Career Opportunities

Becoming part of the Sweetser family means you can make a difference in the lives of Maine children, adults, and families every day. As a nationally recognized and accredited leader, we offer competitive salaries, a wide range of benefits and the opportunity to join a passionate team of more than 700 employees. 

Start Over with your Job Search
Returning Applicant?  Login Now

$10,000 Sign-On Bonus!
Reimbursement provided for Teacher Recertification! 

Come join our team of Special Educators and day treatment clinicians. We help prepare students for meaningful lives by contributing to their educational and social emotional development. Our classroom ratios are small, we build strong relationships with students and families through a comprehensive educational clinical approach, we embrace restorative justice practices and we have an experiential learning component for students.  We offer 2/3 tuition for ongoing certification and professional growth for educators.

$10,000 Sign-On Bonus!

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Contributes to school’s effectiveness by identifying short-term and long-range issues that must be addressed; providing information and commentary pertinent to deliberations; recommending options and courses of action; and implementing directives.
• Establishes and adjusts course outlines and objectives by following curriculum guidelines and state and local school system goals, and modifying plans on the basis of student diagnostic and assessment procedures.
• Conveys information to students by using language concepts, examples, demonstrations, and teaching aids, such as audiovisual equipment and computers.
• Completes educational requirements by implementing the educational plan, including goals and activities, involving students in community and social programming based on individual need, scheduling and assigning instructional activities and following up on results.
• Assesses student learning by preparing, administering, and scoring tests; reviewing and correcting assignments; eliciting student questions and responses; and evaluating the daily academic and behavioral progress of students.
• Maintains student learning results by providing instructional feedback; coaching, counseling, and disciplining students; and planning, monitoring and appraising learning results.
• Maintains records by documenting learning accomplishments, attendance, and behavior.
• Guides students’ personal and social development by establishing rules and procedures for administrative matters, student verbal participation, and student movement within the classroom, between classrooms, and on the playground.
• Helps parents by providing academic information; suggesting available educational and social resources; addressing parents’ concerns; and answering questions and requests.
• Complies with federal, state, and local legal requirements by studying existing and new legislation; anticipating future legislation; enforcing adherence to requirements; and advising school administration on needed actions.
• Assists the educational supervisor or high school and middle school teachers by developing and implementing prevocational unit.
• Assists students by encouraging them to be responsible for their own behavior by using the concept of logical or natural consequences.
• Maintains student behavior by providing the appropriate degree of supervision during both instructional and non-instructional time.

  GENERAL EXPECTATIONS:
  

• Be committed to the mission, vision, and values of the organization.
• Work collaboratively as a member of a team with various groups of staff, depending on the issue addressed.
• Assure quality in work performed to facilitate the delivery of quality services.
• Reports accidents and injuries in a timely fashion, demonstrates safe housekeeping practices, notifies supervisor of potential health and safety concerns immediately, participates in health and safety training as required, understands and follows all Sweetser health and safety policies.
• Maintains a safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules and regulation.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; and participating in professional societies.
• Supports organization’s goals by having knowledge of and supporting treatment approaches established by the multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to support and recognize the important role volunteers play.  Sweetser employees work with, support, collaborate with volunteers, and promote opportunities for volunteer engagement.
• Assists the school principal by participating in regular individual or group supervision.
• Follow Suicide safer care practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

ORGANIZATIONAL EXPECTATIONS:

Customer Focus Competency

• Anticipates customer needs and is responsive to customer feedback by taking action to make things better.
• Treats others with courtesy and respect, projecting an approachable manner at all times.
• Meets needs of customers thru reliable work attendance and completion of job duties. Arrives to work and meetings on time; returns from breaks and lunch at designated time.
• Works with, supports, collaborate with volunteers and interns, and promote opportunities for volunteer and intern engagement.
• Maintains professional boundaries with all clients, co-workers, visitors, and community partners.
• Shares responsibility by taking initiative to assist coworkers.

Team Orientation Competency

• Maintains confidentiality in client, family, and personal communications.
• Expresses ideas professionally, clearly, and concisely both verbally and in writing, without the use offensive language.
• Shares appropriate information necessary for team members (departmental and interdepartmental) to effectively plan, anticipate, and be proactive participants in the service provided.
• Communicates with individuals about issues as they arise, in a direct and timely manner that is positive and builds trust and confidence in the organization. Expresses disagreement constructively.
• Maintains alignment and collaboration with leadership and coworkers through respectful communication by providing consistent and coordinated messages.

Quality Competency

• Identifies, supports, and participates in continuous quality improvement activities by developing or participating in strategies to improve processes.
• Assesses problems and evaluates options by considering available resources, implications, and consequences.
• Uses the plan, do, check, act strategy to meet quality outcomes.
• Approaches tasks with diligence, timeliness, and attention to detail.
• Maintains alignment with team, supervisory, and management goals, objectives, and direction of the organization.
• Identifies ways to be fiscally efficient while supporting quality service and mission attainment.
• Enhances quality performance by participating in professional training and development opportunities.

Safety Competency

• Adheres to safety procedures and works to prevent accidents and injuries, including good ergonomic practices. Reports accidents, injuries, or emergencies to Supervisor and Human Resources within 48 hours.
• Maintains a professional appearance and is attired to support safe completion of assigned duties; utilizes personal protective equipment/safety devices to prevent injury.
• Demonstrates good housekeeping practices, helping to maintain the professional appearance and safety of facilities, to ensure they are easily and safely accessible.Returns all equipment to its proper place and cleans work areas promptly.
• Notifies facilities staff as appropriate of safety issues needing to be addressed.
• Wears and displays identification badge in Sweetser facilities and as appropriate when working in the community.Approaches individuals not displaying Sweetser identification, offering assistance and escorting them to their destination whenever possible.

5 Basic Principles Standard

• Focus on the situation, issue or behavior, not on the person.
• Maintain the self-confidence and self-esteem of others.
• Maintain constructive relationships.
• Take Initiative to make things better.
• Lead by example.

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary or Secondary Education or Special Education, or 120 credits plus proper state certification as a Vocational Teacher.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED:

• Holds 282 certificate or eligible for conditional application according to Maine Department of Education.
• Valid state driver’s license.

EXPERIENCE:

• Student teaching in a self-contained classroom.
• Experience in teaching life skills and background that enables participation in the overall treatment program and to meet the emotional and developmental needs of the persons served.