Career Opportunity
Casual Education Assistants
$31.93/hour
Il stl’i kw’els spipetstexw kw’eset ite xwelmexwelh stexwlaq temexws ye Stó:lo mestiyexw.
Mission Public School District is located on the Traditional, Ancestral, Unsurrendered, and Shared territories of Stó:lo people, of Leq'á:mel, Semá:th, Máthxwi, Sq'éwlets and Qwó:ltl'el First Nations, stewards of this land since time immemorial.
Halq'eméylem is the language of this land and of Stó:lo ancestors. The place from where Halq’eméylem (Upriver dialect) originates is Leq’á:mel. The language comes from the land, and it has been this way since time immemorial.
Le Conseil scolaire de Mission est situé sur les terres traditionnelles, ancestrales, non cédées et partagées du peuple Stó:lo, des Premières nations, Leq'á:mel, Sema:th, Matheqwí, Sq'éwlets et Qwó:ltl'el, peuples de cette terre depuis des temps immémoriaux.
Mission Public Schools is dedicated to providing our students with an educational environment that nurtures the development of an Educated Citizen. Located in the beautiful Fraser Valley, Mission is a vibrant and diverse community with over 6200 students and 850 employees. We are committed to providing a safe, equitable, and inclusive educational system for all students in our thirteen urban and rural elementary schools, two middle schools, one secondary school, distributed learning centre, alternative learning centre, and vocational and technical college.
SUMMARY
This is work of a support nature, assisting classroom teachers, by supplementing and reinforcing teacher taught lessons and concepts.
Under the direction of the teacher, and with the general supervision of the school administrator, the Education Assistant (EA) works with students on an individual or small group basis and follows an established program to develop the students' skills and abilities. These include behavioral, social, academic or life skills. Positions may vary and may require the EA to provide personal care, lift and transfer or medication administration.
The work may be done in a meeting room and/or it may involve attending a regular classroom where students are integrated. Initially, the type and style of assistance and assignments are outlined in detail by the teacher in conjunction with the International Department, and supervised closely, but as the EA-I/SLS becomes familiar with the program, materials, and student(s), some independence of judgment is exercised, within established guidelines.
Duties include, but are not limited to:
Work with special needs students to develop basic academic and social skills using prepared learning kits or teacher-prepared lesson plans and schedules
Assist children to complete prescribed programs covering concepts such as word recognition, language development, spelling, printing/writing, reading, arithmetic, etc.
Assist students with personal hygiene requirements, thus reinforcing the concepts of personal care
Provide general assistance to students: to organize their work, to keep on task, to locate resource material, and checks for understanding on a variety of subjects
attends classes where students are integrated to provide assistance to the student and/or teacher; may make notes for later review with student
Adjust the pace of a scheduled program, given the student's response and/or behavior, reporting adjustment to teacher
Provide written and verbal feedback to teacher regarding students' progress and behavior
marks worksheets and objective tests, using answer keys; and records drill results
monitors and modifies behavior as part of an established behavioral management program
assists the teacher to gather additional lesson material by searching for subject matter in books and magazines, making flash cards, charts, etc.
may interpret words, concepts and instructions to students to assist their learning
may act as an interpreter for correspondence or meetings between school staff and parents
Maintain clerical aspects of programs, including photocopying, collating and filing, etc.
Provides encouragement to students who may have frustrations or emotional problems, listening to their concerns and reacting in a patient and positive manner
Implement programs in the area of social skills and life skills development
Provide personal care for students which may include changing diapers, assistance with toileting, feeding (may include tube feeding when certified)
Assist students putting on or taking off braces; and getting in and out of wheelchairs and standing frames
Administer, monitor and log of medications required by the student
Supervises assigned students at recess and lunch and oversees and encourages interaction with other students
Assists students in the operation of computer programs
Assists students to follow individualized programs, such as communication program, vision program
May implement gross motor exercises, and hydrotherapy programs under the guidance of a physiotherapist or teacher
sets up F.M., hearing aides and light box
sets up and operates audio-visual equipment
Performs other related duties as may reasonably be expected of a person in this position
Required Qualifications
Completion of a recognized certificate in Special Education Assistant or related courses
Valid B.C. Class 5 driver’s license
There may be a requirement for a specific skill or course such as First Aid, Non-violent Crisis Intervention, Applied Behaviour Analysis or Autism Spectrum Disorder
Required Experience
A minimum of six (6) months experience in a similar role related experience working with children
Required Skills and Abilities
Proven interest in, and ability to work with children who may have learning disabilities, physical disabilities and challenging behaviours
Good observation, articulation and listening discrimination skills and the ability to keep accurate notes
Ability to demonstrate nurturing and sensitivity toward students with widely varied backgrounds and abilities
Flexibility and patience to work effectively with the varied needs of students being served
Ability to assist learning in a variety of subjects
Willing to participate in related in-service training
Excellent communication skills to work with students and to provide feedback to teachers, principals and, within district guidelines, parents
an ability to learn and follow prescribed educational programs and methods to assist students
a willingness to learn methods and become certified for procedures such as tube feeding, seizure management, glucose monitoring, etc.
sufficient physical strength to lift and position students, and knowledge of lifting techniques
Note: A Vulnerable Sector Criminal Record Check will be required from successful applicants, with a review every five (5) years.
APPLICATION PROCESS:
Qualified applicants are invited to submit an application package which should include the following:
Cover Letter
Resume (Include recent professional development activities)
Copies of:
Diploma/degree
Three professional references
The interest of all applicants is appreciated; however, only those short-listed for interviews will be contacted.