Preschool SE Teacher 2026-2027

The Amherst Public School District is seeking a full -time qualified Special Education Teacher for our Preschool Special Education Program which provides specialized programming and services to students with moderate to significant disabilities that require intensive programming and oversight throughout the school day. Students served in the program may have one or more disabilities in areas such as autism cerebral palsy cognitive impairment and/or health impairments. Students may be educated with non-disabled peers in the same classroom.

The position includes providing direct instruction to students typically ranging in ages from 3 to 5 years old in areas such as communication adaptive living skills social skills training and self-regulation strategies modifying and adapting curriculum and developing implementing and monitoring social and positive behavioral supports.

Highly qualified candidates possess the following:

Experience with research based methodologies including Applied Behavior Analysis and differential reinforcement

Strong positive interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships with students staff administration and families

Ability to work closely and collaborative effectively with a team of teachers service providers and families; ability work as a member of a professional learning community and multi-disciplinary team

Strong case management skills including regular home-school communication and communication with outside agencies and service providers

Strong ability to multitask and work within a fast paced environment focused on student learning data collection and measurable outcomes

Highly effective executive function skills including being well organized strong time management skills and able to work independently to meet timelines

Highly effective oral and written communication skills that promote and encourage collaboration with colleagues parents and administrators

Strong ability to supervise and work collaboratively with paraprofessional staff including supporting the completion of evaluations with the program administrator

Experience with intensive special needs autism and atypical learning profiles

Ability to design and implement effective positive behavioral supports and plans

Strong skills with de-escalation and ability to use and supervise the use of DESE approved physical restraint

Experience with all aspects of the IEP process including implementation monitoring and development

Experience with providing individual and small group social skills instruction

Experience with a diverse population of students within a multicultural school / community

Experience with and commitment to inclusion/reverse inclusion that benefits students socially emotionally and academically

Experience with administering and interpreting formal (e.g Battelle) and informal assessments as well as strong interpretation and report writing skills

Provide instruction in the core curricular areas including lesson planning development implementation and modification of materials

MA DESE Moderate Disabilities PK-8 License required

Required Experience:

IC