Exceptional Children's Teacher Assistant

Reports to:  Director of Exceptional Children

Employment:  10 months

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Employment Term:  Full-Time Temporary

Northeast Academy for Aerospace and Advanced Technologies is a public regional STEM school serving students in grades 5-12. Our coaches facilitate learning through hands-on, project and problem based instruction that is thoughtfully designed to challenge students. We encourage and support each other to think differently, creatively, and purposefully about teaching and learning, keeping with the idea that we’re all teachers, we’re all learners, and we all have potential for high intellectual and professional growth throughout our lives.

Position Purpose 

The NEAAAT Exceptional Children’s Coach Assistant is responsible for promoting a positive and successful learning experience for students with Individual Education Plans (IEPs), 504 Plans, and/or Medical Plans in an effort to increase successful completion of promotion requirements, IEP goals, student retention, and/or school culture. The Exceptional Children Coach Assistant under the general supervision of an Exceptional Children Coach and/or the Director of Exceptional Children will perform a variety of technical, academic, vocational, and clerical tasks to support the efforts of the Exceptional Children Coach to meet the needs of students and ensure the provision of quality instruction.  The Exceptional Children Coach Assistant will help students develop skills, behaviors, and habits that contribute to students’ academic, personal, and professional success both individually and in small groups within the general education and special education settings.  Exceptional Children Coach Assistants also assist the Exceptional Children’s Coach with general clerical and housekeeping duties.  

Duties and Responsibilities

• Builds rapport and trust with students to support successful goal completion.
• Assists coaches with executing academic, behavioral, vocational, and life-skill instruction and evaluating its effectiveness.
• Assists students with learning. 
• Reinforces and clarifies Coaches’ instructions. 
• Conducts student sessions on improving study and functional skills.
• Provides one-on-one assistance as needed.
• Constantly monitors the safety and well-being of students.
• Monitors student attitudes and encourages reflection and positive self-esteem.
• Assists students in becoming increasingly independent.
• Monitors student behavior and helps maintain discipline in the classroom, hallways, common spaces, and off-campus locations (e.g., field trips, job shadowing, etc.).
• Assists with crisis prevention.
• Maintains documentation concerning the progress of students.
• Performs various clerical duties as needed, such as developing and filing incident reports, grading student papers and scoring tests, checking daily attendance, making copies, and developing classroom displays and instructional materials.
• Assists with any tasks students are not able to perform for themselves. 
• Carries out therapeutic regimens (e.g., behavior modification, PT, OT) under the direction of licensed professionals.
• Provide instruction in off-site facilities 
• Monitor students on the bus as needed
• Maintains confidentiality of student information. 
• Carries out other duties assigned by the Director of Exceptional Children or the Chief Executive Officer.

Formal Education & Certification  

• Associate degree or equivalent course hours
• Two years of experience working with school-aged children 
• Training provided to high-potential candidates.

Knowledge & Experience  

• Understanding of the intellectual, emotional, and social development of children and the influences of family, community, and cultural differences on student success.
• Familiarity with various software applications used at the school.
• Ability to work effectively in a collegial, team-centered environment.
• Effective interpersonal skills and relationship-building skills.  
• Good organizational skills and communication skills, both written and oral.
• Strong customer-service orientation. 
• Understands the critical nature of building positive working relationships with students, parents, and colleagues.
• Represents the school positively in the community.

Work Conditions   

• Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, hand, and power tools, and to handle other computer components.  
• Lifting and transporting of light to moderately heavy objects (20 to 80 pounds) occasionally.
• Ability to be physically active, which includes, but is not limited to, standing, pushing, pulling, squatting, bending, sitting, and walking, including repetitive motions.
• Ability to stand in excess of 6 hours.
• Sitting for extended periods of time.  

The above statements are intended to describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this position. They are not intended to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and skills that may be required of the employees assigned to this position. This description may be revised by the supervisor at any time