Exceptional Education Assistant

Orange Grove Center; Chattanooga (TN); On-site; USD 21,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

Orange Grove Center is seeking a Student Support Specialist at their Head Quarters in Chattanooga, TN. The role focuses on providing individualized educational, behavioral, social, and personal support to students with IDD in a structured school setting.

Responsibilities include direct supervision, assisting teachers with instruction, implementing IEP/ISP/BIP/ICSP guidelines, and ensuring safety using CPI techniques. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are essential.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Experience with IDD or special education preferred.
• CPR, First Aid, CPI certifications must be obtained and maintained.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct supervision and individualized support to students throughout the school day.
• Assist classroom teachers with instructional activities through one-on-one and small-group support.
• Implement strategies from IEP/ISP/BIP/ICSP while using CPI techniques to maintain safety.
• Document student attendance, behavioral observations, progress, incidents, and health concerns per policies and regulations.
• Collaborate with teachers, therapists, nurses, administrators, transportation staff, and families to provide consistent services.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Patience

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Job DetailsJob Location: Head Quarters - Chattanooga, TN 37404Position Type: Full TimeEducation Level: High School or EquivalentSalary Range: $15.50 - $15.50 HourlyJob Shift: MorningJob Category: EducationJob Title: Exceptional Education Assistant Department: Children’s Services / Education Reports to: Director of Education Date Prepared: August 7th 2026

Position Summary

The Student Support Specialist provides individualized educational, behavioral, social, and personal support to students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in a structured school environment. Working as an integral member of the educational team, the Student Support Specialist assists students in achieving academic, functional, communication, behavioral, and life-skill goals identified in their Individualized Education Program (IEP), Individual Support Plan (ISP), Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP), and Individual Crisis Support Plan (ICSP), when applicable. This position promotes student independence, dignity, safety, and inclusion while fostering a positive learning environment that encourages each student’s growth and success.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• The Student Support Specialist provides direct supervision and individualized support to students throughout the school day, ensuring their educational, behavioral, emotional, physical, and personal needs are met in a safe and supportive learning environment.
• The Student Support Specialist assists classroom teachers with instructional activities by providing one-on-one and small-group support, reinforcing lesson plans, adapting learning materials when appropriate, and encouraging active student participation in classroom instruction. Staff assists students in developing communication, social interaction, problem-solving, self-help, vocational, and independent living skills appropriate to each student’s abilities.
• The Student Support Specialist implements strategies outlined in each student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), Individual Support Plan (ISP), Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP), Individual Crisis Support Plan (ICSP), while using positive behavior supports, de-escalation techniques, and Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) strategies as necessary to maintain a safe learning environment.
• Staff assists students with activities of daily living, including eating, personal hygiene, mobility, positioning, transfers, and other personal care and self-help needs while preserving each student's dignity, privacy, and independence.
• The Student Support Specialist monitors student health, behavior, and emotional well‑being throughout the school day, promptly communicating concerns or significant changes to teachers, nursing staff, therapists, administrators, and parents or guardians as directed.
• Staff supports students during classroom instruction, lunch, recess, physical education, vocational training, therapeutic activities, assemblies, and school-sponsored events while maintaining appropriate supervision at all times.
• The Student Support Specialist follows all school safety procedures and emergency protocols, including fire drills, severe weather procedures, lockdowns, evacuations, first aid, CPR, seizure response, Universal Precautions, and Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) techniques. Staff maintain constant awareness of student safety and respond appropriately during emergencies.
• The Student Support Specialist accurately documents student attendance, behavioral observations, progress toward educational and functional goals, incidents, health concerns, medication administration, and other required records in accordance with agency policies, educational regulations, and state requirements.
• Staff collaborates with teachers, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, nurses, psychologists, behavior specialists, administrators, transportation staff, and families to provide consistent, person-centered educational services.
• The Student Support Specialist demonstrates professionalism, maintains confidentiality of student information in accordance with FERPA, HIPAA (when applicable), and Orange Grove Center policies, and treats all students, families, coworkers, and visitors with dignity, respect, and compassion.
• The Student Support Specialist performs other duties as assigned in support of the educational mission of Orange Grove Center and contributes to maintaining a positive, student-centered school culture.

Qualifications

High School Diploma or GED required. Experience working with children or adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, special education, behavioral support, childcare, healthcare, or human services is preferred. Must possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills, demonstrate patience and compassion, and be able to work effectively as part of an interdisciplinary educational team. CPR, First Aid, Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI), and other required certifications must be obtained and maintained according to Orange Grove Center policies.

Physical Requirements

The Student Support Specialist position requires the ability to perform physical activities necessary to support students with intellectual and developmental disabilities in a structured educational environment. The employee must be able to safely assist students with educational activities, personal care needs, mobility support, and emergencies while maintaining student dignity, safety, and independence. The position requires frequent reaching and grasping, as well as the ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, squat, push, pull, twist, lift, carry, and reposition as needed throughout the school day. The employee must be able to move throughout classrooms, therapy areas, playgrounds, vocational areas, and other educational settings while providing direct student support. Physical responsibilities may include supporting students with personal care, self-help skills, activities of daily living, mobility, positioning, transfers, and the use of adaptive equipment. The employee provides individualized assistance based on each student’s needs and goals while promoting dignity, independence, and student participation. The employee must be able to respond appropriately to behavioral, medical, and safety-related situations, including participation in emergency procedures, first aid response, and approved Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) techniques. The Student Support Specialist must maintain awareness of student safety at all times and be able to provide hands‑on assistance when necessary to support student health, safety, learning, and participation in the educational environment.