Teaching Assistant - ACCEPT at Medway Middle School

ACCEPT Education Collaborative is a regional non-profit educational organization with locations in Medway and Natick, MA. ACCEPT provides a wide range of programs and services including special education for students with moderate to severe needs, specialized transportation, home-based services, behavioral and educational consultation, and professional development. ACCEPT offers a continuum of programs and services Prek-12 and to age 22 for both students in life skills and Therapeutic programs. Our programs address autism spectrum disorders, emotional/behavioral needs, global impairments, cognitive/intellectual disabilities, language disorders, ADHD/ADD, and nonverbal learning disability.ACCEPT is seeking dynamic and compassionate teaching assistants to work in our Middle and High School Programs in Medway. We offer competitive compensation and benefits packages, a collaborative work environment and professional training and support. Whether you want a career in education or simply are looking for a chance to work with some amazing people and make a difference in the lives of some amazing kids - this job is for you! Pay starting at $22.09 hour! Qualifications Required: 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 Qualifications Desired: Bachelor’s Degree in Education or a related field Experience working in special education Essential Functions and 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, and take necessary steps to ensure academic progress Provide assistance to students during non-classroom time and arrange recreational activities Attend required meetings and training sessions THINGS TO DO DAILY: Arrive and be prepared before students arrive and stay until all students are picked up, as directed by the classroom teacher Check in with the teacher and behavior specialist in your classroom every day Help teacher/behavior specialist ensure that student clipboards/data sheets are all set for the day Help ensure that the classroom space is clean, organized, and professional Keep a walkie talkie with you at all times (tuned to channel 7) 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 Implement individual student academic programming if applicable 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 (communicate relevant data to teacher and/or behavior specialist who is completing paperwork) Read email and reply within 24 hours Follow-up with phone messages within 24 hours Ensure classroom is cleaned and ready for the next day Nonessential Functions: Other duties as assigned Occasional travel and transfer between ACCEPT programs to fulfill TA responsibilities at any of ACCEPT’s locations or programs Success Factors/Job Competencies: Ability and great desire to work with children with special needs Ability to take direction well Great attention to detail and accuracy Excellent interpersonal and communication skills Positive and proactive attitude Ability to maintain confidentiality and ethical conduct Commitment to company values and mission Strong team player Physical Demands and Work Environment: Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to move about and may be required to traverse occasionally throughout the school building. The employee must also often remain in a stationary position for considerable periods of time. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and sit, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and perform physical restraint of a student at times of behavioral escalation. The employee is expected to lift at least 20 lbs (i.e. books, school supplies, etc.). The employee must frequently use hands to handle, or feel; and use hand strength to grasp tools. Occasionally s/he operates a computer and other office productivity machinery (i.e., a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer). The employee must be able to input information into a computer and as well as read material from a computer monitor as well as handwritten or printed matter with or without visual aids. The employee must be able to communicate effectively with students, parents, and other staff members in person and on the telephone. In the classroom, the employee must be able to see and hear on a continuous basis in order to ensure the safety of students as well as speak frequently to provide instruction. On rare occasions, it may be necessary to move quickly/run across even or uneven surfaces. The employee interacts with students, parents, and other staff members. The employee is directly responsible for the safety, well-being, and work output of students. Work Environment: The employee will be working in a normal school environment with an acceptable level of noise. This is not a remote position. The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by an employee in this position/classification. It is not to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory, or all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications of employees assigned to this job. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or is a logical assignment to the position. Management has the right to add to, revise, or delete information in this description. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job. ACCEPT is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, disability, religion, or sexual orientation. ACCEPT Education Collaborative is an EEO employer - M/F/Vets/Disabled