Educational Assistant

Lethbridge School District No.51; Lethbridge; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Lethbridge School Division seeks Educational Assistants to support students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 with diverse needs. Successful candidates will assist in implementing individualized programs and behavior support plans, ensuring safety and fostering a supportive learning environment. This role requires flexibility, empathy, and strong communication skills, with opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

100% employer paid premiums for health and dental care

Health / Wellness Spending Account

Free access to Employee and Family Assistance Program

Discounts at local fitness facilities

Qualifications

• Experience working with students with severe behavior difficulties is necessary.
• Understanding of ASD, ODD, FASD, ADHD, and other behavioral disabilities.
• Willingness to provide personal care and participate in community activities.

Responsibilities

• Assist students with targeted and specialized supports.
• Implement Positive Behavior Support Plans.
• Monitor progress and ensure student safety.

Skills

Empathy

Flexibility

Communication

Problem Solving

Education

Proof of Grade 12 or GED

Post-secondary certificate in Educational Assistant

Job description

Closing Date : August 12th, 2024 - 10 : 00am

Additional Information :

Educational Assistant

The Lethbridge School Division has openings for Educational Assistants commencing September 2024.

Lethbridge School Division embraces diversity and functions in a dynamic, innovative, and fast paced environment. To help support student success, we are looking for flexible, empathetic, optimistic, and patient individuals to work as part of a dynamic team. The Educational Assistant works with students requiring targeted and specialized supports and services in order to effectively participate in their learning community. Tasks performed are varied and dependent on student needs. Responsibilities include assisting with and adapting academic tasks, implementation of strategies intended to support socially appropriate behaviours, attending to physical needs as well as medical needs specific to individual students, and monitoring progress.

Educational Assistants work under the direction of teachers, primarily with identified students. Successful applicants will be adept at quickly developing trust and rapport with students and staff. Educational Assistants work collaboratively within the school community to share information, reflect on effectiveness of strategies, suggest modifications to existing or novel strategies in order to maximize student success.

Educational Assistants are an integral part of a dynamic and collaborative team who work with children / students with identified needs within the Early Education programs with behavioural issues and / or complex physical disabilities / developmental delays and will be expected to assume other duties, as required.

What will you do?

Applicants will work as a team to support a variety of students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 with a variety of needs, including behavioural challenges and / or complex physical disabilities, developmental delays and / or severe medical needs. Duties will include ensuring all students’ safety at all times, implementing individualized programs and carrying out Positive Behaviour Support Plans as developed by the student’s Learning Team. Lethbridge School Division makes every effort to ensure staff and student safety; however, not every unsafe behaviour on the part of students can be anticipated. Behaviours that the plans target may include, but are not limited to, severe opposition, hitting, kicking, spitting, biting, scratching, and throwing of objects and the use of inappropriate and / or threatening language. Supporting Individuals with Valued Attachments (SIVA) training is an asset.

Hours will vary between 17.75 - 29.50 hours Monday to Friday dependent on Division needs.

What do you need to succeed?

Training and / or experience working with students with severe behaviour difficulties is necessary as well as an understanding of ASD, ODD, FASD, ADHD and / or other behavioural disabilities. Preference will be given to candidates with proven experience executing Positive Behavior Support Plans. Training and / or experience with OT / PT would be an asset. The successful candidate must be willing to provide personal care, lifting and toileting support for students and participating in community activities (such as swimming and skating). Educational Assistants may also be working with students who have recently migrated from other countries and these students may have significant achievement gaps, language barriers and / or social-emotional concerns. A strong understanding of Trauma Informed practice, resiliency, building connections, self-regulation supports and strategies, and conflict resolution skills is an asset. In addition, willingness to participate in ongoing professional learning is expected.

The successful candidate will be able to create rapport with all students and staff and adapt to dynamic learning environments. Being self-directed, flexible and finding creative ways to connect with and regulate children are considered to be an important skills of successful candidates. Additionally, the successful candidate must have exceptional communication skills and show initiative in solving problems and creating opportunities for student success.

Applicants will possess, or develop, a true working knowledge within early literacy and the speech and language acquisition process and have experience in supporting programs for children / students in their early years of development. Training and / or experience in sign language, Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) and / or Hanen (Learning Language and Loving It / ABC & Beyond) are assets.

Locations Available

Lakeview

• 1 Position (22.00 hrs / wk)

Lakeview / Fleetwood

• 1 Positions (29.00 hrs / wk)
• This position is assigned two locations, travel between sites will not be reimbursed.
• 1 Position (29.00 hrs / wk)
• 1 Position (18.00 hrs / wk)
• 1 Position (29.50 hrs / wk)

Paterson

• 1 Position (29.50 hrs / wk)

Paterson / Wilson

• 1 Position (29.50 hrs / wk)
• This position is assigned two locations, travel between sites will not be reimbursed.

Wilson

• 1 Position (29.50 hrs / wk)
• 1 Position (29.50 hrs / wk)

Chinook

• 2 Positions (29.50 hrs / wk)

WCHS

• 1 Position (29.50 hrs / wk)
• 1 Position (26.50 hrs / wk)
• 1 Position (17.75 hrs / wk)
• 5 Positions (29.50 hrs / wk)
• 1 Position (29.50 hrs / wk)
• This position may support two locations, travel between sites will not be reimbursed.

Please note that only those selected for further consideration will be contacted regarding an interview.

Requirements

Education Required :

• Proof of Grade 12 or General Educational Development (GED). If you have obtained your education outside of Canada, the Division will require a copy of your Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) or International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) confirming high school or post secondary equivalencies.

Assets :

• Post-secondary certificate or diploma in a related field such as Educational Assistant, Early Childhood Education and Child & Youth Care.
• Experience working with students and / or clients with exceptionalities.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT :

In order to ensure and maintain a safe and secure working and learning environment, applicants new to Lethbridge School

Division who are offered employment must provide :

• A police information check; including Vulnerable Sector Check from Police Services or an RCMP detachment that does not have any charges or convictions.
• A satisfactory Intervention Record Check from South Region Alberta Child and Family Services.
• Proof of photo identification, may be a valid driver’s license, provincial identification card as issued by a licensed government registry office, valid passport or Nexus card. If one cannot be provided, a new card must be obtained and proof of application provided within three days of hire.
• Documentation of a valid Social Insurance Number in the employee’s legal name. If valid Social Insurance documentation in the current legal name can not be provided, the successful candidate will be required to obtain a new one within three days of hire.

The wage range for this position is $21.63 - $23.99 / hour depending on education and experience.

Lethbridge School Division prides itself on supporting and promoting the wellness of our employees through our diverse benefit plan and providing time off to attend to personal matters. As a result, we offer an exceptional benefits package for you and your family to access. Some of the amazing benefits included are :

• 100% employer paid premiums for health and dental care.
• Health / Wellness Spending Account (HSA / WSA).
• Free 24 / 7 access to our Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP). This includes but is not limited to :
• Lifestyle and specialty counselling (Health, Life Balance and Career).
• Discount at a variety of local fitness facilities within Lethbridge.

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