Paraprofessional - Student Support

DISTRICT OVERVIEW

Holyoke Public Schools is a PreK-12 public school district serving nearly 4,800 students, of whom 80 percent are Latino/Latina, in 11 schools. We employ nearly 1,300 people who together educate and support a richly diverse community of learners. We are committed to recruiting and retaining top-quality educators who believe all children can and will learn and who strive daily to make school a joyful place of discovery, support, and belonging.

Holyoke Public Schools’ strategic plan, “Moving Forward Together,” builds on the strengths of our past while serving as a call to action to accelerate student learning by thinking differently about how we teach, how we work together, and how we support students’ well-being.

Many successes contributed to Holyoke’s return to local governance after 10 years in state receivership. These include:

• The highest graduation rate on record of 77.1 percent, an increase of more than 15-points over 10 years
• Meaningful, applied learning opportunities for high school students, including theme-based academies, career vocational technical education programming, work-based learning, and advanced coursework
• A comprehensive approach to early literacy that includes strong core instruction and one-on-one tutoring, contributing to more students reading at grade level
• A thriving dual language English/Spanish program, where nearly 900 students are on their path to becoming bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural
• More than one-third of Holyoke teachers identify as people of color, a 19-point increase over 10 years. Many partnership programs support staff to earn licensure or additional certification.

Please visit the Holyoke Public Schools website to learn more about us, our recent accomplishments, and our commitment to equity.

PERSPECTIVA GENERAL DEL DISTRITO

Las Escuelas Públicas de Holyoke son un distrito escolar público que cuenta con 11 escuelas de prekínder a 12.° grado y acoge a casi 4 800 estudiantes, de los cuales el 80 % se identifica como latino o latina. Empleamos a casi 1 300 personas que, en conjunto, educan y apoyan a una comunidad de estudiantes altamente diversa. Estamos comprometidos a contratar y retener educadores de alta calidad que creen firmemente que todos los niños pueden aprender y aprenderán, y que se esfuerzan diariamente por hacer de la escuela un lugar alegre de descubrimiento, apoyo y pertenencia.

El plan estratégico de las Escuelas Públicas de Holyoke , “Avanzando Juntos”, se basa en nuestras fortalezas previas y, al mismo tiempo, sirve como un llamado a la acción para acelerar el aprendizaje estudiantil a través de una nueva perspectiva sobre cómo enseñamos, cómo trabajamos en colaboración y cómo apoyamos el bienestar de los estudiantes.

Existen numerosos logros que permitieron a Holyoke recuperar el control local después de 10 años de administración judicial. Entre estos logros se encuentran:

• La tasa de graduación más alta registrada, del 77.1 %, lo que representa un aumento de más de 15 puntos porcentuales en 10 años
• Oportunidades significativas de aprendizaje práctico para estudiantes de secundaria, que incluyen academias temáticas, programas de educación técnica y vocacional, aprendizaje basado en el trabajo y cursos avanzados
• Un enfoque integral de la alfabetización temprana que combina una sólida instrucción básica con tutorías individuales, lo cual ha contribuido a que más estudiantes lean a nivel de grado
• Un próspero programa bilingüe de inglés/español, en el que casi 900 estudiantes avanzan hacia el bilingüismo, la biliteracidad, y la biculturalidad.
• Más de un tercio de los maestros de Holyoke se identifican como personas de etnicidad diversa, lo que representa un aumento de 19 puntos porcentuales en 10 años. Diversas colaboraciones con programas que han contribuido a que miembros del personal obtengan sus certificaciones o credenciales adicionales.

Visite el sitio web de las Escuelas Públicas de Holyoke para obtener más información sobre nuestra comunidad, nuestros logros recientes y nuestro compromiso con la equidad.

Reports to: Student Support Coordinator and Dean of Students

Role Overview: The Student Support Paraprofessional at Peck Middle School will assist both the Dean of Students and the Student Support Coordinator in executing responsibilities related to student behavior, attendance, and overall school culture. This role is integral to maintaining a positive and supportive school environment and is designed for individuals passionate about working with children and improving student outcomes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Student Behavior and Discipline:

  • Assist in implementing school-wide discipline policies under the guidance of the Dean of Students and Student Support Coordinator.
  • Support the management of student behavior in various school settings, including classrooms, hallways, and common areas.
  • Help monitor and manage before and after school detention programs.

• Student Support:

  • Assist in the development and maintenance of behavior plans for students needing additional support.
  • Foster positive relationships with students, providing encouragement and support to promote positive behavior.
  • Support the implementation of Restorative Justice practices as directed by the Student Support Coordinator.

• School Culture and Climate:

  • Help cultivate a positive and collaborative school culture by supporting various student activities and events.
  • Supervise students during non-instructional times (e.g., breakfast, lunch, transitions, dismissal) to ensure a professional and orderly environment.
  • Assist in organizing and overseeing student activities, including clubs, pep rallies, community service projects, and leadership opportunities.

• Attendance Monitoring:

  • Support tracking student attendance and implementing strategies to improve attendance rates.
  • Communicate with students and parents regarding attendance issues as directed by the Dean of Students and Student Support Coordinator.

• Data Management and Reporting:

  • Help maintain accurate records of student behavior, interventions, and outcomes.
  • Assist in utilizing digital tools to track behavior statistics and report on trends.

• Family and Community Engagement:

  • Support efforts to build and maintain relationships with parents and community members.
  • Participate in meetings and conferences with students, parents, and community members as needed.
  • Collaborate with the Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Coordinator to support aligned efforts in engaging families and developing key community partnerships.

• Support for the Student Support Team:

  • Assist the Student Support Coordinator and Dean of Students in supervising and evaluating the performance of student support staff.
  • Provide guidance and support to students and staff to ensure effective implementation of behavior management and student support strategies.

Candidate Requirements:

• Education and Experience:

  • Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree preferred

  • 1-3 years experience working with at-risk youth doing social-emotional development work prefered

• Skills and Traits:

  • Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to engage with students, staff, and community members.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and a collaborative approach to problem-solving.
  • Commitment to high expectations for all students and a belief in their ability to succeed.
  • Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred, with strong cultural competence in working with diverse populations.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Salary and benefits will be competitive and commensurate with experience.
• This position is part of the paraprofessional bargaining unit.