Special Education Support Staff

Summary of position: Work as part of a classroom team of three in a classroom of up to nine children with social, emotional, learning and behavioral disabilities.  Primary responsibilities include behavior management, social/emotional support, assisting the teacher with planning and implementing academic tasks, as well as working with specialists (e.g., Health, gym, art, music etc.) to create a highly structured environment conducive to learning.  Classroom staff will also work as a team to create a calm environment during all activities.  The SpEd Support Staff must be committed to child centered, family focuses, culturally competent care and strengths-based treatment.   

 Education and Licensure 

Required:       High school diploma or GED  

Preferred:      Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree; Valid US Driver’s License and ability to transport children into the community.                        

Experience 

            Preferred: Experience working with social, emotional, behavioral and learning disabilities 

Required mental abilities: Ability to be flexible and work collaboratively.  Ability to respond to emergency situations quickly and safely.  Ability to work in a stressful and fast paced environment.  Must understand child development and the impact of emotional, behavioral, and learning disabilities.  Must understand issues of confidentiality.  Must be receptive to supervision and professional development.   

Required physical abilities: Ability to work and stand for extended period of time.  Job may require bending, stooping, stretching, and lifting.  Job requires the ability to perform therapeutic physical intervention as needed. 

Essential functions: 

1. Work as a part of a multidisciplinary team to further the emotional, behavioral, and educational development of children. 
2. Maintain a classroom atmosphere that is conducive to learning and effectively manage the behavior of students in small and large groups. 
3. Apply Walker’s model of childcare, including Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI), which requires physical restraint when necessary, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, cooperative group games, and behavioral support. 
4. Implement treatment protocol and appropriate therapeutic strategies established in children’s treatment plans, IEPs, and individual support plans. 
5. Meet children’s physical needs and provide a safe and therapeutic environment for children.   
6. Participate fully in the administrative functions of teaching and childcare, including attending and participating in required meetings, completing assigned report writing tasks in a timely manner, and actively communicating with families and members of the students’ multidisciplinary team. 
7. Actively participate in supervision and professional development opportunities offered at Walker.   
8. Assist the lead teacher in collecting data and writing progress notes as needed   
9. Assist in writing daily updates to families/guardians and
10. Completing weekly school logs
11. Work on a residential house during school vacation periods.  Plan developmentally appropriate activities and programming for the group.   
12. Provide transportation to students for medical appointments and/or visits as needed.  
13. Working as part of a wake-up team on the residence and assure that medications are administered, routines are completed, and students arrive to school on time.  
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