Education Assistant Specialist

This position is a 7 hour/day position, with 183 paid days per year with option for additional summer hours. Starting hourly pay is $22.75. This position is full-benefit eligible, including health, dental, life and retirement benefits.

About Karner Blue Education Center

Karner Blue Education Center serves students in grades K-8 who have emotional behavioral disorders (EBD), autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and developmental cognitive disabilities (DCD). Environmental supports create a controlled space for students in which to learn, play and relax. The focus on nature provides a calming atmosphere, and educational philosophies tied to nature build a student's connection to their world. Karner Blue Education Center utilizes the Compassionate School model, which supports both physical and emotional health by helping students build relationships, self-regulate and achieve success in both academic and non-academic areas. To learn more about the Karner Blue Education Center, click here.

Nature of Work

Incumbents are responsible for providing instructional and behavioral support to students individually or in small groups, and ensuring a safe and healthy education environment. Responsibilities may include: assisting teachers with modifying curriculum, class activities or materials; providing instructional support in various disciplines and facilitating social skills; monitoring students' behavior to ensure a safe and healthy environment; de-escalating student issues; providing physical care; and maintaining and preparing routine records and reports.

Typical Class Responsibilities

• Assists teachers by providing instructional support to students where differentiated/modified instruction is needed; secures the necessary equipment needed within the class to accommodate specialized student needs.
• Assists teachers with overseeing the safety, personal conduct, personal care, and behavior of the students; redirects students engaging in negative or unexpected behavior; documents behaviors; implements behavior support plans and monitors for effectiveness; intervenes when necessary to deescalate students deemed to be in crises.
• Assists with the instruction of student workers by providing guidance in the handling of industry specific tools and machinery, maintaining work areas, and preventing accidents.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

Training and Experience Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent (G.E.D.)
• Two years of study at an institution of higher education (60 college credits) OR an Associate degree (or higher) OR successful completion of the Paraeducator training and assessments (District funded)
• 1 to 3 years successful experience working with children and/or individuals with special needs. Other successful work experience can be considered.

Knowledge Requirements

• Applicable subject matter(s)
• Assistive learning tools
• Student support principles
• Recordkeeping principles
• Applicable local, state and federal laws, rules, and regulations
• Computer and related software applications

Skill Requirements

• Monitoring children in an educational setting
• Observing and recording student behavior
• Using assistive learning tools
• Preparing and maintaining records and reports
• Applying local, state and federal laws, rules, and regulations
• Operating a computer and applicable software applications
• Communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with subordinates, coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction

Physical Requirements:

• Positions in this class typically require: climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions
• Heavy Work: Exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of forces constantly to move objects
• Job requirements include:
  • Occasionally (1-33% of the time) run, climb or balance, taste and smell, and lift up to 100lbs
  • Frequently (34-66% of the time) sit, reach with hands and arms, stoop/kneel/crouch or crawl, and lift up to 25lbs
  • Continuously (67-100% of the time) stand, walk, use hands, and talk and hear
    

Special Education Profile

Special Education programs and services in Northeast Metro 916 are central to the Intermediate District's mission and fully integrated in its structure and decision-making processes. Programs provide special education and related service support to students from early childhood through age 21 with emotional/behavioral disorders, autism spectrum disorders, developmental and cognitive disabilities, deaf and hard of hearing disabilities, and learning disabilities.

Our highly structured, safe learning environments share these characteristics:
- Classrooms of 4-10 students supported by 1-4 trained education assistants.
- Behavior management support, on-site mental health professionals, due process and curriculum support staff.
- In-house collaborative teams include: audiologists, behavior specialists, deaf/blind specialists and interveners, autism specialists, developmental adaptive physical education teachers, education assistants, health specialists, occupational therapists and assistants, physical/other health disabilities teachers, physical therapists and assistants, school psychologists, school nurses, school social workers, speech/language pathologists, and sign language interpreters.

Commitment to Equity

At Northeast Metro 916, equity means that everyone has access to what they need in order to learn, grow and thrive.

Northeast Metro 916 will not discriminate against individuals based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, parental status, status with regard to public assistance, disability, age or sexual orientation.