Educational Assistant

Department: Instructional Services 

Program: JDEP and YCEP

Reports to: Joy Koenig, Principal

Classification/Range: Classified, Range 10

Schedule: 20 hrs/week/ 228 day work year

Interview Timeline: ASAP

Thank you for considering working with us! We serve incarcerated youth, ages 12-24, in Albany, Oregon. Our educational programs provide social skills and educational and post-secondary planning to assist students in completing their High School Diploma and/or GED and dual credit and college options. The students have been adjudicated and are in the custody of the Oregon Youth Authority. Post-secondary programs include both vocational education, college and dual credit.

POSITION PURPOSE: 

Provides educational and classroom assistance under the guidance of teachers, principals and other supervisors, and assists in carrying out instructional activities, promoting student safety and well-being, and reinforcing classroom programs. Other duties as assigned.

NATURE & SCOPE: 

The primary distinguishing characteristic of the Educational Assistant IB classifications is the EA IB’s ability to provide support to the instructional program with specific responsibility for assisting the supervision and instruction of special needs students, observing and documenting student progress, implementing plans for instruction and assisting students with special health needs. Duties are performed under risk of infection and injury and require work with students having intense learning and behavioral needs.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Undertake delegated instructional tasks for individuals and small groups; assists with classroom assignments; and monitoring student activities in the classroom and other locations.
• Performs instructional support tasks such as preparing worksheets, organizing materials, creating and posting bulletin boards, filing, records requests, data collection and monitoring progress.
• Assists students with instruction.
• Participates in the implementation of student behavior plans for the purpose of ensuring effective and safe student learning. Assists in transportation supervision, as needed or requested.
• Successfully complete necessary trainings (e.g. Safe Schools), maintain required certifications, and demonstrate ability to implement program-adopted crisis prevention/intervention strategies to include the use of de-escalating procedures, physical interventions to avoid injuries and other safety protocols.

ESSENTIAL QUALITIES:

Equity: Lead and support regional equity initiatives

Vision: Lead with vision and follow-through.

Trust: Develop trust among coworkers through honesty and fairness.

Communication: Communicate in an inclusive and collaborative manner.

Personal Qualities: Be respectful, caring and courageous.

Agency-wide perspective:Be involved in, and supportive of continuous overall improvement of MESD.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, ABILITIES: 

• Daily and consistent attendance and puncuality are paramount as this provides consistency and alignment with students, peers and programming outcomes. 
• Experience working with incarcerated youth or youth with special needs.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, ABILITIES: 

• Ability to follow directions, follow through on classroom plans, and maintain effective working relationships with teachers, other educational assistants, other MESD and local school district personnel, and other agency partners.
• Ability to listen, make sound decisions on a day-to-day basis as well as during emergency or crisis situations, and effectively work with students in high stress environments.
• Good basic problem-solving with effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to perform data collection and recording tasks.
• Initiative, grit, perseverance. 

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• High school diploma and/or G.E.D, College Diploma Preferred. 
• Experience working with at-risk youth, students with severe disabilities or in alternative education learning environments
• Any combination of education and experience which would provide the applicant with the desired skills, knowledge and ability required to perform the job.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

This position is based in an incarcerated youth facility.

Work is performed in special education or alternative education environments. Work may involve implementing crisis prevention/intervention protocols, and may involve a risk of injury, exposure to contagious diseases, abusive students, and other adverse conditions.

BENEFITS: 

Two medical insurance plan options: 

• Group Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA)
• Opt-Out option
• Part-time staff may be required to pay a premium

• MESD pays employee’s 6% Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) contribution
• Paid holidays, vacation, sick leave and personal time off (prorated for start date after 7/1/2023)

• Tuition Reimbursement and Professional Development 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this classification. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Ability to walk, climb, sit and/or stand for four (4) plus hours per day.
2. Ability to squat, crawl and or run occasionally as required to perform job duties. Involves continuous strenuous efforts, such as the ability to personally lift students weighing up to 35 lbs and the ability to lift with assistance students weighing up to 150 lbs

This position is subject to board policies, administrative rules and procedures, department regulations and applicable state and federal statutes. This position does not carry administrative authority. All commitments outside of authorized programs and services are subject to prior approval by the supervisor of this position.

NOTE: The description contained herein reflects general details as necessary to describe the principle functions  of this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required, and the scope of responsibility, but should not be  considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned,  including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods, or otherwise to balance the workload.  

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER 

MESD recognizes the diversity and worth of all individuals and groups. It is the policy of MESD that  there will be no discrimination or harassment of individuals or groups based on race, color, religion, gender,  sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, marital status, age, veterans status,  genetic information or disability in any educational programs, activities, or employment. 

Reasonable accommodations for the application and interview process will be provided upon request and as  required in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Individuals with disabilities may  contact the Human Resources Director for additional information or assistance.  Speech/Hearing impaired persons may contact the district for assistance through the Oregon telecommunications Relay Service at 1-800-735-2900.