SOESD - Educational Assistant, STEPS Plus Behavioral Programs

Southern Oregon Education Service District; Phoenix (OR); On-site; USD 29,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

PERS retirement

9 paid holidays

Sick, vacation, discretionary leave

Job summary

Southern Oregon Education Service District seeks an Educational Assistant for the STEPS Plus program in Medford to support students ages 5–21 with significant disabilities. The role emphasizes collaboration, behavior support, and implementing individualized strategies; duties are in the STEPS Plus classroom for a 190‑day academic year, with starting wages of $20.56–$24.61 per hour.

Candidates should be prepared for physical requirements and to work as part of a team delivering dignified,

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Ability to obtain a CPR and First Aid training certification.
• Ability to learn and follow delegated medical procedures.
• A valid Oregon driver's license.
• Ability to pass a physical fitness test, as designated by SOESD, subject to retesting if physical requirements are not satisfactorily performed.
• Ability to read and follow a detailed schedule independently.
• Positive, flexible attitude.
• Physical stamina and general good health are needed for frequent exposure to physical injury from physical acting-out behavior and potential exposure to communicable diseases.
• Ability to independently problem solve potentially volatile situations quickly, effectively, and safely.
• Demonstrated effective communication skills, teamwork, and professionalism.

Responsibilities

• Assist in caring for students' needs including toileting, feeding, and physical support as needed.
• Participate as an effective team member across settings to promote collaboration and student success.
• Assist in educating students in accordance with IEP goals using various learning techniques and behavior interventions.
• Follow Behavior Support and Crisis Intervention Plans and contribute to Functional Behavioral Assessments.
• Provide immediate physical support during crises as trained and approved by SOESD.
• Adapt to provide support to other students during crises to secure the classroom.
• Supervise and apply behavior interventions and track behaviors per agency policies.
• Follow SOESD policies and participate in training and meetings.

Skills

CPR & First Aid

Effective communication

Teamwork

Problem solving

Stamina and physical endurance

Following schedules independently

Flexibility

Behavior management

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Job description

The Southern Oregon Education Service District is seeking a confident and collaborative Educational Assistant to join its dynamic classroom team for the 2026-2027 school year. The STEPS Plus program offered by Southern Oregon Education Service District (SOESD) is an exceptional, specialized educational program that serves students from ages 5 – 21 who experience multiple, significant disabilities along with cognitive deficits, and/or life-impacting medical conditions. Highly regarded throughout the region for its successful delivery of instruction and support for students who present the most difficult and challenging behaviors, the program enrolls students from districts throughout Southern Oregon and is located in Medford. Cooperation and collaboration among staff are paramount to the team approach in the classroom, which is built on fidelity to safe and consistent systems and routines, as well as trust and respectful communication between all members of the STEPS Plus team. This attitude is passed onto students who are treated with dignity and respect as they are taught new ways of communicating and self-regulating their behaviors. If you have experience and/or a desire to work with challenging students in a positive setting, please consider joining our team!

About SOESD

Southern Oregon ESD has locations in the Rogue Valley and Klamath County. The Rogue Valley is the cultural and economic heart of southern Oregon, home to legendary snow-skiing, white-water rafting, kayaking, hiking, fishing, as well as numerous cultural venues and events such as art galleries, the Britt Music Festivals, the Ashland Independent Film Festival, and the renowned Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

Klamath Falls offers a unique blend of affordability, outdoor recreation, and community, making it an appealing option for those seeking a rural lifestyle. Klamath County is proudly the home of Crater Lake National Park. With an average of 300 days of sunshine per year, outdoor sports are unlimited for all ages and all seasons.

Educational Assistant, Behavioral Programs (STEPS Plus)

Position Goal

The goal of this position is to support students with disabilities and significant behavioral challenges by developing and implementing unique behavior management techniques, communication strategies, and specialized learning techniques, so these students can develop increased behavior self-regulation and return to a less restrictive setting.

Essential Duties

1. Assist in caring for student's needs, including toileting, feeding, and physically supporting children as needed.
2. Participate as an effective team member across all settings in a manner that promotes collaboration for student success by carrying out team decisions, contributing relevant information, and planning, problem-solving, and decision-making on a daily basis.
3. Assist in educating students in accordance with students' IEP goals by using a variety of learning techniques, communication strategies, and behavior intervention techniques.
4. Be familiar with and follow the guidelines of the students' Behavior Support plan and Crisis Intervention Plan; provide input to the students' Functional Behavioral Assessment.
5. Provide immediate physical support in helping to transport or restrain students for as long as needed to ensure safety in a crisis situation, in accordance with approved SOESD training.
6. During a crisis or physical acting-out incident, assistants not handling the behavior should be able to quickly adapt to provide necessary support to other students and secure the classroom.
7. Supervising and applying behavior intervention with students and diligently tracking all behaviors in a manner requested by the teachers and specialists as per approved agency policies and classroom procedures.
8. Comply with ESD rules and policies.
9. Perform physical requirements unaided or with the assistance of reasonable accommodation (see reverse).
10. Perform job-related tasks as designated by the supervisor.
11. Participate in team meetings and other committee meetings.
12. Follow established SOESD policies and procedures. Comply with district and ESD rules.
13. Participate in training and professional development.
14. Perform physical requirements unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation.
15. Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Minimum Qualifications

1. High School diploma or equivalent
2. Ability to obtain a CPR and First Aid training certification.
3. Ability to learn and follow delegated medical procedures.
4. A valid Oregon driver's license.
5. Ability to pass a physical fitness test, as designated by SOESD, subject to retesting if physical requirements are not satisfactorily performed.
6. Ability to read and follow a detailed schedule independently.
7. Positive, flexible attitude.
8. Physical stamina and general good health are needed for frequent exposure to physical injury from physical acting-out behavior and potential exposure to communicable diseases.
9. Ability to independently problem solve potentially volatile situations quickly, effectively, and safely.
10. Demonstrated effective communication skills, teamwork, and professionalism.

Any equivalent combination of experience, certification, and training/education, deemed by the district, which provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the essential functions of this job may be used as an alternative to this prerequisite.

Location

In person in the STEPS Plus classroom.

Length of position

190 Days (academic year)

Salary

Per Collective Bargaining Agreement- $20.56/hr - $24.61/hr starting wage for 2026-2027 school year.

Immediate Supervisor

Department Administrator

SOESD Benefits (For .50 FTE and Over)

• Southern Oregon ESD contributes up to $2182.00 per month (family coverage)for health, dental, and vision insurance premiums for qualified employees.
• Employer-paid PERS (Public Employee Retirement System), including an additional 6% individual investment account with PERS.
• 9 paid holidays
• Agenerous sick, vacation, and discretionary (personal)leave packet is also provided to qualified employees.

Health Insurance

• OEBB MODA
• Includes medical, dental, vision & prescription insurance
• Monthly premium deducted pre-tax

Options

• Health Savings Accounts
• Flexible Spending Accounts – medical, day-care expenses
• Optional Coverage for Additional Life, AD&D, Short Term Disability Insurance through Aflac or American Fidelity
• 403(b)
• Mercy Flights Membership

Physical Requirements

The following physical requirements are essential functions of the Educational Assistant, Behavioral Programs:
1. Stand/Walk - 4-6 hrs/day
2. Sit/Sit on Floor - 1-4 hrs/day
3. Drive - 1-4 hrs/day
4. Bending - Frequently
5. Squat - Frequently
6. Climb Stairs - 1-4 hrs/day
7. Single Grasping - Frequently
8. Pushing - Frequently
9. Pulling - Frequently
10. Fine Manipulation - Frequently
11. Repetitive Foot Control - Limited
12. Lifting (less than 25 lbs.) - Frequently
13. Lifting (25-50 lbs.) - Frequently
14. Lifting (50-75 lbs.) - Occasionally
15. Lifting (75-100 lbs.) - Occasionally
16. Shift position quickly - Occasionally
17. Strength/Endurance - Occasionally

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

SOESD is an equal opportunity employer that complies with applicable employment discrimination laws, including ORS Ch. 659, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.