Educational Assistant

Bedford Public Schools Invites applications for the position of: Educational Support Professional – 3 ( Pre‑School ) Description A Preschool ESP is responsible for providing direct support to students who are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder or related disorders in a sub‑separate classroom, implementing individualized academic and behavior programs. The ESP will provide instruction using the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis including discrete trial task analysis and naturalistic teaching. The ESP will be trained to utilize de‑escalation strategies and to take data on academic and behavioral support plans. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and a certified Special Education Teacher supervises the ongoing training and support of all ESPs. Five days of additional specialized training before the start of school is provided to ESPs serving SAIL 1 students. Responsibilities Support classroom routines and procedures; reinforce the principles of social interaction programs by modeling positive behavior, e.g., Responsive Classroom, RULER, PBIS and assist with providing behavioral support to students in accordance with school expectations. Provide supervision and/or student support services in all environments of the school for activities including but not limited to recess, lunch, arrival, dismissal and field trips, as scheduled, and escorting students to designated areas throughout the building (activities, fire and crisis drills) with guidance from teaching/counseling/administrative staff. Provide small group or individual instructional support with guidance from teaching/counseling staff aligned with student goals, benchmarks, individualized education plans, and/or related behavior plans. Consult with teachers in preparation for daily classes to become familiar with the learning targets, success criteria, and other classroom expectations. Support academic programs (reteaching, reinforcing, reviewing, assessing, scribing, note‑taking, data collection); and behavioral programs (data collection, cueing, providing motor breaks, implement behavior plans). Provide regular feedback to the teaching/counseling staff on the progress and challenges experienced by assigned students in addressing their goals. Work in conjunction with the classroom teacher to support learning experiences in the classroom, focusing first on identified priority students and then for the broader group of students. The goal is to be actively engaged in the learning environment, providing support for learners. Support implementation of behavior intervention plans and social skill facilitation across various school settings. Support crisis intervention as needed in a culturally responsive manner, including verbal de‑escalation/processing of events with students and staff and the application of physical intervention methods to reduce risk of injury to students or staff as assigned/trained. Adapt to varying needs of students. Perform other job‑related tasks or duties at the discretion of administrators. Monitor and maintain accurate data and records for progress monitoring of student plans such as IEP goals and individual support plans and share the information with teaching/counseling staff. Must possess the ability to Integrate into the classroom setting when appropriate, working under the direction of administrative/teaching/counseling staff to support student engagement and learning. Collect, record, and analyze data across multiple data points. Record data collected into spreadsheets and provide graphs to visually display student progress with multiple data points using Google tools. Adapt and acquire new skills and knowledge and use them consistently to support student engagement with learning activities, behavior interventions, social interactions, and the school day. Maintain flexibility in day‑to‑day priorities set to reflect changing student needs. Work in multiple classrooms or environments during the school day. Maintain the high level of confidentiality and professionalism expected of the teaching staff. Anticipate and effectively address unforeseen events associated with working with large groups of children. Maintain positive relations with students, parents, staff and the public. Specialty Area Passion for working with children/students. Knowledge of child growth and development. Knowledge of basic learning strategies. Knowledge of social emotional learning (SEL). Knowledge of proper de‑escalation strategies and restraint protocols. Ability to work with diverse learning styles. Ability to collaborate and participate as a member of a teaching team. Physical and Environmental Demands The physical and environmental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Able to move with students from one school environment to another. Physical agility and strength, with proper safety protocols. Additional Information Associates Degree or ABA experience Experience working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and/or social/emotional/behavioral disabilities preferred. Strong organization and communication skills; knowledge in Excel and Google Sheets for data entry and graphing. Demonstrated aptitude for work to be performed. Salary/Benefits In accordance with the Bedford Education Support Professional Contract. $33.92/hour to $38.20/hour; Annualized for 184 work days at 6.75 hours/day, $42,124 to $47,439. Benefits are outlined at Benefits | Bedford Public Schools (bedfordps.org). Commitment The Bedford Public Schools is committed to hiring, mentoring, and retaining a diverse, effective, and healthy workforce to support our students and families. We are relentless in our efforts to bolster positive experiences by fostering a culture of belonging and ensuring our employees, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, have equitable access to the resources and opportunities needed to thrive personally, professionally, and academically. This includes a commitment to professional development and growth and a tuition reimbursement program for all educators. School Committee Approved August 8, 2024 #J-18808-Ljbffr