Teaching Assistant - ACCEPT at Medway High School

ACCEPT Education Collaborative is a regional non-profit educational organization with locations in Medway and Natick, MA. We provide a wide range of programs and services including special education for students with moderate to severe needs, specialized transportation, home-based services, behavioral and educational consultation, and professional development. Our programs address autism spectrum disorders, emotional/behavioral needs, global impairments, cognitive/intellectual disabilities, language disorders, ADHD/ADD, and nonverbal learning disability.

About the role

ACCEPT is seeking dynamic and compassionate teaching assistants to work in our Middle and High School Programs in Medway. We offer a collaborative work environment, professional training and support, and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of students with special needs.

Pay

$23 to $32 per hour (starting at $23.34/hour).

Responsibilities

• Work under the direction of a Special Education teacher and Behavior Specialist.
• Assist with classroom instruction and provide support and guidance to students.
• Maintain a safe, clean, and supportive classroom environment.
• Work closely with the lead teacher to design and implement a classroom system to track student progress and ensure academic growth.
• Provide assistance to students during non-classroom time and arrange recreational activities.
• Attend required meetings and training sessions.
• Arrive prepared before students and stay until all students are picked up, as directed by the classroom teacher.
• Check in daily with the teacher and behavior specialist in your classroom.
• Help ensure student clipboards/data sheets are prepared for the day.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and professional classroom space.
• Carry a walkie talkie (tuned to channel 7) at all times.
• Collect daily data (behavioral and academic).
• Implement individual student behavior support plans and reinforcement schedules.
• Support the teacher during whole group lessons and run small group lessons as needed.
• Implement individual student academic programming if applicable.
• Follow the schedule created by the classroom teacher.
• Help create a professional, positive, and supportive classroom environment.
• Communicate any issues to the teacher and behavior specialist.
• Complete incident reports and restraint reports as needed.
• Respond to emails and phone messages within 24 hours.
• Ensure the classroom is cleaned and ready for the next day.
• Perform other duties as assigned, including occasional travel between ACCEPT programs.

Requirements

• 1–3 years of experience working with children and/or young adults.
• Associate Degree or equivalent experience.
• Safety Care certified or able and willing to get certified.
• Ability to follow direction well but also work independently when necessary.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work well and remain calm under pressure.
• Strong multitasking skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Experience, ability, and desire to work with students with special needs.
• Compassion and patience.

Qualifications (Desired)

• Bachelor’s Degree in Education or a related field.
• Experience working in special education.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong desire to work with children with special needs.
• Great attention to detail and accuracy.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Positive and proactive attitude.
• Commitment to company values and mission.
• Strong team player.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

• Regularly required to move about and occasionally traverse throughout the school building.
• Must often remain in a stationary position for considerable periods of time.
• Occasionally required to reach with hands and arms, sit, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• May be required to perform physical restraint of a student during behavioral escalation.
• Expected to lift at least 20 lbs (e.g., books, school supplies).
• Must frequently use hands to handle or feel and use hand strength to grasp tools.
• Occasionally operates a computer and other office productivity machinery (e.g., calculator, copy machine, printer).
• Must be able to input information into a computer and read material from a computer monitor or handwritten/printed matter with or without visual aids.
• Must be able to communicate effectively with students, parents, and staff in person and on the telephone.
• Must be able to see and hear continuously in the classroom to ensure student safety and provide instruction.
• On rare occasions, may need to move quickly or run across even or uneven surfaces.
• Directly responsible for the safety, well-being, and work output of students.

The work environment is a normal school setting with an acceptable level of noise. This is not a remote position.