Teacher, Itinerant Autism Support​/Life Skills; High School

High School Itinerant Autistic Support & Life Skills Teacher

We are seeking a dynamic, student-centered High School Itinerant Autistic Support & Life Skills Teacher to provide specialized instruction and support to high school students with autism and related disabilities. This unique position focuses on developing students' independent living, executive functioning, social communication, study skills, self-advocacy, and community participation skills to prepare them for successful adult outcomes. The teacher will facilitate instruction in a small-group setting utilizing an on-campus apartment and community-based learning opportunities to provide authentic, real-world experiences that promote independence and transition readiness.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Instruction & Student Support
• Develop and implement individualized instruction aligned with IEP goals and transition plans.
• Teach independent living skills, including: meal planning and preparation, household management and cleaning, personal organization, budgeting and money management, health and wellness skills.
• Provide explicit instruction in executive functioning skills, including: time management, task initiation and completion, organization systems, planning and prioritization, self-monitoring and self-regulation.
• Facilitate social skills instruction focused on: conversational skills, perspective-taking, self-advocacy, workplace and community interactions, relationship building.
• Community-Based Instruction
• Plan and implement community-based learning experiences utilizing local businesses, recreational facilities, and other community resources.
• Support students in developing functional life skills in natural environments.
• Foster student independence and confidence across school, community, and future employment settings.

Collaboration & Transition Planning

• Collaborate with special education staff, general education teachers, related service providers, families, and community agencies.
• Participate in transition planning meetings and support students' post-secondary goals.
• Collect and analyze student progress data and maintain compliance with special education regulations.

What Makes This Position Unique:

• Small-group, highly individualized instruction.
• Opportunities to help students apply skills in classrooms.
• Access to an on-campus apartment for hands-on life skills training.
• Opportunities to teach in authentic community environments.
• Focus on preparing students for meaningful, independent adult lives.
• Collaborative team environment committed to student-centered and neurodiversity-affirming practices.

Qualifications:

• A four-year college degree and PA Special Education (PK-8) Teacher Certification.
• Autism endorsement preferred.
• If certification is from a different state, PA certification must be obtained within a determined timeframe.
• Experience with Verbal Behavior Program preferred.
• Demonstrated competence teaching, with a record of successfully impacting student achievement.
• Demonstrated competence as a special education teacher.
• Ability to adapt to change.
• Strong interpersonal skills, and effective verbal and written communication skills.

Required Clearances include Criminal Background Clearance (Act 34), Child Abuse Clearance (Act 151), and FBI Fingerprint Clearance (Act 114), all dated within one year of receipt. Meets criteria for employment in a PA Public School.

Job Performance Requirements:

• The mental and physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
• Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time.
• Ability to bend, stoop, climb stairs, and reach overhead.
• Ability to exhibit mental dexterity to enter data into a computer, to read a computer screen and printed material with or without vision aids, to hear and understand speech at normal classroom levels outdoors, and on the telephone, and to speak in audible tones so that others may understand clearly in normal classrooms, outdoors, and on the telephone.
• Ability to physically lift up to 25 pounds.
• Noise level in the work environment is usually mild to moderate depending on the specific site.
• Position may require implementing de-escalation tactics with students who present an imminent risk to themselves or others, in accordance with established Safety Care training guidelines.