Classroom Support Staff (Special Education)

The Walker School, located in Needham is currently looking to hire full-time Special EducationSupport Staff for their day school program. Work as part of a classroom team of three in a classroom of up to nine children with social, emotional, learning and behavioral disabilities. Primary responsibilities include behavior management, social/emotional support, assisting the teacher with planning and implementing academic tasks, as well as working with specialists (e.g., Health, gym, art, music etc.) to create a highly structured environment conducive to learning. Classroom staff will also work as a team to create a calm environment during all activities.
The Special EducationSupport Staff must be committed to child centered, family focuses, culturally competent care and strengths-based treatment.Education and LicensureRequired: High school diploma or GED Preferred: Associates or Bachelors degree; Valid US Drivers License and ability to transport children into the community.ExperienceRequired: N/APreferred: Experience working with social, emotional, behavioral and learning disabilitiesRequired mental abilities: Ability to be flexible and work collaboratively. Ability to respond to emergency situations quickly and safely. Ability to work in a stressful and fast paced environment. Must understand child development and the impact of emotional, behavioral, and learning disabilities.
Must understand issues of confidentiality. Must be receptive to supervision and professional development.Required physical abilities: Ability to work and stand for extended period of time. Job may require bending, stooping, stretching, and lifting. Job requires the ability to perform therapeutic physical intervention as needed.Essential functions: Work as a part of a multidisciplinary team to further the emotional, behavioral, and educational development of children.Maintain a classroom atmosphere that is conducive to learning and effectively manage the behavior of students in small and large groups.Apply Walkers model of childcare, including Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI), which requires verbal and physical client intervention, when necessary, utilizing components of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution Focused Therapy, participating in cooperative group games, and behavioral support.Implement treatment protocol and appropriate therapeutic strategies established in childrens treatment plans, IEPs, and individual support plans.Meet childrens physical needs and provide a safe and therapeutic environment for children.Participate fully in the administrative functions of teaching and childcare, including attending and participating in required meetings, completing assigned report writing tasks in a timely manner, and actively communicating with families and members of the students multidisciplinary team.Actively participate in supervision and professional development opportunities offered at Walker.Assist the lead teacher in collecting data and writing progress notes as neededAssist in writing daily updates to families/guardians and staffCompleting weekly school logsWork on a residential house during school vacation periods.
Plan developmentally appropriate activities and programming for the group.Provide transportation to students for medical appointments and/or visits as needed.Work as part of a wake-up team on the residence and assure that medications are administered, routines are completed, and students arrive to school on time.(This duty will apply based on assigned schedule)Lead the assigned homeroom during the summer program, including ensuring that students participate in all activities and field trips.Follow and implement all Walker policies and procedures.All other duties, as assigned.Supervision to be received: Directly responsible to and supervised by the Day Program SupervisorSupervision to be exercised: None