Teaching Assistant - Elementary

ACCEPT Education Collaborative is a regional non-profit educational organization with locations in Natick and Medway, 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. ACCEPT offers a continuum of programs and services Prek-12 and to age 22 for both students in life skills and Therapeutic programs.  Our programs address autism spectrum disorders, emotional/behavioral needs, global impairments, cognitive/intellectual disabilities, language disorders, ADHD/ADD, and nonverbal learning disability.

ACCEPT is seeking dynamic and compassionate teaching assistants to work in our Elementary Program in Natick. We offer competitive compensation and benefits packages, a collaborative work environment and professional training and support. Whether you want a career in education or simply are looking for a chance to work with some amazing people and make a difference in the lives of some amazing kids - this job is for you!

Position Summary: Provides classroom support to Elementary teachers and students.

Qualifications Required:

• 1 – 3 years of experience working with children and/or young adults
• Associate Degree or equivalent experience
• Team player and dependable
• Ability to follow direction well but work well without supervision when necessary
• Ability and desire to work with students with special needs
• Excellent communication skills, verbal and written
• Ability to work well and remain calm under pressure
• Ability to multitask
• Ability to maintain confidentiality

Qualifications Desired:

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

Essential Functions and 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 take necessary steps to ensure academic progress
• Provide assistance to students during non-classroom time and arrange recreational activities
• Attend required meetings and training sessions

THINGS TO DO DAILY:

• Arrive and be prepared before students arrive and stay until all students are picked up, as directed by the classroom teacher
• Check in with the teacher and behavior specialist in your classroom every day
• Help teacher/behavior specialist ensure that student clipboards/data sheets are all set for the day
• Help ensure that the classroom space is clean, organized, and professional
• Keep a walkie talkie with you at all times tuned to channel 7
• Collect daily data (behavior and academic)
• Implement individual student behavior support plans 
• Implement all student specific reinforcement schedules
• Help support teacher during whole group lessons
• Help run small group lessons as needed
• Implement individual student academic programming if applicable
• Follow schedule created by classroom teacher
• Check in with teacher and behavior specialist to communicate any issues that came up during the day
• Inform teacher and behavior specialist of any issues to be followed up on
• Help complete incident reports and restraint reports (communicate relevant data to teacher and/or behavior specialist who is completing paperwork)
• Read email and reply within 24 hours
• Follow-up with phone messages within 24 hours
• Ensure classroom is cleaned and ready for the next day

Nonessential Functions:

• Other duties as assigned 
• Occasional travel and transfer between programs to fulfill TA responsibilities at any of ACCEPT’s locations based on program needs

Success Factors/Job Competencies:

• Ability and great desire to work with children with special needs
• Ability to take direction well
• Great attention to detail and accuracy
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Positive and proactive attitude 
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and ethical conduct
• Commitment to company values and mission
• Strong team player

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

• Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to move about and may be required to traverse occasionally throughout the school building. The employee must also often remain in a stationary position for considerable periods of time. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and sit, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and perform physical restraint of a student at times of behavioral escalation. The employee is expected to lift at least 20 lbs (i.e. books, school supplies, etc.). The employee must frequently use hands to handle, or feel; and use hand strength to grasp tools. Occasionally s/he operates a computer and other office productivity machinery (i.e., a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer). The employee must be able to input information into a computer and as well as read material from a computer monitor as well as handwritten or printed matter with or without visual aids. The employee must be able to communicate effectively with students, parents, and other staff members in person and on the telephone. In the classroom, the employee must be able to see and hear on a continuous basis in order to ensure the safety of students as well as speak frequently to provide instruction. On rare occasions, it may be necessary to move quickly/run across even or uneven surfaces. The employee interacts with students, parents, and other staff members. The employee is directly responsible for the safety, well-being, and work output of students.
• Work Environment: The employee will be working in a normal school environment with an acceptable level of noise. This is not a remote position.

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by an employee in this position/classification. It is not to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory, or all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications of employees assigned to this job. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or is a logical assignment to the position. Management has the right to add to, revise, or delete information in this description. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

Benefits:

• Health insurance

  Paid time off (sick and personal)
  Dental insurance
  Vision insurance
  Tuition reimbursement
  Life insurance
  Shot and Long Term Disability
  403b
  Retirement plan 
  Referral program
  Flexible spending account
  Professional development 
  Employee assistance program

Pay:

Competitive, based on experience. 

Application Submission Requirements:

Resume
Cover Letter (preferred)
References (if available)

Location:

Natick, MA

This is NOT a remote position

School year:

180 days plus 2 professional development days = 182

Summer work is additional 25 days (typically July and first week of August)

EEO

*ACCEPT Education Collaborative is an equal employment opportunity employer. ACCEPT provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

ACCEPT Education Collaborative is an EEO employer - M/F/Vets/Disabled