Special Education Teacher: Phoenix Charter Academy Springfield at Hampden County House of Corrections

Introducing ReignitED

Reignited is an innovative partnership between Phoenix Charter Academy and the Hampden County House of Corrections, designed to bring high-quality, student-centered education directly to incarcerated young adults. This groundbreaking pilot program provides incarcerated students with the opportunity to earn their high school diploma while developing the academic skills, confidence, and resilience needed to successfully transition back into their communities.

This is not a traditional teaching position.

As a founding member of the Reignited team, you will help build one of Massachusetts' most innovative correctional education programs from the ground up. You'll have the rare opportunity to shape systems, influence program design, and create life-changing educational experiences for students who have historically had limited access to quality schooling.

Job Summary:
We are currently seeking a dedicated and passionate Special Education Teacher to join our team. As a Special Education Teacher, you will be responsible for providing specialized instruction and support to students with disabilities. You will work closely with students, parents, and other educators to ensure that individualized education plans (IEPs) are implemented effectively and that students' needs are met both academically and emotionally.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or a related field in special education

• Strong knowledge of special education laws, policies, and procedures

• Comfort teaching high school students Math, Humanities, and Science

• Experience working with students with diverse learning needs and disabilities

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

• Ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues, parents, and other stakeholders

• Patience, empathy, and a genuine passion for working with students with special needs

Responsibilities:

• In person onsite at an incarceration facility and on occasion working at Phoenix Springfield campus

• Develop and implement individualized education plans (IEPs) for students with disabilities

• Assess students' skills and needs through formal and informal assessments

• Adapt instructional materials and strategies to meet the unique needs of students

• Collaborate with general education teachers to ensure inclusive instructional practices in the classroom

• Provide direct instruction and support to students, both individually and in small groups

• Monitor and evaluate student progress, adjusting instructional strategies as necessary

• Communicate regularly with parents and other stakeholders to discuss student performance and progress

• Attend IEP meetings and provide input on student goals, accommodations, and modifications

• Collaborate with support staff, therapists, and other professionals to coordinate services for students with special needs

• Stay current with best practices and research in special education

We are looking for a dedicated and compassionate Special Education Teacher who is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of students with disabilities. If you are passionate about special education and possess the necessary qualifications, we invite you to apply for this rewarding position.

Who We Are

Phoenix Charter Academy aims to show the world what all young people can do, and to defy the limitations of societal assumptions, classism, and racism. Phoenix Charter Academy was founded on the unwavering belief that all students can succeed at high levels. While this mantra is typical of high-performing schools, particularly those in the charter sector, Phoenix truly endeavors to reach every student, focusing on a growing number on the margins of the traditional public district education system: students who have dropped out of high school, students who are parenting children of their own, students who are or have been involved with the juvenile justice system, students who are older and new to the country and cannot gain access to public schooling, and students who are under-credited relative to the number of years they have spent enrolled in high school. We believe that these students, like all students, are completely capable of developing the skills necessary to set themselves up for lifetimes of economic prosperity and success. We support our students with individually tailored and academically rigorous curricula and push them to succeed at the highest levels by providing them with the resources and mentoring that they need to reach their full potential.

Why Our Work is Important

Students across America are dropping out of high school at an alarming rate. Dropping out of high school has a substantial impact on a young person’s life. Over the course of their lifetime, an individual who drops out of high school is more likely to have reduced earning power, greater social service dependency, increased rates of criminal involvement, and shorter life expectancy. Phoenix Charter Academies addresses this trend by creating environments where students can demonstrate their talent and resilience and prepare themselves for success through high school, college, and beyond.

Qualities of Phoenix staff member:

• Unwavering belief in our students - Phoenix staff operate with the deeply held belief that all young people want to and can succeed even in the face of substantial systemic barriers and societal constraints.

• Continuous Improvement - Phoenix staff approach problem solving with curiosity and desire to understand the perspectives of others. They carry an internalized sense of “I can always learn more” and know that adults at Phoenix must model the qualities of being open-minded and willing to make mistakes and learn from them. Phoenix staff members embody “lifelong learner” mindsets and strive for constant improvement.

• Eager to Learn - Phoenix staff must be able to learn as they go in a fast paced, ever evolving, urgent environment. They have the desire to receive direct feedback and the ability to implement the feedback into practice quickly.

• Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Phoenix staff commit to understanding the ways that their self-identity and experiences impact and interact with their daily work, their colleagues, and their students, and work toward furthering initiatives that promote a more equitable society.

Our Commitment

At Phoenix, we recognize the importance of forming a school community inclusive of all visible and invisible identities. We act to ensure that our students and staff always see reflections of themselves and their communities.

At Phoenix, we aim to break down systemic barriers by providing access to resources, experiences, and differentiated supports for historically marginalized groups.

At Phoenix, we solicit, value, understand, connect, and leverage multiple perspectives and experiences. We invite all perspectives except those that perpetuate oppression or dehumanization.

At Phoenix we do not just accept differences - we celebrate it, support it, and thrive on it for the benefit of our scholars and the communities we serve. We believe difference makes us stronger. Phoenix Charter Academy is an equal opportunity employer and as such, we do not discriminate against any team member or candidate because of race, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law. Phoenix Charter Academy is committed to making any reasonable accommodation necessary to support an individual's employment.