Transitions Academy Job Coach SY

Job Description

Starting Date: Aug 18, 2026

Job : 5785364

Final date to receive applications: Jun 30, 2026 11:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time)

Holyoke Public Schools is a PreK‑12 public school district serving nearly 4,800 students, of whom 80 percent are Latino/Latina, in 11 schools. We employ nearly 1,300 people who together educate and support a richly diverse community of learners. We are committed to recruiting and retaining top‑quality educators who believe all children can and will learn and who strive daily to make school a joyful place of discovery, support, and belonging.

Holyoke Public Schools’ strategic plan, “Moving Forward Together,” builds on the strengths of our past while serving as a call to action to accelerate student learning by thinking differently about how we teach, how we work together, and how we support students’ well‑being.

• The highest graduation rate on record of 77.1 percent, an increase of more than 15 points over 10 years
• Meaningful, applied learning opportunities for high school students, including theme‑based academies, career vocational technical education programming, work‑based learning, and advanced coursework
• A comprehensive approach to early literacy that includes strong core instruction and one‑on‑one tutoring, contributing to more students reading at grade level
• A thriving dual language English/Spanish program, where nearly 900 students are on their path to becoming bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural
• More than one‑third of Holyoke teachers identify as people of color, a 19‑point increase over 10 years. Many partnership programs support staff to earn licensure or additional certification.

Transitions Academy is a specialized transition program within Holyoke Public Schools that supports students ages 18–22 as they prepare for life after high school. The program focuses on building independence through employment, community access, daily living skills, self‑advocacy, and post‑secondary planning. Students participate in authentic work experiences, community‑based instruction, and vocational training designed to help them achieve their individual transition goals and maximize independence in adulthood.

The Job Coach supports students in both classroom and community‑based settings by reinforcing academic, vocational, social, and independent living skills. This role works closely with the Program Manager, teachers, related service providers, families, and community employers to help students develop the skills necessary for successful employment and independent living.

The ideal candidate is patient, flexible, relationship‑driven, and committed to supporting students as they transition into adulthood.

• Work with individual students and small groups to reinforce skills and concepts introduced by teachers and program staff.
• Support students in developing vocational, social, communication, and independent living skills.
• Assist students in mastering workplace equipment, instructional materials, and job‑related tasks.
• Provide direct support to students in classroom, community, and employment settings.
• Assist students with mobility, personal care, and activities of daily living as needed.
• Support students during breakfast, lunch, snack, and cleanup routines.
• Meet buses and assist students with arrival, departure, and daily routines.
• Participate in physical education and community‑based activities, including dressing appropriately to support student participation.

• Assist the Program Manager, teachers, and related service providers in implementing vocational training plans and employment experiences.
• Support students at job sites by modeling workplace expectations, reinforcing job skills, and promoting independence.
• Monitor student performance across various work placements and community settings.
• Conduct job site visits and maintain communication with employers regarding student progress.
• Obtain employer feedback and evaluations to support student growth and goal attainment.
• Serve as a liaison between students, employers, families, and school staff.
• Identify…