Teaching Assistant - Natick Elementary

ACCEPT Education Collaborative is a regional non-profit educational organization with locations in Medway and Natick, MA. ACCEPT provides 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. This role is ideal for those pursuing a career in education or looking to make a difference in the lives of students with special needs.

Responsibilities

• Work under the direction of 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.
• 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 (behavior 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 that arise during the day to the teacher and behavior specialist.
• Complete incident reports and restraint reports, ensuring relevant data is shared with the appropriate staff.
• Read and reply to email within 24 hours; follow up on phone messages within 24 hours.
• Ensure the classroom is cleaned and ready for the next day.
• Occasional travel and transfer between ACCEPT programs to fulfill TA responsibilities at any of ACCEPT’s locations or 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.
• Ability to multitask.
• 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

• Great attention to detail and accuracy.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Positive and proactive attitude.
• Strong team player.
• Commitment to company values and mission.

Physical Demands and 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.

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

Pay

Starting at $22.09 per hour, with a range of $23 to $33 per hour.

Schedule

Full-time position.