Special Education Teacher- CARES

CARES Program (Grades K5)
Paul F. Doyon Memorial School

The Paul F. Doyon Memorial School is seeking a dedicated compassionate and collaborative Special Education Teacher to lead the CARES Program a therapeutic classroom serving students in grades Kindergarten through 5 with significant social-emotional and behavioral learning needs. The CARES Program provides a structured supportive and trauma-sensitive environment designed to help students build emotional regulation social skills coping strategies and academic success.

The ideal candidate will possess strong knowledge of social-emotional learning behavioral interventions and therapeutic classroom practices with the ability to foster positive relationships and create a safe predictable learning environment where students can thrive both academically and emotionally.

• Develop and implement individualized academic and behavioral programming aligned with students IEP goals and Massachusetts curriculum frameworks.
• Provide specialized instruction and therapeutic support for students with social-emotional behavioral and mental health needs.
• Create and maintain a structured trauma-informed classroom environment that promotes emotional safety self-regulation and positive peer interactions.
• Implement evidence-based behavioral and social-emotional interventions including de-escalation strategies restorative practices and positive behavior supports.
• Collaborate with school adjustment counselors psychologists behavior specialists related service providers and families to support student success.
• Support students in developing coping skills problem-solving abilities self-regulation self-advocacy emotional awareness and executive functioning skills.
• Monitor and document student progress behavioral data and intervention outcomes to inform instruction and support plans.
• Facilitate crisis prevention and intervention strategies when needed while maintaining student dignity and safety.
• Participate actively in IEP meetings student support meetings and multidisciplinary team collaboration.
• Provide supervision guidance and support to paraprofessional staff assigned to the program.
• Maintain compliance with all special education regulations documentation requirements and district procedures.

• Massachusetts licensure in Special Education (Moderate Disabilities preferred).
• Experience working with students with social-emotional and behavioral challenges in an elementary school setting.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed practices positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) and social-emotional learning frameworks.
• Strong classroom management and crisis prevention/intervention skills.
• Experience developing and implementing individualized behavioral and academic supports.
• Excellent communication collaboration and organizational skills.
• CPI Safety Care or similar behavioral/safety training preferred.

• Calm patient and relationship-centered approach.
• Ability to build trust and rapport with students and families.
• Strong problem-solving and reflective practice skills.
• Commitment to creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment.
• Flexibility resilience and a collaborative mindset.

The CARES Program at Paul F. Doyon Memorial School is a therapeutic classroom designed to support students in grades K5 with significant social-emotional and behavioral needs. The program combines individualized academic instruction with therapeutic and behavioral supports to help students develop emotional regulation positive coping skills social competencies and readiness for learning. The CARES team works closely with families and multidisciplinary staff to support each students overall growth and success.

Required Experience:

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