Educational Assistant: Sub-Separate/Social Emotional Behavioral Classroom

Southbridge Public Schools serve approximately 2,200 students across six schools-and we're in the midst of an exciting and measurable transformation. In particular, our secondary schools are on a trajectory of rapid improvement. This brief video, Southbridge Middle School Celebrates Recent Improvement, highlights the results of a process of improving culture, climate, and instruction that empowered Southbridge Middle School to take dramatic steps forward even in the challenging aftermath of the COVID pandemic. Over the past couple of school years, SMS has continued to thrive and has been recognized for outstanding student achievement gains in Math, and by the University of Connecticut as a PBIS success story. We are now also seeing the same kind of transformative change at Southbridge High School, with culture & climate among both staff and students improving dramatically in the current 2024-25 school year, and we are confident that significant academic gains will soon follow.

This success is no accident-it's the result of passionate educators, high-quality curriculum, targeted professional development, and a deep commitment to providing a better education to children in a community that has long been under-served. We are a district with many high-needs students, but they prove to us on a daily basis that when we provide them with high expectations and consistent support, they can excel. Most of all, our students thrive when the adults in our schools unite as a team to provide a safe and positive climate, when we uphold high expectations for both behavior and academics, and when we show our kids that we believe in them, we care about them, and we will never give up on them.

If you're an educator who wants your work to matter-who wants to be part of a team that believes deeply in growing people and improving student outcomes-Southbridge is a place where you can see the impact of your efforts every day.

Background on "Connect" Program (Social Emotional/Behavioral): "Connect" is a highly structured therapeutic program for students who experience behavioral difficulties due to mental health disorders. The program utilizes a flexible inclusion model that is designed to provide students with academic instruction while addressing their significant emotional and behavioral needs. Students receive individualized treatment, including behavioral interventions to help them experience a sense of success and belonging in the school. The goal of the program is to create a therapeutic environment within the public school setting by promoting self-governance and progressive levels of responsibilities. An adjustment counselor works together with program staff, parents, and with students to improve their behavioral and emotional functioning within the school setting. Services include restorative justice practices, group counseling, individual counseling, and crisis counseling as needed. In addition, the "Connect" team is committed to collaborating with families and other community agencies in order to provide a consistent approach to helping students with mental health issues.

Essential Functions

• Assist the classroom teacher in helping mentally disadvantaged students learn skills that will broaden their learning experiences and contribute to their development in order to set high expectations and to assist in creating a classroom environment that is conducive to learning for all students
• Ensure the safety of students
• Maintain the strictest confidence concerning personnel, students and operational concerns of the district
• Promote good public relations by personal appearance, attitude and conversation
• Report all cases of suspected child abuse to appropriate school personnel and proper government authority
• Assist students needs both individually and in small groups
• Collaborate with classroom teacher about students' needs and requirements including IEP goals
• Assist students with classwork
• Assist with recess, supervision, restroom breaks, emergency drills, assemblies, field trips, etc.
• Act as expert classroom support to substitute in absence of teacher
• Interact in a positive manner with staff, students and parents
• Attend meetings and in-services as required
  
  

Other Duties And Responsibilities

• Serve as a role model for students and staff
• Prepare materials for class projects
• Respond to questions and requests in an appropriate and timely manner
• Maintain a level of approachability by administration and staff
• Perform other duties as assigned by classroom teacher and/or Principal
  
  

Qualifications/Certificates

• High School Diploma
• Associate's degree preferred
• Experience with behaviorially challenged students: RBT certified preferred
  
  

Required Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Ability to communicate ideas and directives clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing
• Effective, active listening skills
• Ability to work effectively with others
• Organizational and problem solving skills
  
  

Additional Working Conditions

• Interaction among children
• Repetitive hand motion, e.g., computer keyboard, typing, calculator, writing
• Regular requirement to sit, stand, walk, read, hear, see, speak, reach, stretch with hands and arms, crouch, kneel, climb and stoop
• Occasional requirement to lift, carry, push and/or pulling various supplies and/or equipment up to a maximum of 20 pounds
• Requirement to assist in the restraint, movement or other emergency weight bearing assistance of students
  
  

Evaluation: Performance will be evaluated annually in accordance with the provisions set by the Southbridge Public Schools.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Southbridge Public Schools is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, gender identity, disability, religion, age, or sexual orientation.