Support Professional Assistant

About the Employer

Qualifications

• Associate's degree or higher; or completing at least two years, or 48 credit hours of study at an institution of higher education; or taking and passing a formal assessment measuring one's knowledge of and ability to assist classroom teachers in reading, writing, and mathematics. (Paraprofessional Assessment and WorkKeys)
• Training or experience working with special needs students preferred
• Experience working in an urban setting, preferred
• Experience working with diverse student populations, preferred
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; excellent teamwork skills
• Bilingual applicants (Spanish) strongly encouraged to apply

District Overview

Holyoke Public Schools is a PreK-12 public school district serving nearly 5,100 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. Our commitment to equity 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. We intentionally build a community that is anti-racist, inclusive, and culturally responsive. We ensure that students, families, and staff get the support they need to be successful. We seek out and incorporate the voices of those impacted, with a commitment to include those who have been excluded in the past. We promote access and inclusion for all students, staff, and families. We respect, embrace, and honor the diversity of our students, families, staff, and community. We reflect on our own behavior to minimize harm to others. We create a culture of acceptance and empathy so that everyone feels valued and is able to contribute to our community's success.

Job Description

• Works with individual students or small groups of students to reinforce learning of material or skills initially introduced by the teacher.
• Operates and cares for equipment used in the classroom for instructional purposes.
• Helps students master equipment and/or instructional materials assigned by the teacher.
• Assists in the implementation of behavioral modification programs as directed and supervised by the teacher. Keep behavioral logs and data (daily and weekly).
• Assists with the supervision of students during emergency drills, assemblies, play periods, and field trips.
• Assists students with mobility and personal care.
• Assists with lunch, snack, and cleanup routines.
• Dresses for physical education activities so you can assist students.
• Meets the buses and assists students in breakfast and lunch routines
• Assists with wash-ups and toilet routines, diapering, and tooth brushing.