Instructional Assistant

Overview

This position is a 10 month position, 36 hours per week, school hours

Join a Team That Changes Lives

For more than 170 years, Elwyn has been leading the way in supporting children, teens, and adults with autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and behavioral health challenges. As a mission-driven nonprofit, we're here to create real change - helping people lead meaningful, fulfilling lives.

Now, we're looking for passionate team members to join us. Here, your work will change lives - including your own. You'll make an impact every day, find purpose in what you do, and grow in a career that truly matters.

At Elwyn, we take care of you while you care for others. We offer:

• Generous Paid Time Off
• Comprehensive Medical/Dental/Vision Benefit Packages
• Earned Wage Access/On-Demand Pay
• Paid On-the-Job Training
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Career Advancement Opportunities and Growth
• Flexible Schedules
• Retirement Savings Plan

Join us and be a part of something bigger. Apply today.

Job Description

Elwyn seeks an Instructional Assistant, One-to-One (1:1), to provide individual support and guidance to the assigned student. The 1:1 collaborates with and is a contributing member of the student's education team to carry out the assigned student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) and, if applicable, Behavior Support Plan (BSP). The 1:1 works with the students for all transition times throughout the school day.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assist teachers and/or clinicians in the implementation of student's IEP and BSP goals by reviewing goals with the teacher/clinician and collecting data related to goal completion to ensure that student's IEPs are accurate and reflective of student's current abilities
• Observes and addresses behavioral and educational objectives of assigned student in the classroom by prompting/redirecting student to task and following teacher's direction in providing individualized Specially Designed Instruction (SDI), e.g., assisting with providing behavior redirection, completing academic tasks, life skills development/monitoring hygiene, use of social skills and communication
• Works directly with students in the school environment by assisting with academics, behavior management, communication, and activities of daily living to effectively help students make progress in all identified areas
• Escorts students to/from activities and supervises students in educational areas, lunch, bus/activities, playgrounds, bathrooms, enrichment, transitional, clinical areas, and other assigned areas by walking with individuals or groups of students, maintaining line of sight supervision of students and student groups, and by ensuring that students are received by staff before discontinuing supervision to promote and maintain the safest and most secure environment for student
• Participates and assists with supervision in all program projects and activities by attending enrichment and therapeutic classes, school assemblies, and field trips to maintain effective supervision of students and foster a safe, supervised environment
• As a team member, works towards and maintains effective communication and productive working relationships with Elwyn staff by always conducting oneself in a professional and polite manner to ensure a positive, supportive, and collaborative working environment
• Participates and assists with supervision in all program projects and activities by attending enrichment and therapeutic classes, school assemblies, and field trips to maintain effective supervision of students and foster a safe, supervised environment
• Assists in maintaining a clean and safe educational environment for students by following established health and safety guidelines, regularly assisting in classroom cleanup, reporting safety issues, and reporting common areas in need of attention to promote and maintain a healthy working environment
• Assists in evacuating students during fire drills, emergencies, and any potential unusual circumstances by escorting and remaining with students during the event, following the direction of building leaders, and by maintaining supervision of assigned students to ensure the best possible level of drill and emergency response
• Assists the classroom teacher in maintaining a uniform approach to classroom organization by maintaining posted schedules, procedures, and plans in order to maintain a fluid, structured, and recognizable environment
• Performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and safe crisis management using agency-trained protocols by engaging in approved practices for CPR and crisis management to ensure the safest possible response to crisis situations
• Maintains a safe campus environment by following all requested policies and procedures including, but not limited to, signing in and out in available program systems, informing campus security of any activities wherein students are outside of the school building perimeter, and securing all entry/exit doors as appropriate after use to provide the safest possible environment for students and staff
• Participates in workshops, in-service, and other professional development activities to increase knowledge and stay up-to-date on best practices to assist students, model appropriate behaviors, and ensure an optimal learning environment
• Complies with Elwyn and Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) expectations regarding paraprofessional job duties and professional development
• Ensures the health and safety of students by following established practices and procedures
• Participates in all program projects and activities, including but not limited to arrival/dismissal, enrichment centers, related therapy sessions, work tasks, hallway transitions, lunch, recess/gym, special events (concerts/dances), swimming, etc.by maintaining close proximity to assigned student and assisting with lesson/activity completion to ensure that the assigned student is receiving a tangible benefit to their education
• Performs other duties as assigned

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILLS REQUIREMENTS:

• High school diploma or graduate equivalency diploma (GED)

• Two (2) years' experience working with school-age students who have intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and/or behavioral challenges

• Experience with classroom assistive technology desired

• Must possess excellent customer interaction, collaboration, and written and verbal communication skills

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a team

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage and prioritize multiple, often competing, priorities

• Demonstrated strong attention to detail

• Demonstrated strong time management and organizational skills

• Demonstrated excellent judgment with the ability to solve problems and make decisions under direct supervision and consistent with student's plans

• Demonstrated ability to anticipate future needed changes or identify problem areas and take effective actions

• Must be able to perform CPR and crisis management using agency-trained protocols

• Demonstrated basic experience with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and Outlook

• Experience using/knowledge of electronic records preferred

Equal Opportunity Employer

Elwyn is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Elwyn does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, pregnancy status, medical condition, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, sexual orientation or identity, age, national origin, citizenship, handicap status, marital or family status, mental or physical disability, perceived disability, military or veteran status, political activities or affiliations, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law, ordinance, or regulation.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at ADArequest@elwyn.org and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

Know Your Rights: Workplace discrimination is illegal