Special Education Support Staff

About Walker

Since 1961, Walker Therapeutic & Educational Programs has been a trusted partner for children, youth, and families, navigating some of life’s most difficult challenges. Based in Needham, our mission is to nurture hope, build strengths, and develop lifelong skills in partnership with the children, youth, families, and communities we serve. We provide comprehensive, trauma-informed residential, educational, and clinical services to children and youth with complex social-emotional, behavioral, and learning needs, while supporting their families every step of the way. Through three specialized divisions—Residential & Educational Programs, Behavioral Health & Community-Based Services, and Walker Solutions—we deliver relationship-based care and capacity-building that makes a lasting difference. Today, we serve children, youth, and families from more than 150 communities across Massachusetts.

Make a Difference Every Day—and Gain Skills You Can Use for Life

As a Special Education Support Staff at Walker, you will work as part of a classroom team of three staff in a classroom of up to nine children with social, emotional, learning and behavioral disabilities, as well as supporting residential students in the units during wakeups and non-school days. Primary responsibilities include behavior management, social/emotional support, assisting the teacher with planning and implementing academic tasks, as well as working with specialists (e.g., PE/Health, Art, Music etc.) to create a highly structured environment conducive to learning. Classroom staff will also work as a team to create a calm environment during all activities. The Special Education Support Staff must be committed to child-centered, family-focused, culturally competent care and strengths-based treatment.

Essential Functions

• Perform in a way that is aligned with the agency mission and core values. This includes but is not limited to services that are trauma informed, relationship based, family involved, developmentally focused, competence centered, and ecologically oriented.  
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team to support the emotional, behavioral, and educational development of youth, including maintaining a classroom atmosphere that is conducive to learning and effectively manage the behavior of students individually and in groups.
• Implement treatment protocols established in youth’s treatment plans, IEPs, and individual support plans.
• Supervise youth at all times and plan and implement engaging social and recreational activities as needed.
• Respond to youths’ challenges with crisis intervention techniques consistent with Walker’s training.
• Work on a residential house during school vacation periods and holidays. Plan developmentally appropriate activities and programming for the group and provide caretaking throughout the shift.
• Provide transportation to students for appointments as needed.
• Work as part of a wake-up team on the residence and assure that morning routines (such as medications and breakfast) are completed, and students arrive to school on time.
• Lead the assigned classroom during the summer session, including ensuring that students participate in all activities and lead students on field trips.
• Participate actively in supervision and remain receptive to feedback and professional development.
• Assist the lead teacher in collecting data and writing progress notes as needed, maintain proper documentation of incidents that occur, and complete oral and written reports accurately and on time.
• Attend Multi-Disciplinary Team meetings, and treatment meetings as needed, to discuss youth’s progress.  
• Collaborate with staff and supervisors across shifts and campus programs to ensure smooth operations and consistent treatment of youth.
• Participate in all required trainings and professional development opportunities as they arise.
• Additional duties as assigned.
  
  

Skills And Abilities

• Must be able to successfully pass and apply Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) training
• Must be able to successfully complete First Aid/CPR training
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to remain calm and make safe decisions in high-pressure situations
• Capacity to work effectively in a stressful and fast-paced environment
• Ability to learn, retain, and apply principles taught in training and supervision
• Physical stamina to participate in activities with children
• Ability to stand, walk, and run for extended periods, perform frequent bending, stooping, stretching, lifting sitting, stairs, typing, and looking at a computer screen
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and computer experience is required
• Ability to meet deadlines and follow through with multiple projects simultaneously
• Ability to work flexibly and collaboratively as part of a team, including during times of high stress
• Ability to transport clients in company vehicles
  
  

Schedule

• Monday-Friday, 7:00am-3:00pm – additional flexibility may be required based on operational and business needs
  
  

Qualifications

Education and Certifications

Required

• High School diploma or GED required
  
  

Preferred

• Associate degree or higher
  
  

Experience

Preferred

• Prior experience working with youth in a residential or special education setting preferred, but not required
  
  

Other Requirements

• Successfully complete all background check suitability requirements
• Must have reliable transportation
• Valid MA driver’s license preferred
  
  

Supervision

Reports to: Day School Supervisor

Equal Opportunity Statement

Walker is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon an individual's race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, veteran status, pregnancy, national guard or reserve unit obligations, participation in discrimination complaint-related activities, or membership in any category protected by federal or state law.