EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANT

Alamo, New Mexico • Full-Time • $19.47/hour

About the role

The purpose of this position is to assist students and teachers in the classroom.

Responsibilities

• Supports and efficiently carries out responsibilities in accordance with Alamo Navajo Schools Board, Inc. Policies and Procedures and New Mexico State Educational Competencies.
• Represents Alamo Navajo School Board Inc. in a manner reflecting professionalism and enhancing community understanding of the program.
• Protects the confidentiality of student and personnel information.
• Maintains a high personal standard of professional and ethical conduct.
• Accepts professional responsibility for keeping informed on current educational topics and advancements.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the immediate supervisor, general supervisor, or their supervisors.
• Performs assigned duties with the primary intent of carrying out the commitments of ANSB Inc. to funding agencies.
• Takes responsibility for knowing and implementing the goals, objectives, methods, and activities in current funding documents.
• Acts as an assistant to the teacher(s) of the assigned classroom, including:
  • Supervising students assigned to supplemental learning activities to enable the teacher to teach others simultaneously.
  • Providing personal assistance to individual students having difficulty understanding concepts, assignments, or other instructional information.
  • Encouraging individual students to participate actively in learning tasks.
  • Refraining from doing students' school or homework for them, such as providing answers they should figure out themselves or helping them avoid learning English.
  • Preparing supplementary instructional materials, displays, and resources for use by the teacher and students.
  • Supervising students during meals, free or recess periods, while boarding or arriving from school buses, in the school library or gym, and during special school or extracurricular events.
  • Performing routine student grading and record-keeping activities as assigned.
  • Maintaining and restoring classroom physical organization and cleanliness on an assigned schedule.
  • Requiring correct student behavior at all times from those under supervision.
• Takes charge of the classroom in the temporary absence of the teacher:
  • Maintains routine activities, order, and student discipline.
  • Follows teacher-prepared lesson plans.
• Relates to students in a professional manner appropriate to their age and grade level:
  • Gives courteous personal attention to individual questions, opinions, and problems.
  • Shares attention with all students without "playing favorites."
  • Respects student rights to privacy and a school environment supportive of learning and free of abuse and fear.
  • Uses knowledge of the community and individual student backgrounds to help school officials find effective approaches to resolving educational problems.
  • Supports and participates in established classroom disciplinary procedures.
  • Presents an appropriate model of adult behavior in speech, manners, and dress for students to imitate.
  • Takes responsibility for the health and safety of assigned students at all times.
• Relates to fellow workers in a professional manner:
  • Works as a team member and accepts assigned responsibilities.
  • Follows established rules, procedures, and accepts training, direction, and instructions from supervisors.
  • Identifies and seeks solutions to workplace problems using provided mechanisms (requests, conferences, grievances, appeals).
  • Avoids gossip, backbiting, and going over fellow employees' heads or behind their backs; takes complaints directly to own supervisor.
• Participates in classroom planning for special events and ensures plans are executed.
• Pursues professional or paraprofessional career development by attending training workshops and/or college courses.
• Assures that classroom materials, equipment, and records are kept secure and free from unwarranted wear, tear, or vandalism.
• Makes required reports and prepares written plans and documents as required by Alamo Navajo Community School.
• Adheres to the Alamo Navajo School Board Personnel Policy Manual and official administrative procedures.
• Provides for own professional growth through ongoing reading and actively participates in job-related training.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Requirements

• By the beginning of SY 2004-2005, qualified applicants must have:
  • An Associate’s Degree, or
  • A New Mexico Para-educator License as a condition of employment as delineated in NCLB.
• If currently employed as a paraprofessional, must complete six hours of post-secondary courses toward an AA/AS degree in education or related courses and provide proof of completion through official transcripts by August of each new school year.
• New applicants must possess an AA/AS (or higher) or be eligible to apply for licensure as a condition of employment under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.
• High School Diploma or equivalent (GED certificate, etc.).
• Working knowledge of the language(s), traditions, relationships, and customs of the Alamo Navajo Community.
• Working knowledge of the physical, economic, and social problems of the Alamo Navajo Community that are likely to affect student progress in school.
• Good working knowledge of appropriate professional interpersonal interactions with Indian students and their parents.
• Dependability and punctuality in attendance.
• Ability to write (or print) legibly on paper or chalkboard.
• Ability to speak both Navajo and English fluently and translate at a layman’s level in a school classroom context.
• Ability to understand, speak, read, and write English well enough to:
  • Profit from formal training programs using English textbooks, lectures, and assignments.
  • Present instruction to students in English, including writing on the chalkboard with correct grammar and spelling, reading aloud, and explaining concepts or assignments.
  • Present an acceptable adult model of English speech and writing for students to imitate.
  • Prepare acceptable oral and written reports on the job and follow specific written English instructions.
• Ability to maintain harmonious interpersonal relationships with other ANSB employees, students, parents, and community members.
• Demonstrated ability to learn new skills and subject areas.
• Ability to determine when to refer problems to higher authority and willingness to do so.
• Must apply for and receive a state license within the first year of employment.
• One or more years of successful experience in a position with similar duties and responsibilities, with positive performance evaluations.

Preferences

• Preferential consideration for employment will be given to persons of documented Navajo, American Indian, or Alaskan Native Tribal membership who meet the qualifications above, in accordance with P.L. 93-638 and the Navajo Nation Tribal Code.
• Additional preference for:
  • Completion of one or more semesters carrying 12 (or more) hours of general college coursework with a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher.
  • Working knowledge of the organization and functions of the Alamo Navajo Community School.
  • Ability to use common public relations problem-solving and conflict-resolution techniques.
  • Ability to follow and enforce established rules, regulations, and guidelines.
  • Ability to work effectively toward stated objectives using initiative and judgment.
  • Ability to assess own developing knowledge and skills and determine when consultation with a supervisor is required.

Pay

$19.47/hour. Pay range: Grade E with paraprofessional licensure, Grade G with an AA/AS Degree, Grade H with a Bachelor’s Degree. Position placed on the ANSB General Salary Scale based on cumulative college course credits toward a professional education degree.

Special Conditions

• This position is subject to fingerprinting and a criminal/character background investigation.
• Must provide documentation of immunity or immunization against tetanus, diphtheria, measles/rubella, and tuberculosis status by skin test or X-ray within thirty (30) days of hiring and at additional intervals as determined by the supervisor or ANSB Executive Director.