Cypress School’s teacher will serve the Special Education needs of our children and young adults ages 5-22 years old with autism and similar moderate to severe developmental disabilities and intensive behavioral, learning and communication challenges. Our teacher will support the students whose severe behavior problems preclude their safe learning and/or the safe learning of others in public school special day classes. By emphasizing positive behavior supports, individual interests, motivation and reinforcement strategies, our teacher helps our students will succeed. Building on individual learning strengths and utilizing best practices, multi-disciplinary, and evidence-based methods, the teacher provides student assessments to determine learning style, IEP goals and daily safety needs. Our teacher helps students learn functional academics, self-help and community living, pre-vocational and vocational education, communication, physical education, art, music, movement, sensory and behavioral regulation and social skills. For the 16-22 year olds, community work is provided in grounds keeping, janitorial and clerical services, kitchen preparation, etc. Informed choice and empowerment guide all services. With an enriched, professional staffing ratio of 1:2, our teacher supports our students to successfully work on their individualized programs in the environmentally adapted classrooms and therapy rooms at the school site. A portion of the students' day is spent learning life and work skills in the community, integrating with and accessing generic resources such as parks and recreation areas and programs, grocery stores, banks, restaurants, fine and performing arts activities and places. Cypress School is working with Petaluma Bounty Gardens to plant, tend, pick and distribute organic vegetables as a volunteer community service learning project. Coordination between the classroom teacher, Designated Instructional Service (DIS) therapists, families, and after-school providers is a key element to support student’s IEP progress throughout the school and extended school year. Ongoing comprehensive staff development includes on-site trainings, local, state and national workshops and conferences.