Anticipated Student Pathways and Access Coordinator for Students with Disabilities (Transition), Salem Public Schools, Salem, MA [SY 2026-2027]

Anticipated Student Pathways and Access Coordinator for Students with Disabilities (Transition) Salem Public Schools Salem MA SY 2026-2027

About Salem Public Schools where belonging leads to opportunity.

Salem is a small diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history. Salem Public Schools is an urban public school district enrolling nearly 4000 students in 11 schools. Our vision is to ensure that all students will be locally engaged globally connected and fully prepared to thrive in a diverse and changing world. We hold dear our core values of belonging equity and opportunity in everything we do. We seek individuals who are passionate about urban education and understand the urgency of improving student achievement for all students regardless of ability economic status gender/gender identity language race/ethnicity sexual orientation or other backgrounds. We invite you to learn more about our strategic plan and core priorities on our website at Youll Do:

The Student Pathways and Access Coordinator will play a pivotal role in empowering students with disabilities across the kindergarten through post-high continuum by ensuring equitable access to the curriculum and fostering effective communication through the strategic application of assistive technology (AT). For students in grades 9-post high this role will also strategically integrate comprehensive transition planning to support their post-secondary goals encompassing further education successful employment and independent living.

Responsibilities:

Transition Planning & Implementation (Grades 9-post high Focus):

• Collaborate and consult with school-based teams students and families to develop meaningful and appropriate individualized transition plans (ITPs) aligned with post-secondary goals for students in grades 9-12.
• Collaborate with community partners to develop meaningful internship and experiential opportunities.
• Ability to build in-house pre-vocational and experiential learning activities.
• Develop and implement activities that foster career and employment skills (e.g. interview skills career mapping work readiness) as outlined in student transition plans.
• Conduct formal and informal vocational and transition assessments write comprehensive reports interpret results and provide actionable recommendations.
• Identify student interests preferences and skills and match them to employment settings and community participation options.
• Assist students in career research identifying necessary training/education and securing appropriate employment opportunities.
• Provide specialized instruction that enables all students to successfully engage in the community including Activities of Daily Living (ADL) work exploration and transition to adult skills.
• Ensure that documented accommodations are delivered consistently.
• Evaluate students abilities in basic academics and social development using formal and informal measures.
• Use innovative approaches and instructional strategies to support students in their vision for transition to adulthood.
• Develop and implement IEPs and plans.
• Demonstrate ability to write an effective IEP with SMART goals and sensible accommodations and generate progress reports using IEP software.
• Present evidence of student progress toward goals and objectives in a professional manner during special education meetings.

Program Development & Compliance:

• Establish and maintain open communication with building-based and service provider staff.
• Participate actively in IEP team meetings using effective communication skills to present information clearly and accurately.
• Present evidence of student progress toward goals and objectives through regular progress reports and team meetings.
• Complete all required paperwork and job-related functions in a timely manner.
• Routinely participate in district and school-based meetings training and professional development.
• Work independently within supervisory expectations.
• Responsible for assuring equal educational opportunity to all individuals regardless of race color gender age marital status religion gender identity national origin sexual orientation homelessness or disability.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned by the Special Education Director.

What Youll Bring:

We are looking for candidates who have diverse backgrounds and experiences are inspired by our mission and are highly motivated to change childrens lives through education. Youll be right at home here if you are a reflective practitioner who values collaboration with colleagues and pushes yourself your work and the people around you to the next level. We expect our SPS employees to:

• Hold a deep commitment to students and families and value diversity - The SPS community is vibrant diverse in background ethnicity language and perspective. You embrace and affirm the backgrounds of all members of the SPS community and view our diversity as a powerful resource that supports us each in learning and doing our best work.
• Hold high expectations for yourself students and colleagues You see potential in all especially our SPS students and maintain high expectations for achievement while providing the support necessary to meet that bar. You hold yourself to high expectations modeling SPS values and seeking opportunities to continuously improve.
• Build authentic caring relationships with colleagues students and families You build strong relationships across students families and colleagues that are collaborative in nature and contribute to the individual and collective success of SPS. You partner with families and colleagues to make decisions in the best interest of students and learning.
• Embrace feedback You are a reflective practitioner who learns from failure using mistakes and challenges as opportunities for growth. You model persistence and growth mindset and thrive in a culture of feedback.

Job Requirements:

• Education & Experience:
  
  
• A bachelors or masters Degree in Special Education Rehabilitation Counseling or a closely related field is required.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in special education rehabilitation and/or vocational counseling roles with a focus on supporting individuals with disabilities across various age levels (14-22) preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in person-centered planning and/or individual support models.
• Strong knowledge of prevocational assessments job development fading supports task analysis and job creation.

Licensure & Certification:

• Massachusetts teaching certification/licensure in moderate/severe special education with a Transition Specialist Endorsement OR Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC).

Skills & Abilities:

• • Ability to complete comprehensive transition assessments with excellent evaluation and report writing skills.
  • Ability to teach employment skills coach and evaluate students with disabilities who have diverse special needs.
  • Ability to understand the specific physical emotional and behavioral needs of students and to maintain trust and confidence.
  • Excellent organization communication and interpersonal skills capable of building strong relationships with students families staff employers and community agencies.
  • Knowledge of Salem businesses and community resources is highly desirable.
  • Safety Care Trained or willing to be trained (training provided by District)
  • Must be physically capable of and willing to engage in restraint bending and lifting as required to meet unique student needs
  • Assist in toileting and Activity of Daily Living (ADL) skills if needed and as determined by student need
  • Second language (Spanish and/or Portuguese) proficiency a plus
  • Bilingual candidates and candidates of color strongly encouraged to apply
  • Current authorization to work in the United States

Work Year: Teachers in Salem Public Schools work a 185 day school year (180 student contact days plus 5 professional development days. Please click here to view the 2026-27 district and/or school calendars.

Salary: Teacher salaries in the Salem Public Schools are determined by the Salem Teachers Union collective bargaining agreement (2024-2027). Salary information can be found in Appendix A.

Benefits: The City of Salem offers Group Insurance Commission (GIC) benefits to all full-time employees. Click here for more information about our health benefits.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Salem Public School District is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race color religion national origin pregnancy gender identity sexual orientation marital/civil union status ancestry place of birth age citizenship status veteran status political affiliation genetic information or disability as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally we prohibit retaliation against individuals who oppose such discrimination and harassment or who participate in an equal opportunity investigation.

Required Experience:

IC