Job Description

As an Instructional Assistant with Student Transportation responsibilities at The Menta Group, you will be responsible for working with classroom instructors and staff to offer targeted teaching and support to students in the classroom, as well as general support for all students in the school. You will also be responsible for driving a route of students to and from school, using school equipment (van).

Must have Valid Driver's license and be willing to use School Van to transport students before & after school Mon-Fri

Responsibilities

• Manage classroom behaviors
• Act as a Teaching/Instructional Assistant in the classroom
• Drive/Transport Students to and from school, using a school van.
• Report behavioral concerns of students to appropriate staff
• Implement and maintain behavioral program policies and data
• Maintain classroom order and safety (Security)
• Provide general supervision of students inside the school setting
• Assist in the prevention and management of incidents of non-compliance and/or escalation in behavior
• Maintain alertness for problems likely to disrupt the educational process or to be a safety concern and correct and report these conditions Respond to emergency situations
• Provide interventions to students to assist in managing behaviors
• Think quickly, independently, and tactfully

• Good driving record and willing and able to drive student van
• Registered Behavior Technician, Youth Worker, Mental Healthcare Technician, or ABA Technician experience is helpful.
• Substitute Teacher Certification or Bachelor's Degree preferred
• Security or Juvenile Justice background is helpful
• Military Veterans are encouraged to apply
• Ability to operate tactfully under stress
• Flexibility to change in routines
• At least 23 years of age
• Able to work with high-risk special needs students

• Benefit options include: Medical, Dental, Vision, and Supplemental Insurance Programs
• Medical Insurance enrollment is available to full time employees on their date of hire. No waiting period.
• 10 Month School Position with 12 Month Semi-Monthly Pay
• Generous Paid Time Off Benefits for salaried employees
• 403(b) Investment Options

Southwest Academy

Southwest Academy partners with over 12 districts and is deeply committed to meeting the academic and social emotional needs of high-risk children and adolescents, ages 5 through 22. Southwest Academy has a no refusal, no suspension, no expulsion belief, offering a continuum of services to meet the educational needs of each and every student that enters the program. SWA has been a PBIS award winner for the past three years and incorporates trauma informed and mindfulness practices into our daily programming. We offer Cross Categorical Classrooms (ED, LD, OHI, TBI, ED-P) and Life Skills Classrooms (MIID, MOID, Autism) as well as 45-day placements. 

Additionally, Southwest Academy provides a temporary short-term placement (Alternative to Suspension) for students who would otherwise be suspended from their home schools. Local districts use ATS for both special education students and general education students. This reduces the number of out of school suspensions for their special education students and the likelihood of repeat behaviors. ATS provides a safe educational environment with support to help the student reintegrate successfully into their home schools.

More About The Menta Group

The Menta Group’s mission is “To provide innovative solutions to critical problems in education and human services.” Menta brings a framework of educational practices that have been designed and are supported through evidence based practices. Menta’s collaborative process with various school and community stakeholders has resulted in programs designed to educate, support, challenge, empower and celebrate students who present with a range of academic, social and emotional needs. At the beginning of a student’s experience with Menta, a collaborative meeting is held that includes the student, significant people in their lives, Menta staff and other professionals as appropriate. During that meeting, a comprehensive assessment of the student’s past, present and future desires is used to establish a student centered plan (MAP) that serves as a foundation of the student’s Menta programming. A guiding principle of Menta is ‘we do not give up’, while also holding our students and staff to high expectations. The educational offerings at a Menta program provides students with a quality education that is designed to nurture and enhance the skills and maturity needed to meet the challenges of being productive adults and citizens in a rapidly changing 21st century world. 

 Menta’s programs utilize a unique curricular framework that relies on the Expanded Menta Method and Trauma Informed Practices as the foundational principles for the teaching, counseling and mentoring work done by our highly trained staff. Personalized learning is the hub of our strategic curricular design intended to meet the needs of every student. Starting with the end in mind (learning targets and academic goals), a leveraging of current technologies coupled with highly trained instructional facilitators creates a rich learning environment supporting all student needs. Menta’s learning spaces are unique and specially designed to combine traditional teacher/student interaction with state of the art technology and learning innovations. Those learning spaces are flexible and can accommodate a variety of learning activities, such as inquiry learning and project based learning. Our spaces are designed to mimic productive spaces learners would find in business and/or corporate environments, thereby helping students achieve a mind-set designed for adult learning and work.

Professional Associations and/or Partnerships

The Menta Group affiliates are members/partners with CEC, CASE, Autism Speaks, ASBA, AAPSEC, AASA, CCSSO, SEAA, ASCD, and many more associations that focus on the education of children with disabilities.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Menta Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Menta Group ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of race, creed, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or disability. The District has a policy of active recruitment of qualified minority teachers and non-certified employees. Any individual needing assistance in making application for any opening should contact the district office.