Special Education Instructional Assistant: Speech/Language Facilitator

Position: Special Education Instructional Assistant: Speech/Language Facilitator

Location: TBD (may vary)

Status: Full-Time

Terms: 7.6 hours per day, 187 days per year

Salary: In accordance with the established support salary scale ($31,673 - $$35,886), commensurate with education and experience

Supervisor: Director of Special Education, Principals

Availability: Immediately.

Deadline: Applications received by 11:59 p.m. on July 9, 2026, will be considered for the initial interviews and will be given first consideration. Applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled.

Job Description

The Special Education Instructional Assistant: Speech/Language Facilitator is responsible for facilitating speech tele-therapy sessions under the supervision of a Speech-Language Pathologist. This individual would also be responsible for providing support to the instructional program, following educational and specific behavioral plans, observing and documenting student progress, assisting students with special healthcare needs, modeling appropriate behaviors and interactions with students and staff, and providing clerical support to teachers when teletherapy or related teletherapy responsibilities are not occurring.

Minimum Requirements

• Associate (or higher) Degree, or 48 hours of college credit, or a passing score on the ParaProfessional Assessment with a high school diploma/GED.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing
• Ability to perform basic math
• Ability to present information to others
• Ability to understand, explain, and use data
• Ability to understand complex, multi-step written and oral instructions
• Ability to organize, supervise, and work with individuals or groups of students, teachers, and other stakeholders
• Ability to problem-solve, work independently and as part of a team, and function without distractions
• Strong stakeholder (i.e., students, staff, administration, parents, general public, community agencies, etc.) service skills
• History of professionalism and a strong work ethic
• Self-motivated with the ability to prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment
• Ability to multitask
• Ability to stand, sit, walk, feel, climb, balance, kneel, stoop, crouch, crawl, bend, push, pull, and carry
• Good hearing, vision, depth perception, and peripheral vision
• Ability to lift and transport heavy to moderately heavy objects averaging 50-75 lbs.
• Ability to lift and assist students with special healthcare needs, including toileting
• Significant dexterity of hands and fingers
• Ability to serve as a positive role model for students, staff, and other stakeholders
• Regular and predictable attendance
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the job either with or without reasonable accommodations
• Willing to travel between school locations to provide speech/language facilitation
  
  

Duties And Responsibilities

The following duties and responsibilities are intended only as examples. The omission of a specific duty or responsibility does not exclude it from the position if the work is a similar, related, or logical assignment.

Special Education Instructional Assistant: Speech/Language Facilitator will:

• Facilitate speech tele-therapy sessions under the direction of the Speech-Language Pathologist.
• Retrieve students from their classrooms and bring them to the therapy room.
• Remain in the therapy room throughout the duration of the therapy session, supervising the students, and return students to their classrooms afterward.
• Help keep students on task and engage with them as directed by the Speech-Language Pathologist.
• Print and distribute Special Education documents, such as progress notes and Individualized Education Plans (IEP).
• Communicate effectively with the Speech-Language Pathologist and teachers regarding changes to the therapy schedule.
• Operates and troubleshoots audio-visual equipment used for therapy sessions.
• Report any audio-visual equipment issues to the School Administration and the Technology Department.
• Maintain confidentiality of student and school personnel information.
• Develop and maintain a pleasant and orderly training environment.
• Attend IEP meetings as requested to facilitate communication between the Speech-Language Pathologist and the team.
• Assist special education teachers when therapy sessions are canceled or during breaks in the schedule.
• Perform clerical duties as directed by the Speech-Language Pathologist.
• Adapt classroom activities, assignments, and/or materials under the direction of the classroom teacher.
• Assist students with special healthcare needs (e.g., toileting, feeding, gastric tube feeding, grooming, etc.).
• Support students with disabilities who have behavioral needs.
• Confer with teachers, as requested, to evaluate student progress, coordinate tests and homework assignments, and/or implementing IEP objectives.
• Work with individuals and small groups, as assigned by the classroom teacher.
• Provide programmed practice activities and repetitions developed by a teacher, therapist, pathologist, or other medical professionals.
• Supervise students (e.g., classroom, hallway, restroom, cafeteria, field trips, etc.).
• Lift, move, and operate adaptive equipment.
• Assist students with mobility needs (e.g., lifting, positioning, loading, and unloading, etc.).
• Ensure the confidentiality of student information.
• Collect and track academic and behavioral data as determined by the student's individual needs.
• Positively advocate for students with disabilities.
• Report and record observations and incidents.
• Maintain confidentiality at all times.
• Perform related clerical duties and responsibilities.
• Take all appropriate safety precautions to protect students, equipment, materials, and facilities.
• Attend and actively participate in appropriate job-related professional development.
• Contribute to the short-term and long-term successes of students, staff, school, and the system in general.
• Engage in life-long learning of professional and technical knowledge by attending appropriate workshops, reviewing professional publications and websites, establishing personal networks, and participating in professional organizations.
• Demonstrate proficiency, flexibility, self-motivation, accountability and ownership, and positive demeanor.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
  
  

Total Compensation Benefits

Comprehensive benefits include healthcare (medical, dental, vision), life insurance, and participation in the Maryland Retirement and Pension Plan, with optional 403(b) contributions. Employees receive paid sick leave, personal days, vacation (based on the position), and access to wellness programs and employee assistance resources.

Questions

Should you have questions and/or require assistance with accessing or completing the on-line application, contact the Office of Human Resources and Employee Relations at 301-334-8904.

Accommodation Requests

In the event you are contacted for an interview, please notify the Office of Human Resources and Employee Relations at that time of any reasonable disability-related accommodation requests.

The Garrett County Board of Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, ancestry or national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or disability in matters affecting employment. Questions about this policy should be directed to the Director of Human Resources and Employee Relations at 301-334-8904.