Paraeducator

We are seeking Paraeducators for our REACH Program!

• Do you thrive in a role where compassion, patience, and purpose come together?
• Are you ready to build meaningful connections with students who will inspire you daily?
• Are you looking for a job with joy, growth, and connection?
• Do you believe every student has the potential to learn, grow, and thrive—with the right support?

Assabet Valley Collaborative (AVC) is an educational service agency in Metrowest/Central Massachusetts. Our services include school programs, wraparound services, transportation services, professional development, cooperative purchasing and consulting. AVC’s REACH is a program designed to meet the diverse physical, medical, and learning needs of students ages 3-18. Check out our Facebook page!

We use a shared leadership model to engage stakeholders across the organization in learning, leading, designing, and decision making. To thrive within AVC’s innovative shared leadership model, team members must be self-reflective, embrace the value of partnering with others through complex challenges, and recognize the mutual responsibility of giving and receiving feedback.

AVC’s Commitments to Educational Equity are the vision for our future. To achieve our vision, we are committed to a continuous study of the principles of human-centered design, social innovation, cultural proficiency, and culturally responsive practices.

Paraeducator Role Overview:

Job Responsibilities:

The Paraprofessional at AVC supports the overall programming and services in order to maximize the safety and learning goals within the classroom. Paraeducators will engage in 1:1, small group, and or whole group engagement opportunities. Paraeducators are needed to perform the following roles and additional other duties and responsibilities as needed.

Relationships and Community:

• Ability to establish and maintain positive and nurturing rapport with students.
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to the evolving needs of students and school environment.
• Awareness of student accommodation needs.
• Respect and appreciation for multiple differences including learning, communication, behavioral, cultural, and familial differences.
• Participating in routine community building activities.
• Supporting and collaborating with colleagues.

Teaching and Learning:

• Ability to assist and reinforce the elements that support an effective teaching and learning environment.
• Knowledge of the similarities and differences between the cognitive, communicative, physical, social and emotional needs of students and the factors that influence these different needs.
• An understanding of the purpose and goals of education and instruction for students.
• Assisting with instruction and activities for groups and individuals as assigned.
• Assisting with the day to day operation of the school environment by monitoring/supervising and assisting students throughout program space.
• Collecting and submitting data regarding goals/outcomes as related to students IEPs, Transition Plans, and other plans as assigned.
• Assisting with instructional service delivery as indicated.
• Accompanying students to field trips.

Safety and Wellness:

• Ability to assist and reinforce the elements that support a safe, healthy learning environment.
• Ability to redirect behaviors and offer positive reinforcements as needed.
• Ability to collect and record performance data on students under the direction of licensed professionals.
• Meeting the physical requirements necessary to physically intervene in a crisis or emergency.
• Assisting ambulatory children to young adults.
• Assisting/lifting children to young adult students for hygiene changes, into various pieces of positioning equipment, and in and out of transportation vehicles.
• Bending, twisting, pushing, pulling, climbing, squatting, crawling and kneeling as needed.

Qualifications:

We’re looking for a Paraeducator who serves as a leader and as a learner; a team member who is flexible, resourceful, and thrives in a fast-paced, non-traditional, collaborative environment and who understands educational and human service institutions. This person demonstrates a learning mindset and ability to receive feedback, self-reflect, and pivot as the needs of students are ever changing. Non-traditional candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply and expand their compatibility.

Ideal candidates have :

• Experience working in schools, nonprofits, human service organizations.
• Flexibility , versatility, and follow through.
• Teamwork skills - including navigating conflict.
• Ability to seek and provide clear and direct feedback.
• Bilingual or multilingual is a plus.
• Ability to thrive within a team while also being able to work independently.
• Valid driver's license, safe driving record and ability to transport students in AVC vehicles (vans) (preferred).
• Physical ability to execute job responsibilities that include transferring, lifting, or shifting students or equipment, and managing equipment.

Competitive Benefits include:

• Compensation competitive within public school employees sector.
• Hourly pay range: $22/hour to $37/hour.
• Paid leave: 10 sick days and 3 personal days per year.
• $1200 Tuition Reimbursement.
• $1500 Stipend (only for paras) that can be used flexibly (tuition, cash, insurance, etc).
• School-year position; additional compensation available for summer school service.
• 75% health insurance premiums covered by AVC (High Deductible Health Plan - HDHP).
• With HDHP - AVC offers Health Savings Account (HSA) and contributes 50% of deductible to HSA.
• Participation in MA state pension systems.
• Voluntary benefits: Life, Short-term, Long-term Insurance; Dental.

For more information and to apply

Shared Leadership Statement: At AVC we believe that everyone in our community is a leader and learner who each possess inherent brilliance. We also believe that every community member has the ability and a responsibility to support the learning and growth of ourselves and others.