Educational Support Specialist

Reports to: Education Support Supervisor
Position: Full-Time

Position Summary

The Educational Support Specialist supports the supervision, education, and treatment needs of students in both residential and school settings.

Working under the classroom teacher's direction, this role helps implement instructional plans, supports individualized student needs, manages challenges, and builds positive, trusting relationships with youth.

Why Join Everstand?

Find joy and purpose in your career with Everstand, an independent, not-for-profit organization serving more than 1,000 children annually across 12 locations.

Join approximately 500 professionals across DC, MD, PA, and WV who help youth and families flourish in their communities.

What does the benefits package look like?

Everstand offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Generous Paid Time Off: 3 weeks of vacation, 2 floating holidays, and 10 paid company holidays — 30 paid days off annually.
• Paid Leave: Sick and bereavement leave.
• Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance beginning on your first day.
• FREE Employee Health Insurance: Employee-only medical coverage at no cost through Allied Health.
• Retirement Savings: Employer match of up to 3%.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Up to $5,000 annually after 3 months for approved education expenses.
• Additional Benefits: Voluntary and employer-sponsored programs supporting financial, personal, and professional well-being.

Essential Functions

• Model Everstand's core values and leadership mindset: "Choose kindness. Solve problems and learn together. Make it happen."
• Practice trauma-informed care and leadership.
• Build healthy, trusting relationships with youth using developmentally appropriate and youth-guided approaches.
• Maintain appropriate student-to-staff ratios in accordance with regulations.
• Support behavior management and prevention strategies.
• Assist with residential routines, transitions, meals, recreation, and physical education.
• Support classroom instruction and activities under designated teaching personnel.
• Encourage academic progress and provide individualized support.
• Implement individualized plans and complete required documentation and reports.
• Complete required assessments and data reporting.
• Support culturally responsive practices.
• Follow Everstand and Office of Refugee Resettlement policies related to Unaccompanied Children.
• Maintain professional boundaries and therapeutic relationships.
• Accompany youth to medical appointments, court hearings, and other scheduled activities.
• Provide safe transportation in agency vehicles.
• Administer and document medication when certified and authorized.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization in living and classroom areas.
• Apply basic child care and education principles.
• Obtain and maintain "user" certification in Everstand's Cx360 electronic health record system.

Non-Essential Functions

• Support youth intake and discharge transportation, including airline travel when needed.
• Provide language translation/interpretation support for medical appointments.
• Identify professional development and training needs.

Competencies

• Accurate Listening
• Appointment Coordination
• Attention to Detail
• Communication
• Conceptual Thinking
• Handling Stress
• Honesty
• Following Directions
• Frequent Interaction with Others
• Meeting Standards
• Organizational Skills
• Customer Service
• Taking Minutes
• Personal Accountability
• Problem Solving
• Professional Behavior
• Speaking to Strangers
• Teamwork
• Learning and Using Technology
• Telephone Protocol
• Time Management
• Flexibility
• Urgency

Supervisory Responsibility

Not Applicable

Work Environment

This role operates in both professional office and residential environments and uses standard office equipment.

Because of the residential setting and population served, employees may encounter challenging behaviors, including physical agitation, violence, or emotional outbursts.

Physical Demands

Employees may occasionally be required to stand, walk, sit, reach, climb stairs, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, talk, hear, and use hands to handle objects or equipment.

Employees may occasionally lift or move up to 25 pounds.

The position requires the ability to safely participate in physical behavioral interventions and restraints when necessary, as trained through Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI).

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

Full-Time | Monday–Friday

• 7:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. or
• 7:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
• Not eligible for a flex schedule.
• Essential during inclement weather.
• When school is not in session, employees may be assigned to a residential unit. Hours will be determined by the unit supervisor based on agency needs.

Travel

Travel is primarily local during the business day. Some out-of-area or overnight travel may be required.

Required Education and Experience

• High School Diploma
• One year of child welfare experience working with children and/or adolescents

Preferred Education and Experience

• Bilingual English/Spanish
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

Candidates must be able to:

• Demonstrate effective written and oral communication.
• Work effectively as part of an interdisciplinary team.
• Learn and use various technology platforms.
• Use Microsoft Windows 10 and Microsoft 365, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Demonstrate strong time management, planning, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Problem solve effectively.
• Work independently.
• Maintain an electronic Outlook calendar.
• Pass TCI certification at orientation and as required by HR.
• Pass CPR/First Aid certification at orientation and as required by HR.
• Provide and maintain a valid driver's license and operate a motor vehicle.
• Pass required CPS/UII background checks.
• Pass required Tuberculosis screening. (WV applicable; PA not applicable.)
• Pass a work-readiness physical.
• Pass required federal and state fingerprint background checks.
• Pass a drug screen by urinalysis and participate in random testing thereafter.

Other Duties

This job description is not intended to include every duty or responsibility required of the employee. Duties and responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice.

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