Instructional Aide

Starting Rate: $20.02 /hour

Spectrum Center Schools and Programs, a growing, dynamic organization with a social mission to offer hope is seeking an Instructional Aide to join our award-winning team and perform meaningful work in a culture that welcomes innovation, encourages creative expression and offers limitless potential for personal and professional satisfaction!

If you thrive in a fast-paced, goal-oriented, outcome-driven environment, seek a career with genuine purpose, and possess a problem-solving mindset, a sense of humor, and a stellar work ethic — We Should Talk!

As an Instructional Aide, you will provide individualized supervision and instruction to assigned students and additional support to the core classroom staff. Working with student(s) to implement their Individualized Education Programs (IEP), you will utilize group and individual instruction in the classroom and community.

Responsibilities Include:

• Assisting classroom teachers to create an atmosphere in which students feel safe, welcomed and exhibit high expectations of student learning.
• Implementing on-site and community-based curriculum instruction and behavioral intervention strategies consistent with the goals and objectives of each student.
• Instructing and monitoring students during lessons in the classroom to ensure fidelity of instruction and utilizing instructional strategies to assist with student learning and help students meet requirements for student course completion.
• Encouraging and monitoring the progress of individual students in accordance with specific timelines and communicating with the classroom teacher overall progress or interventions needed.
• Managing student behavior by upholding the Spectrum philosophy and policies and applying appropriate disciplinary measures when necessary; working collaboratively with classroom teachers to ensure consistency.
• Supporting and counseling students with academic issues, providing encouragement and working with students to improve their community, vocational, leisure, domestic, academic, and social skills.
• Completing accurate and timely documentation on student’s behavior as outlined by school procedures, reporting observations to relevant staff and/or making recommendations based on observations.
• Assisting in the preparation of other behavioral reports and daily activities logs as required.
• Communicating necessary information to students, team members, supervisors, and parents regarding students’ needs and academic progress in collaboration with classroom teacher and principal.
• Consistently maintaining the confidentiality of student information and records.
• Participating in the assurance and accreditation process to ensure that the site passes or meets performance plans.
• Participating in school, student/parent, and student advisory meetings as requested.
• Responding constructively to formal and informal feedback.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Qualifications Required:

• High school diploma or equivalent w/ passage of basic skills test.
• Associate degree or higher in education or a closely related field of study preferred.
• Hold currently or have the ability to obtain a state driver's license.
• Licensed currently or in the process of obtaining a paraprofessional, para educator, teaching assistant or similar credential preferred.
• Prior experience working with children, preferably in a special education program setting.
• Highly skilled in working with children with autism spectrum disorders, developmental disabilities and/or challenging behaviors.
• Comfortable driving and/or riding in a company van with students before and/or after school.
• Ability to think and act quickly and calmly in an emergency and make independent decisions.
• Proficiency in providing motivation and having critical conversations with students that help move them toward realistic goals.
• Advanced oral and written communication, organization, conflict resolution, multitasking, problem solving, and decision-making ability.
• Knowledge of relevant technology including experience with instructional technology, Microsoft Office Suite, database entry and basic office equipment.

Perks and Benefits Include:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental and…