Instructional Assistant - Special Education (SY26-27)
$56,659–$61,277 year
On-siteWatertown, Massachusetts, United States
Job Summary
Provide needed supports to students with disabilities during instructional periods and non-instructional activities under the direction of teachers and related service providers. Implement behavior support plans, maintain student data, and adapt assistance when teaching strategies prove unsuccessful. Offer verbal prompting, redirection, and modeling to help students access curriculum activities. Incorporate knowledge of learning styles and child development to assist student learning, while utilizing assistive technology and PECS systems as required. Collaborate with the team to manage de-escalation and executive functioning needs for high school students with significant learning and social/emotional challenges.
Required Qualifications
- Flexibility with respect to age groups, assignments
- Ability to follow through with directions
- Experience working with students at the high school level who have significant learning and social/emotional needs
- Experience implementing Behavior Intervention Plans and an understanding of functions of behaviors
- Must have experience with or ability to learn ABA methodology and techniques
- Ability to take initiative to complete tasks and to assist students with de-escalation techniques and executive functioning skills
- Ability to work collaboratively as a part of a team
- Experience with, or ability to learn to utilize, assistive technology and PECS functional communication systems in support of students
- Ability to stand for extended periods of time
- Ability to intervene with students who are in behavioral crisis
- Ability to stand, walk, run, and shuffle for at least several minutes
- Ability to kneel on one knee and two knees and then stand up
- Ability to bend the trunk at 45 degrees and twist to either side
- Ability to grasp firmly
- Ability to raise the hands above the head
- Ability to learn and correctly demonstrate multi-step physical skills
- Ability to lift and pivot
- Visual perception and discrimination and the ability to distinguish color
- Ability to read printed matter with or without visual aids
- Ability to visually supervise students in small and large group settings as well as vocational or community settings
- Ability to communicate effectively with other staff members in order to exchange accurate information
Desired Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree preferred
- Experience supporting students with disabilities in a public school setting preferred
- Experience implementing Safety Care or similar prevention work
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