Special Education Science Teacher

Arbor Associates

Lancaster, MA 01523, USA

Published: 6/14/2022

Education

Full Time

Job Description

Special Education Science Teacher – Grades 6–12

Location: Specialized Day School Setting
Employment Type: Contract

Focus Areas: Special Education, Social-Emotional Learning

Arbor Associates partners with specialized day schools serving students whose primary needs are social, emotional, or behavioral. These students have experienced barriers that prevented them from succeeding in traditional public school settings. Your role is to help them reset, rebuild, and rediscover their potential in a structured, supportive environment.

This is a contract opportunity through Arbor, but the impact you’ll have on students is long-lasting. This isn’t conventional teaching with minor supports. You’ll be working with students who may not trust adults yet, who lead with defensiveness instead of confidence, and who will test boundaries long before they show progress. When you show up with consistency and skill, you create the conditions for academic growth, emotional regulation, and meaningful change. Many students eventually transition successfully back to a traditional school environment or on to the next step in their education.

What You’ll Do

Deliver engaging, structured, trauma-informed instruction in core subjects, with an emphasis on Special Education and/or Math
Develop and implement individualized learning plans aligned with IEP goals
Collaborate with clinicians, counselors, program leaders, and support staff to facilitate student progress
Integrate social-emotional learning and restorative practices into daily routines
Maintain clear expectations, structure, and predictable routines while responding appropriately to crisis situations
Foster belonging, stability, and motivation in each student’s academic journey

What Makes This Role Unique

Small class sizes with high levels of support
Real-time collaboration with specialized teams
A mission-driven environment where relationships matter as much as academics
Students with genuine potential who often haven’t had the right structure or adults advocating for them

What Success Looks Like

Students are safe, engaged, and making measurable academic and behavioral progress
Instruction is individualized and responsive, not generic
Behavior support is proactive, relational, and grounded in empathy
Communication across teams is open, professional, and problem-solving oriented
Progress — big or small — is acknowledged and reinforced

What We’re Looking For

Current Massachusetts Educator License in Special Education or a subject-specific license in Science (Grades 6–12)
Experience teaching in special education, alternative education, or behavioral/therapeutic school settings
Demonstrated ability to build rapport with students who have significant social-emotional needs, including those with trauma histories, anxiety, or behavioral challenges
Capacity to differentiate instruction, scaffold content, and integrate hands-on learning to support diverse learning profiles
Strong classroom management grounded in structure, empathy, and consistency — not punishment
Patience, adaptability, and a genuine belief that students who have struggled can still grow academically and personally
Comfort working in an on-site, team-based environment that includes clinicians, counselors, and residential staff
Ability to collaborate, communicate, and problem-solve in fast-moving situations
Commitment to showing up with professionalism and resilience, even on tough days

Arbor Associates is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status. All interested applicants must be over the age of 18, authorized to work in the United States, and pass a stringent background check including Criminal History, Sexual Offender Registry, and Department of Children and Families (DCF- MA)/Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF-RI).

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Company DescriptionArbor Associates is more than a Human Services staffing firm. We're an active part of the communities we serve. We serve Southern New England, including Greater Boston, Central and Western Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. We live and work in these communities and we're committed to providing the care and support needed to help them thrive. Arbor has been around for 40 years, specializing in Behavioral Health, Medical, and Education. Almost 40 years of experience means we know the industry very well. We match employees with fulfilling and flexible positions that best fit their qualifications, needs, and schedules. We aim to understand and support both our customers and their clients as well as our own associates as they care for those in need.

Company Description

Arbor Associates is more than a Human Services staffing firm. We're an active part of the communities we serve. We serve Southern New England, including Greater Boston, Central and Western Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. We live and work in these communities and we're committed to providing the care and support needed to help them thrive. Arbor has been around for 40 years, specializing in Behavioral Health, Medical, and Education. Almost 40 years of experience means we know the industry very well. We match employees with fulfilling and flexible positions that best fit their qualifications, needs, and schedules. We aim to understand and support both our customers and their clients as well as our own associates as they care for those in need.