Dedicated Aide

Job Description

Job DescriptionPosition: Dedicated AideRate: Up to $20 per hourReports to: Special Populations Coordinator

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

School Mission and Vision

• Implement a shared school mission and vision to promote each student’s social, emotional, and academic development
• Actively participate in data-driven instruction and methods of continuous improvement to ensure we meet the needs of each student
• Reinforce the mission with students and families, inspiring them to act on the mission every single day
• Reflect on instructional practices and adjust behavior and systems accordingly: ask regularly for feedback; model humility and admit mistakes; seek out thought partners; and, engage in professional learning
• Collaborates with support teachers and other staff to ensure proper and consistent implementation of our instructional program

Equitable and Inclusive School Culture

• Model ethical, equitable, and professional behavior and act with integrity, fairness, cultural competence, and empathy with students and colleagues
• Contribute to a professional school culture focused on developing relational trust with colleagues and building each other's capacity to promote each student’s social, emotional, and academic development; serve as a mentor teacher for support teachers
• Set personal and professional learning goals to promote wellness and enhance professional practice; attend summer institute and weekly professional development sessions
• Participate in professional development and coaching cycles led by Principal and other instructional leaders
• Encourages open, productive, collaborative, and trusting working relationships among administrators, teachers, and staff to promote an environment of continuous improvement
• Develop a supportive and positive learning environment focused on uplifting student voice and using student data to drive student development, growth, and achievement

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Support a Student with Special Needs throughout the School Day

• Assist the student with participating in lessons, daily activities, and assessments
• Support the student with daily living activities (e.g. eating and toileting,) as needed
• Facilitate independent work with materials in the inclusion environment
• Teach lessons under the direction of the lead teacher and the special education teacher in the resource room
• Implement prescribed behavioral strategies and positive behavior support in all settings
• Accompany and assist students during related service sessions (speech therapy, occupational therapy, etc).
• De-escalate students and use counseling skills

Collaborate with the Teaching Team and Special Education Team

• Collaborate with the Lead Teacher and the Special Education Coordinators in the planning and management of lessons and work that the student will do independently and with support
• Provide regular communication about students’ development to the lead teacher
• Collaborate with the Special Education Coordinator and the Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) provider to implement ABA within the classroom setting. This includes planning for: classroom environment, natural environment teaching, instruction, discrete trial instruction, behavior management strategies, and reinforcement systems
• Learn about writing IEP goals, progress summaries, and report cards

Assist in Data Collection and Record-Keeping

• Participate in all training related to data collection and assessment
• Gather written observations for Teaching Strategies GOLD (and any other assessments) as requested by the lead teacher
• Discuss observations with the lead teacher, other teaching staff, and the Special Education Coordinator
• Regularly collect data to track students’ progress in program areas: curriculum and IEP
• Follow Functional Communication Protocols and Behavior Protocols to respond to students' behavior appropriately and successfully

Equitable and Inclusive Student Support

• Improve and sustain a school environment that is inclusive, equitable, caring, and culturally competent (and meets the academic, social, emotional, and physical needs of each student)
• Maintain positive, fair, and unbiased student behavior policies that emphasize relationship reconciliation and behavioral change
• Work with Special Education Teacher and English Learner Teacher to plan for and support all learners’ needs
• Use student performance and placement data, as well as school culture data, to promote greater inclusiveness, caring, equity, and closure of opportunity gaps
• Serve as a member of the Student Support Team (SST) and implement a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) to meet the needs of all children, including special populations
• Collaborate with the Lead Teacher, special education service providers (speech, physical therapist,occupational therapist), ELL teacher and other Assistant Teachers to address student needs in the classroom
• Contribute productively to the school as a whole
• Attend and participate in school events outside of regular school hours
• Other duties as assigned.

Dedicated Aide Requirements:

• Possess a minimum of a High School Diploma (an Associate’s degree or Bachelor’s degree preferred)
• At least two years of classroom experience, preferably in a public school or urban setting
• Willingness to take Behavior Technician and Crisis Prevention and Intervention (CPI) training
• At least three years of combined experience as a teacher preferred
• Meet state educational requirements, preferably a valid state-issued teaching license for Teaching in elementary education, or meet eligibility, including a Bachelor’s degree or a Master’s degree in Education and passing scores on Praxis I & II
• Deep experience and knowledge of learning standards and student-centered curriculum
• An energetic, flexible, creative, innovative individual who can develop strengths-based, student-centered support plans that support learning for students of various abilities, including those with various identified exceptionalities
• Ability to excel as a member of a multidisciplinary team and an instructional team
• Ability to work in a multicultural, multilingual environment
• Ability to collaborate and teach through a lens of diversity, equity, justice, and inclusion
• Strong communication skills (both oral and written)