Educational Assistant (EA IV) - Affective Needs (AN) Program

About the role

Provides specialized, intensive, and individualized support to students with Affective Needs (AN), who exhibit complex emotional, behavioral, and mental health challenges. As a critical member of the special education team, is primarily responsible for implementing crisis intervention strategies, facilitating emotional regulation, and fostering a safe, structured, and therapeutic learning environment.

Responsibilities

• Implement student-specific crisis intervention and de-escalation strategies with fidelity, adhering to established protocols (e.g., Nonviolent Crisis Intervention - CPI).
• Provide consistent and calm support to students during moments of emotional distress or behavioral crisis, facilitating a return to regulation.
• Assist students with developing and utilizing social-emotional learning (SEL) and coping skills, and support their appropriate use of a sensory/safe room or designated therapeutic space.
• Implement student-specific Positive Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs), focusing on proactive strategies and teaching replacement behaviors.
• Collect and maintain accurate daily data on student behavior and emotional progress as required by the IEP team.
• Maintain a high level of situational awareness to proactively identify and address escalating behaviors in the classroom and throughout the school.
• Collaborate closely with the Special Education Teacher, School Psychologist, School Counselor, Social Worker, and other mental health professionals to ensure a unified approach to student support.
• Ensure the immediate safety and well-being of all students, responding effectively to all safety and crisis concerns.
• Facilitate restorative practices and social skills groups as directed by the teacher or school mental health professionals.
• Support students' successful transition and integration into the general education setting by providing scaffolding and emotional support.

Requirements

First Aid & CPR Certification - American Heart Association
Education: High School or Equivalent

Skills

• Demonstrated ability to remain calm, objective, and effective during student crises or high-stress behavioral situations.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and collaborative skills, with an emphasis on therapeutic and non-judgmental communication.
• Willingness and ability to complete required training in crisis management and maintain physical certification.

Benefits

• Health, vision, dental, health savings account (HSA), flexible spending accounts (FSA)
• District paid and voluntary additional (supplemental) life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance
• Short and long-term disability, critical illness and accident voluntary insurance
• Employee assistance program (EAP)
• Voluntary 401(k), 403(b) and 457 retirement plan options