Instructional Aide, SPED

Aspire Public Schools; Richmond (CA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

100% core health benefits coverage

Tuition reimbursement plan

Long-term disability

CA retirement plan

Tuition reimbursement

Adoption assistance

Job summary

A leading charter school network in California seeks an Instructional Aide to support students with disabilities in classrooms. The ideal candidate will assist Special Education teachers, implement IEPs, and create instructional materials tailored for individual students. A focus on child cognitive development and experience with special needs students are essential for success in this role. Competitive benefits and salaries are provided.

Qualifications

• Experience working with students in special education with moderate/severe needs.
• Ability to reflect and improve on practice.
• Ability and willingness to implement students’ individualized education programs.
• Ability and willingness to reflect and improve on practice.
• Flexibility and ability to adapt to changing conditions; good judgment to modify activities.

Responsibilities

• Assist Special Education teachers in supporting IEP students.
• Provide 1:1 support to students in classroom and health-related needs.
• Collaborate with IEP team members.
• Create and implement instructional materials accommodated/modified for individualized students.
• Collaborate regularly with the IEP team and other service providers.

Skills

Knowledge of child cognitive development

Familiarity with moderate-severe needs

Ability to implement IEPs

Flexibility and adaptability

Reflective practice

Education

Associate’s degree or 48 college credits

Bachelor’s degree in Education or related field

Job description

ABOUT ASPIRE

Aspire Public Schools operates a network of high-performing, college preparatory charter schools serving TK-12 scholars in communities across California. Founded in 1998—in an effort to transform the inequitable racial, social, and gender outcomes that our communities persist through—Aspire is one of the largest and most forward-thinking open-enrollment public charter school systems in the nation.

Our purpose is to prepare our scholars for success in college, career, and life. At Aspire, we set a foundation for our scholars to gain knowledge, skills, and power to access and make choices for their families and post-secondary lives. Every day, our community of students, families, teachers and staff comes together to learn, work, and play in an environment grounded in our values of Bienestar (Well-Being), Culture of Belonging, Community Partnership, Agency & Self-Determination, and Joy.

JOB SUMMARY

The Instructional Aide will provide support for students with disabilities (IEP students) in the school environment and support the Special Education Teacher, General Education teacher/s and/or Speech & Language Pathologist, while upholding the core values of Aspire Public Schools.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Assist Special Education teachers in supporting students with Individual Education Plans (IEPs) within the school setting.
• Provide services, supports and interventions directly to students, under the guidance and daily supervision of the Special Education teacher/s.
• Implement the IEP with fidelity (i.e. provide 1:1 support to student in classroom, support student/s with toileting needs, assist with health-related needs (g-tube, feeding, administration of medication) (under supervision of school nurse) and assist with the physical needs of students (lifting/ assisting with mobility, implementing student stretching/exercise routines.)
• Create and implement instructional materials that are accommodated/modified for individualized students.
• Regularly collaborate with members of the IEP team (GE teacher, Education Specialist, Speech and Language Pathologist, Instructional Aides, Administrators, Program Specialist and Other Service providers.)

Additional

• Demonstrate knowledge of, and support, the Aspire Public Schools mission, vision, value statements including antiracism, policies and procedures, operating instructions, confidentiality standards, and the code of ethical behavior.
• Perform other related duties as required and assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Competencies

• Knowledge of child cognitive development and different learning styles.
• Familiarity with students with students that demonstrate moderate‑severe needs.
• Ability and willingness to implement students’ individualized education programs.
• Ability and willingness to reflect and improve on practice.
• Flexibility and ability to adapt to changing conditions; ability and good judgment to take initiative to modify activities.

Minimum educational level

• Associate’s degree or successful completion of 48 units of college credit or passing of Paraprofessional Test.
• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Teaching, or related field preferred.

Experience required

• 1+ year working with students in special education with moderate / severe needs or students from urban communities in an educational setting.

Physical requirements

• Occasionally lift and/or move a minimum of 30 pounds. While performing the duties of this job, frequently required to sit, stand, move, feel, reach with hands and arms, talk and hear.

Work authorization requirements

• Clear the Department of Justice background screening.
• Authorized to work in the United States.
• Provide health (TB) clearance (most update every four years).

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics are representative of those in a normal office, classroom/school setting which one might encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

COMPENSATION

Aspire Public Schools is dedicated to our teammate's well-being! In addition to a competitive base salary that is benchmarked against local districts and charter schools, we offer employees exceptional benefits, including paid time off, 100% core health benefits coverage on select plans, life insurance/long-term disability, participation in a CA state retirement plan, tuition reimbursement plan, and adoption assistance program. Our salary schedule based on years of experience for this position type is reflected here:

Aspire Public Schools SPED Instructional Assistant Pay Scale

EEO STATEMENT

Aspire Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria. Aspire promotes affirmative action for minorities, women, disabled persons, and veterans.