Transition Technician - Special Education - Westwood High School

Forbes names Mesa Public Schools in their list of Best Employers in Arizona for multiple years. East Valley Tribune names Mesa Public Schools as Best Place to Work in East Valley for multiple years. Employment Type: Full-time (40 hours per week) Base Hourly: $17.78 Class/Calendar: A13, 10.75 months Benefits: Sick leave, holidays, retirement matched through the Arizona State Retirement System, health, and life insurance Performance Pay: Available annually New Hire Experience: 1% of the base hourly rate granted for each year of verified like experience (within ten years) beyond the requirement, up to a ten-year maximum New Hire Education: 1% of the base hourly rate awarded for an AA or higher degree if not required for the position Job Summary: To assist students with disabilities in providing career assessment, job development and placement assistance, and minimal follow up supports pertaining to maintenance of employment, conflict resolution, and self advocacy; to provide recommendations and assistance with implementation for job accommodations to enhance work experiences and options; to work directly with students on interviewing skills, job and other application completion, travel training, and self advocacy skill training; and to develop business relations within the Mesa community for potential job placements and business partnerships. Key Responsibilities: Participate in activities related to the recruitment of potential students for the Transition from School to Work (TSW) programAssist students in acquiring necessary mobility/transportation to keep appointmentsAssist with providing vocational assessments to studentsProvide assistance to students in career exploration activitiesUnder the supervision of the Transition Facilitator, implement a system for disseminating TSW information to employers, student, parents and school staffAnalyze work site and match TSW students that are deemed appropriate by the Transition Facilitator and Vocational Rehab counselor through person-centered planning and vocational profiling; gather and organize information useful for transition planningContact potential job training sites and employers in the community; develop and maintain a system for tracking employersProvide structured training at community job sites consistent with student’s targeted vocational goals; provide follow-up support to studentsCollect data as necessary to document student’s progress on the job; maintain an accurate case file for each TSW studentProvide support to eligible students as deemed necessary by the IEP/IPE TeamProvide 1:1 instructional support in vocational, independent living, and personal/social content areasAttend all daily, weekly, monthly and periodic training meetings, as assignedRegular and on-time attendance requiredPerform other related duties, as assigned, to ensure the efficient and effective functioning of the work unitAssists with other assigned duties as appropriate to the area of assignment and Mesa Public Schools Required Qualifications: High School education Current Arizona IVP fingerprint cardValid, or ability to obtain, Arizona driver’s licenseDemonstrated experience working with students 16 – 22 years of age Preferred Qualifications: College coursework completion in education, business, personnel or human relations Previous experience in social services supporting youth with disabilities or at-risk youth Skills & Competencies: Models the attributes and skills of the MPS Portrait of a GraduateDemonstrates commitment to the MPS Promise that every student is known by name, served by strength and need, and graduates ready for college, career and communityModerate proficiency in typing, with good accuracy; above average test batteryComputer proficiency to include use of basic software applications (Word, Excel, etc)Demonstrated ability to work with a variety of students with diverse needs and interestsAbility to organize, to prioritize, to work independently and to be self-directedAbility to establish and to maintain a positive rapport with students, district personnel and employers in the communityKnowledge of school policies and procedures in working with students with disabilities; maintain confidentialityAbility to lift students as necessaryAbility and willingness to work outside normal school day hours as needed Work Environment & Physical Requirements: Most work occurs within school buildings—classrooms, resource rooms, and officesMay include visits to job sites, community colleges, vocational training centers, or partner agencies to support students in real-world environmentsRegular use of computers for documentation, email, scheduling, and reportingFrequent interaction with special education teachers, school counselors, general education staff, parents, vocational rehab counselors, and external agenciesOccasional evening or weekend events, such as job fairs or community-based instructionOccasionally assist students with tasks that may involve light lifting or physical prompts, up to 50lbs Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: Mesa Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding equal employment opportunity and anti-discrimination. The District strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Applicants and employees may contact Human Resources to request reasonable accommodations needed to perform the essential functions of this position.