Instructional Support Middle School Paraprofessional
Job Description
STRIVE Prep has multiple openings for paraprofessionals and Special Education teachers. Please visit our job board for more options.
STRIVE Prep refers to our paraprofessionals as Educational Assistants to reflect the dignity of the role in our network and the significant contribution our EAs make to the education of our students on a daily basis.
STRIVE Prep is a Denver-based community of public charter schools that challenges every student to strive for college and thrive throughout life by helping them to discover and develop the knowledge, skills and confidence necessary to succeed in college and beyond.
Our inclusive and transformative community seeks an Multi-Intensive Educational Assistant for the 2019-20 school year.
Objective: STRIVE Secondary Multi-Intensive Educational Assistants will create exceptional outcomes and opportunities for students within the Multi-Intensive Center by providing high-quality instructional support in academics and life-skills.
We seek dedicated educators that live STRIVE Prep’s core values every day:
- Con Ganas: The work we do is challenging, but every challenge is seen as an opportunity and we rarely give up.
- The High Road: We do the right thing and we treat one another with respect and dignity.
- Joy Factor: We work to create a joyful and optimistic work environment that values levity and laughter.
- Accountable Action: We hold clear, high expectations for our work, and we are appropriately held accountable to those expectations by ourselves and others.
- Growth Mindset: We continue to develop professionally and operate with a growth mindset in order to create the best school possible for our students and families.
- Lean In: We communicate with one another professionally, appropriately, honestly, and transparently, both in person and in writing.
- We Serve: Every day is an opportunity to partner with and learn from our students and families, whom we serve with grace and humility.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Instruction:
- Support students in all academic settings as directed by Special Education and GenEd teachers.
- Assist GenEd classroom teachers in providing accommodations and modifications for students.
- Provide instruction at centers or small groups as directed by the MI-S Center Director.
- Be actively involved in the lesson/activity and support the GenEd or Special Education teacher as needed.
- Actively identify students that are struggling and provide assistance.
- Ensure students are given time to be independent. This includes:
- Giving students the opportunity to attempt and/or complete the task on their own.
- Giving students processing time and not providing answers if they do not immediately respond to questions.
- Not attempting to put words in students’ mouths or guess what they are saying/thinking.
- Being realistic with the amount of processing time and not allowing students to purposely waste time.
- Help students read questions and passages in math, science and life skills when necessary.
- Monitor student progress on assignments in all classes using proximity (i.e. walking around the classroom) and not sitting with one student the entire class period (unless specifically assigned as a one-on-one).
- Communicate regularly with teachers about students who are struggling.
- Attend meetings with teachers share concerns/suggestions and stay informed.
- Be prepared to teach lessons independently, without assistance or presence from other teachers.
- Attend weekly MI Center team meetings and discuss lesson plans, behavioral concerns and upcoming events.
- Assist in grading and entering grades, making copies and other assorted organizational tasks.
Culture:
- Refer to students using first-person language (i.e. “Josue is a student with autism” not “Josue is an autistic student).
- Actively listen to all directions given in the classroom and be ready to repeat these instructions to students multiple times, if necessary.
- Attend students’ lunch time when possible in order to build relationships with outside of the learning environment.
- Provide supervision of students during both lunch and recess activities.
- Communicate regularly and often with families to both solicit their input and share student social and academic progress.
Development:
- Participate in STRIVE Prep’s Summer Training Institute in July as well as professional development throughout the school year.
- Attend and participate in weekly staff and grade level meetings.
- Participate in regular instructional coaching meetings.
Requirements:
- Proudly hold a Bachelor of Arts or Science degreeorare able to submit proof of Qualified status withinsix weeks of startingthrough one of the following channels outlined by the Colorado Department of Education:
- Hold a bachelor level degree
- Have earned 48 or more college-level credit hours
- Have or are able to pass the WorkKeys exams
- Read more about the available pathways to becoming a QualifiedEducational Assistant.
In addition, we strongly prefer the following:
- Speaks Spanish and/or has experience working with English Learners
- Demonstrated success working with students of color
What We Offer Our Network Staff:
- Competitive compensation package.
- Annual performance-based raises.
- Participation in the Colorado PERA retirement program, including a PERA 401k contribution option.
- Funding of 100 percent of individual medical benefits and a wide range of insurance plans.
- Approximately eight weeks of summer vacation, approximately four weeks of school holidays and vacations, and eight days of paid time off annually.
Join This Movement:
STRIVE Prep educators inspire and encourage our students to think critically, communicate clearly, and collaborate openly, both in and outside of the classroom. By bringing together challenging academics with celebration and joy, we fuel a sense of curiosity, creativity and lifelong possibility in our students and our teachers. No matter where you join us in your career, we welcome our teachers to help make STRIVE Prep a place where everyone in our community can STRIVE and THRIVE.
Equity and Inclusion
STRIVE Prep works to make a college preparatory education for all students in our community the norm, rather than the exception. We must challenge ourselves as educators on what it means to serve all students, families and each other through a lens of Dignity for All, all the time. To us, Dignity for All means honoring and respecting the rich diversity of who we are and the unique gifts and talents that each of us bring. To achieve this we are committed to building and sustaining a diverse team by maintaining hiring and recruiting processes that are free from bias and seek to provide each candidate with a unique and equitable opportunity for employment.
