Special Education Advisor

The Eastern Caribbean is seeking an experienced special education teacher to help strengthen the country’s systems for individualized student support.

Special education is an emerging field in the Eastern Caribbean. While the Department of Education has made significant progress in building national capacity for assessment through the hiring of dedicated assessment teams in both the north and south, there remains a critical gap in special needs intervention. Currently, the responsibility for developing and implementing Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) falls on classroom teachers and Special Education Needs (SEN) instructors, many of whom have little to no training in creating structured interventions aligned with the student assessment reports.

As a Special Education Advisor, you will play a vital role in addressing this gap by guiding teachers through the development and implementation of effective IEPs. Your expertise will help translate assessment results into meaningful classroom interventions, enabling students with special needs to receive the targeted support required for improved learning. Your collaborative work will strengthen the country’s IEP processes and provide lasting benefits for the SEN community.

Bachelor's or master's degree in education or a related field.
AND
Two or more years of special education experience, preferably in one of the following areas: American Sign Language (ASL), speech therapy, occupational therapy, or working with visually-impaired.

Volunteers spend their first week in a shared double bedroom before moving to independent houses or apartments, either standalone or within a host family compound. Housing is simple, often with open‑air designs and basic appliances; many lack hot water, washing machines, and air conditioning, though electricity, cellular service, and internet are generally reliable. Volunteers commute by bus to their worksites and major shopping areas, generally 25–30 minutes away.

Expand your special education expertise by strengthening data‑driven intervention planning, instructional support, and teacher training alongside other educators.
Develop foundational Kwéyòl language skills through immersive, daily conversations.
Experience the culture and traditions of Eastern Caribbean communities.

Train school staff on legally compliant, student-centered IEPs.
Review student assessment reports to inform accommodations and intervention strategies.
Develop, test, and refine an IEP template with teachers from selected districts.
Create behavioral and academic intervention protocols.
Integrate real-time progress monitoring tools to make timely intervention adjustments based on specific student needs.
Assist with the implementation of IEPs and interventions across selected schools.

You may also work on additional projects that meet the community’s interests and priorities, such as supporting after-school tutoring.

After a two-week orientation on topics such as health and safety, you will move to a peri-urban community where you will collaborate with the Ministry of Education Special Education Unit staff and educators to assess the educational needs and develop a work plan in line with their established goals.

Peace Corps/Eastern Caribbean will equip you with introductory Kwéyòl language skills and you may work with a tutor who can help you build basic language skills to connect with the community.