Instructional Assistant ('26-'27 School Year)

Bellefaire JCB; Shaker Heights (OH); On-site; USD 21,025 - 29,945; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health and Rx plans

Generous paid time off

50% tuition reduction for MSW at Case Western

Job summary

A dedicated education center is seeking an Instructional Assistant to join an interdisciplinary team focused on providing high-quality education to students on the autism spectrum. The ideal candidate will have a degree in a related field and the passion to help children develop essential life skills. Responsibilities include supporting teaching efforts, implementing lesson plans, and managing classroom behavior. This role offers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact in students' lives while fostering a collaborative work environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Associate’s Degree in a related field or related experience.
• Experience working with children with autism preferred.
• Passion for helping others and making an impact.

Responsibilities

• Provide instruction in individual and small class settings.
• Assist in teaching comprehension, reading, and daily living skills.
• Help develop and implement lesson plans aligning with IEP goals.

Skills

Communication skills

Problem-solving skills

Ability to manage stressful situations

Experience working with children with autism

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor’s or Associate’s Degree in a related field

Job description

BENEFITS AND SALARY

This position offers an hourly wage of $18.50. At Bellefaire, we prioritize our employees and their wellbeing. We provide competitive benefit options to our employees and their families, including domestic partners and pets. Our offerings include:

• Comprehensive health and Rx plans, including a zero-cost option
• Wellness program including free preventative care
• Generous paid time off, including summers and school holidays
• 100% paid parental leave for childbirth, adoption, and foster care
• 50% tuition reduction at Case Western Reserve University for the MSW program
• Defined benefit pension plan
• 403(b) retirement plan
• Pet insurance
• Employer paid life insurance and long-term disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• Support for continuing education and credential renewal
• Ancillary benefits including: dental, vision, voluntary life, short term disability, hospital indemnity, accident, critical illness
• Flexible Spending Account for Health and Dependent Care

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s or Associate’s Degree in a related field (Psychology, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Special Education, etc.) or related experience.
• Experience working with children with autism preferred.
• Passion for helping others and making an impact in the lives of students with autism
• Basic knowledge of child and adolescent development, human sexuality, family dysfunction, psychology, sociology, behavior theory, and autism.
• Ability to organize, prioritize, problem solve, and manage work assignments in an efficient manner and within established time frames
• Ability to handle stressful situations by maintaining emotional control as well as remaining calm and professional while working with students who may become verbally and physically aggressive
• Ability to work with diverse groups of people possessing various strengths and aptitudes. Ability to perform job responsibilities with a high degree of initiative and independent judgment.
• Effective oral and written communication skills and ability to maintain professional relationships with students, co-workers, supervisors, and families. Practical and creative problem solving skills.

AGENCY SUMMARY

When you come to work at Monarch Center for Autism, you become an integral part of our dedicated and hardworking team of professionals that include Intervention Specialists, Associate Teachers, Speech Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Behavior Specialists, Art Therapists, Music Therapist, Recreational Therapist, and Horticulture Therapist. Classroom teams are intentionally small, so students can receive one-on-one and small group instruction, within the confines of Monarch’s visual language immersion teaching Model. The Model combines concept-driven language instruction with visual supports, technology and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).

POSITION SUMMARY

We are hiring an Instructional Assistant to be part of an interdisciplinary team of professionals who are expected to provide the highest caliber of instruction in individual and/or small class settings. The Instructional Assistant is a dynamic position with daily responsibilities that range from educational aide in the classroom to other elected responsibilities. With guidance from the interdisciplinary team, the Instructional Assistant teaches, motivates, and supports students as they develop skills needed for greater independence. In addition to teaching students' academics, in this role, you may assist Speech and Language Pathologists in providing group speech therapy lessons as well as instruct students in operation and use of communication equipment (i.e., speech generating device) required for their individual communication needs or provide job coaching in the community (for certain classrooms). This is an exciting opportunity to make an impact on the lives of students on the autism spectrum as well as grow your career at a nationally-recognized school.

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE

• Utilize current speech and language methods and procedures to be followed in instructional academic settings.
• Participate in quarterly training regarding the Visual Immersion System to enhance comprehension and expression.
• Assist in teaching students in areas of (but not limited to): comprehension, reading, mathematics, receptive, expressive and social pragmatic language, activities of daily living, science and social studies. Assist in the behavior management of the students in the classroom.
• Help to develop and implement lesson plans and curriculum that align with IEP and/or ISP goals and objectives while incorporating the visual immersion system.
• Help to develop instructional materials including visual supports for instruction, expression, and organization. Help to plan and organize daily activities and routines to optimize treatment and students’ learning.
• Teach and role model pro-social, mediation, self-regulation, self-management, and self-advocacy skills.
• Collect and record academic, speech and behavioral data to contribute to clinical records.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of the clinical record through the timely completion of assigned documentation in accordance with applicable licensing and accreditation regulations and standards.
• Protect students from physical and emotional harm emanating from themselves, others, or the environment including the use of the Therapeutic Crisis Model of Intervention, utilizing physical restraints or seclusion as prescribed.
• Develop a keen sense and understanding of each student and his/her behaviors in order to ascertain any medical or physiological changes that may occur.
• Develop trusting and positive relationships with students and staff. Collaborate and communicate with interdisciplinary team members

Bellefaire JCB is an equal opportunity employer, and hires its employees without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability or any other status protected by federal, state or local law.

Bellefaire JCB is a partner agency of the Wingspan Care Group, a non-profit administrative service organization providing a united, community-based network of services so member agencies can focus on mission-related goals and operate in a more cost-effective and efficient manner.