Primary Function of the Position
The Special Education Educational Assistant provides direct instructional, behavioral, and social-emotional support to scholars with disabilities. Working primarily under the direction of the Special Education Teacher and Director of Special Education, the Educational Assistant helps scholars access instruction, make progress toward individualized goals, and participate successfully in the school environment.
The Special Education Educational Assistant supports scholars in both general education classrooms and specialized settings and works collaboratively with teachers, special education staff, administrators, and families.
The successful candidate will demonstrate flexibility, reliability, emotional support, professionalism, and a commitment to serving scholars in a collaborative, fast-paced school environment.
Position Responsibilities
Instructional and Academic Support
- Work directly with individual scholars and small groups to reinforce and review academic concepts and skills, as directed by classroom and special education teachers.
- Implement instructional activities and support lesson plans developed by licensed teachers.
- Support scholars receiving special education services in general education classrooms and specialized settings.
- Assist scholars in working toward goals and objectives identified in their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).
- Assist with classroom and standardized testing, including proctoring, as assigned.
- Monitor scholar work and assist with distributing, collecting, and organizing instructional materials.
- Gather and track academic progress data as requested by special education staff.
- Prepare and set up instructional materials and learning activities as needed.
Behavioral and Social-Emotional Support
- Provide consistent, positive behavioral support to scholars throughout the school day.
- Observe and document behavioral data as requested by the special education team.
- Support data collection related to Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs) and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs).
- Assist teachers and staff in implementing behavior supports and de-escalation strategies.
- Reinforce schoolwide expectations and model appropriate behavior.
- Support scholars during transitions, common-area activities, and other parts of the school day.
- Reinforce NMA’s RHINO Way and help maintain a safe, respectful, and supportive school environment.
Operational and Scholar Support
- Assist with arrival and dismissal, including bus loading and unloading.
- Monitor scholars during transition periods and other assigned supervision times.
- Support academic and operational staff during field trips, assemblies, special events, and other school activities.
- Assist with classroom preparation, materials, and other operational needs related to scholar support.
- Maintain active supervision and prioritize scholar safety at all times.
Culture and Collaboration
- Actively participate in NMA’s Culture of Learning.
- Collaborate effectively with general education teachers, special education teachers, administrators, related service providers, Educational Assistants, and families.
- Maintain confidentiality and professionalism when handling scholar information and school matters.
- Build positive relationships with scholars and support their engagement in learning.
- Demonstrate cultural responsiveness and a commitment to serving NMA’s diverse community.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- High school diploma or GED required.
- Associate degree or successful completion of the ParaPro Assessment strongly preferred.
- Experience working with children in an educational, tutoring, or youth development setting preferred.
- Experience supporting scholars with disabilities or diverse learning needs preferred.
- Basic proficiency with technology used for communication and data entry, including Microsoft Word and/or Google Docs.
- Strong communication, collaboration, and relationship-building skills.
- Ability to transition between classrooms, grade levels, and assignments with flexibility.
- Demonstrated reliability, integrity, accountability, and consistent adherence to scheduled work hours.
- Ability to remain calm and supportive when responding to challenging scholar behaviors.
- Strong cultural responsiveness and commitment to NMA’s educational model and diverse community.
- Hmong language proficiency preferred.
Employment Eligibility
Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. New Millennium Academy does not provide employment-based visa sponsorship. Candidates participating in an eligible J-1 program through an approved third-party sponsor may be considered based on program eligibility and position requirements.
