.ma.us para obtener más información sobre nosotros y algunos de nuestros logros recientes.

 POSITION OVERVIEW:

• Holyoke Public School District is seeking a highly qualified full time Preschool ABA teacher to teach children, ages 3-5, with autism spectrum disorder and/or other neurodiverse disabilities, Candidate will work 5 days per week, teaching two half day sessions daily. This program emphasizes pre-academic skills, instructional readiness, daily living skills, play and social development, communication skills, independence skills, behavioral support, and inclusion readiness through use of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) instructional methodologies. The teacher collaborates with general education staff, Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), ABA paraeducators, behavioral technicians, related service providers, and families to ensure students receive comprehensive support and access to inclusive learning opportunities as appropriate. 

Responsibilities:

• Implement district-approved curriculum and ABA instructional strategies, including discrete trial instruction (DTI), functional communication training (FCT), pivotal response training (PRT), incidental teaching, and generalization training.
• Develop and deliver individualized and center-based learning based on student needs.
• Conduct skills-based and academic assessments to determine goals and appropriate programming.
• Develop, coordinate, and facilitate Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) in compliance with IDEA and FAPE regulations.
• Maintain accurate records, document student progress, and ensure confidentiality of special education files. 
• Implement behavior management strategies or formal behavior support plans (BSP) to support skill development and reduce challenging behaviors.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including inclusion preschool staff, BCBA, OT, PT, Speech/Language Pathologists, and other specialists.
• Train, supervise, and provide guidance to classroom-based support staff.
• Engage in ongoing professional development to enhance specialized instructional skills.
• Build positive relationships with students, families, and colleagues.
• Participate in staff meetings, committees, and other school-based initiatives as assigned.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by building and district administration and coaches.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum of two years of experience in an ABA setting and/or working with autistic and/or neurodiverse students, preferred.
• Minimum of one year working in an early childhood setting, preferred.
• Proficiency in implementing ABA strategies and inclusionary practices.
• Familiarity with research-based assessments and curriculum tools (e.g., Three Cheers, SEEDS, Pyramid Model, ABLLS-R, AFLS, VB-MAPP, Teachtown, STAR Program) preferred.
• At least one year of experience supervising classroom staff, preferred
• Strong skills in data-driven instruction and curriculum planning.
• Experience working with multidisciplinary teams, diverse student populations, and urban school settings preferred.
• Proficiency in integrating technology and media into instruction.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
• Bilingual applicants (Spanish) strongly encouraged to apply.

Licensure Requirement:

• Massachusetts Educator Licensure in MOD DIS PK-2, PK-8, SEVERE DIS PK-2, PK-8

Salary : $51,000 - $85,000