Educational Support Professional Social Emotional Learning/Inclusive Education (ESP-3) (300587) Job ID 1323

About the role

An Educational Support Professional (ESP-3) provides direct support for students identified as having an emotional disability or related disabilities that disrupt emotional or behavioral regulation. The ESP works in and out of the general education classroom, implementing individualized education plans (IEPs) and behavior intervention plans. Support may include individual or small group instruction using methodologies such as Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA). ESPs are trained in de-escalation strategies, behavioral data collection, and crisis intervention under the supervision of a certified Special Education Teacher, in consultation with a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and/or adjustment counselor.

Responsibilities

• Support classroom routines and procedures, reinforcing social interaction programs (e.g., Responsive Classroom, RULER, PBIS) and providing behavioral support aligned with school expectations.
• Provide supervision and student support during recess, lunch, arrival, dismissal, field trips, and transitions throughout the building, including escorting students during activities, fire drills, and crisis drills.
• Deliver small group or individual instructional support aligned with student goals, benchmarks, IEPs, and behavior plans under the guidance of teaching or counseling staff.
• Consult with teachers to understand daily learning targets, success criteria, and classroom expectations.
• Support academic programs (e.g., reteaching, reinforcing, reviewing, assessing, scribing, note-taking, data collection) and behavioral programs (e.g., data collection, cueing, providing motor breaks, implementing behavior plans).
• Provide regular feedback to teaching/counseling staff on student progress and challenges related to their goals.
• Collaborate with classroom teachers to support learning experiences, prioritizing identified students while engaging with the broader group.
• Implement behavior intervention plans and facilitate social skills across various school settings.
• Support crisis intervention using culturally responsive strategies, including verbal de-escalation and, when necessary, trained physical intervention methods to reduce risk of injury.
• Adapt to the varying needs of students and perform other job-related tasks as assigned by administrators.
• Maintain accurate data and records for progress monitoring of student plans (e.g., IEP goals, individual support plans) and share information with teaching/counseling staff.

Requirements

• Ability to integrate into the classroom setting under the direction of administrative, teaching, or counseling staff to support student engagement and learning.
• Proficiency in collecting, recording, and analyzing data across multiple data points, including creating visual displays of student progress using Google tools.
• Willingness to adapt and acquire new skills and knowledge to support student engagement in learning activities, behavior interventions, social interactions, and daily school routines.
• Flexibility to adjust day-to-day priorities based on changing student needs and work in multiple classrooms or environments.
• Maintain high levels of confidentiality and professionalism expected of teaching staff.
• Ability to anticipate and address unforeseen events associated with working with large groups of children.
• Maintain positive relationships with students, parents, staff, and the public.

Skills

• Passion for working with children/students.
• Knowledge of child growth and development, basic learning strategies, and social-emotional learning (SEL).
• Knowledge of proper de-escalation strategies and restraint protocols.
• Ability to work with diverse learning styles.
• Ability to collaborate and participate as a member of a teaching team.

Physical and Environmental Demands

• Able to move with students between school environments.
• Physical agility and strength, with adherence to proper safety protocols.

Qualifications

Associates Degree in Psychology, Education, or a related area preferred. An ESP is considered an Instructional Aide as defined in General Laws, Chapter 71, Section 38.

Pay

$28.18/hour to $34.64/hour. Annualized for 184 work days at 6.75 hours/day: $35,006 to $43,028.

Benefits

Benefits are outlined at Benefits | Bedford Public Schools.