Teaching Assistant - Natick Elementary
Accept Education Collaborative - Natick, MA
posted 5 months ago
About the position
ACCEPT Education Collaborative is a regional non-profit educational organization located in Medway and Natick, MA, dedicated to providing a wide range of programs and services for students with special needs. The organization focuses on special education for students with moderate to severe needs, offering specialized transportation, home-based services, behavioral and educational consultation, and professional development. ACCEPT serves students from Prek-12 and up to age 22, addressing various challenges such as autism spectrum disorders, emotional and behavioral needs, cognitive and intellectual disabilities, language disorders, ADHD/ADD, and nonverbal learning disabilities. We are currently seeking dynamic and compassionate teaching assistants to join our Middle and High School Programs in Medway. This role is essential in supporting our students and ensuring they receive the guidance and assistance they need to thrive in their educational environment. Teaching assistants will work closely under the direction of Special Education teachers and Behavior Specialists, assisting with classroom instruction and providing support to students. The position offers competitive compensation starting at $22.09 per hour, along with a collaborative work environment and professional training opportunities. As a teaching assistant, you will play a crucial role in maintaining a safe and supportive classroom environment, tracking student progress, and implementing individual student behavior support plans. This position is ideal for individuals looking to make a meaningful impact in the lives of students with special needs, whether you are pursuing a career in education or simply want to contribute positively to the community.
Responsibilities
- Work under the direction of Special Education teacher and Behavior Specialist
- Assist with classroom instruction and provide support and guidance to students
- Maintain a safe, clean and supportive classroom environment
- Work closely with the lead teacher to design and implement a classroom system to track student progress
- Provide assistance to students during non-classroom time and arrange recreational activities
- Attend required meetings and training sessions
- Arrive and be prepared before students arrive and stay until all students are picked up
- Check in with the teacher and behavior specialist in your classroom every day
- Help ensure that the classroom space is clean, organized, and professional
- Collect daily data (behavior and academic)
- Implement individual student behavior support plans
- Implement all student specific reinforcement schedules
- Help support teacher during whole group lessons
- Help run small group lessons as needed
- Follow schedule created by classroom teacher
- Help create a professional, positive and supportive classroom environment
- Check in with teacher and behavior specialist to communicate any issues that came up during the day
- Inform teacher and behavior specialist of any issues to be followed up on
- Help complete incident reports and restraint reports
- Read email and reply within 24 hours
- Follow-up with phone messages within 24 hours
Requirements
- 1-3 years of experience working with children and/or young adults
- Associate Degree or equivalent experience
- Safety Care certified or able and willing to get certified
- Team player and dependable
- Ability to follow direction well but work well without supervision when necessary
- Excellent communication skills, verbal and written
- Ability to work well and remain calm under pressure
- Ability to multitask
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
- Experience, ability and desire to work with students with special needs
- Compassion and patience
Nice-to-haves
- Bachelor's Degree in Education or a related field
- Experience working in special education
Benefits
- Competitive compensation
- Professional training and support
- Collaborative work environment
