THE WAYLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS SEEK  

A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER ASSISTANT

WPS is a high-achieving west-suburban district of 2,800 students, with one preschool, three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. Our diverse student body hails from Wayland and Boston and is composed of 32% students of color and 68% white students, with 15% of our students having a first language other than English.  We seek educators who embrace the diversity of our students and can lead our staff and students in attaining our district’s mission: 

“Personal and civic responsibility, love of learning, and empathy for others; these are the qualities that the Wayland Public Schools seek to instill in its students. At its core, our mission is to provide a rigorous and stimulating academic environment that promotes the acquisition of knowledge and skills. Yet we deem it equally important to nurture self-confident, collaborative, and conscientious individuals. We strive to create a climate where risk-taking is safeguarded, open expression is encouraged, and free association is protected. Our goal is to advance our students' growth into principled, informed, and capable citizens who will help guide a democracy that follows humanitarian principles in the global forum, and shape a just society where individuals may reach their full potential.”

We welcome educators to our district who seek and thrive in a diverse environment that focuses on relationships, belonging, and excellence. Join us in our mission to support the diversity of our school community; implement equitable practices for all of our students, staff, and families; create meaningful connections that foster a sense of belonging; and provide an outstanding educational experience for students, staff, and families.

Citizenship, residency, or work visa required

Successful completion of Criminal Records Check (C.O.R.I.), Sexual Offender Record Check (S.O.R.I.), and fingerprint

Education:

• Two (2) years of college
• Bachelors preferred, but not required  

Specialized Knowledge:

• Training and/or experience in special education and/or reading instruction preferred but not required
• Commitment to the principles and practices of diversity, equity, belonging, and anti-racism

Experience (preferred, but not required): 

• Teaching experience is a bonus
• Experience with diverse populations of children preferred 

Specialized Skills:

• Bilingual skills, especially Spanish, are highly desirable but not required
• Must have effective interpersonal and communication skills, with sensitivity to social-emotional needs
• Willingness and ability to work cooperatively/collaboratively as member of an educational/teaching team
• Must be able to multitask in a fast-paced, supportive environment.
• Must be organized and able to meet ongoing, time-sensitive deadlines for work production.

Alternative degrees/experience may be substituted for the above

 at the discretion of the Superintendent, 

if such a substitution brings a strong candidate forward.

The information contained in this job description are illustrations of the various types of work performed and are not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them for the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position.

Job Goal: Under the direction of a Special Educator and/or Related-Service Provider, the Teacher Assistant provides support to students with special needs as well as to teachers. 

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide positive behavior supports and academic interventions for students
• Work with lead teacher to provide academic, social, emotional, and behavioral support and intervention
• Work collaboratively with team of general education and special education teachers and therapists
• Collect data 
• Assist in participation in appropriate classroom activities;
• Provide academic assistance to student(s) with special needs;
• Supervise program as directed by immediate supervisor;
• Assist teacher(s) with other teaching responsibilities not working directly with special needs students;
• Facilitate the accessibility of academic materials
• Some training may be required to meet the physical needs of the student(s).
• Works with district and school leadership to combat systemic barriers that limit student, family, and staff members’ equitable access to opportunity

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in special education or related field preferred
• Experience in public school setting
• Experience working with children with disabilities
• Able to take initiative and work independently 
• Knowledge of child and adolescent development

Any other relative duties as assigned.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the job satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to: 

• read material from a computer monitor as well as handwritten or printed matter with or without visual aids; 
• hear voices and machine/building/environmental noises with or without hearing aides;
• communicate with others so that information received and given is understood and accurately communicated;
• communicate and collaborate effectively with students, parents, and other staff members in person, via video conference, on the telephone, and/or in writing;
• remain in a stationary position for periods of time; 
• position oneself to maintain and access school/classroom/office materials;
• move through the classroom, school, school grounds, office, and/or off-site locations. 
• operate a computer and other school/office/educational productivity machinery; 
• observe details at close range;
• in the school setting, ensure the safety of students;
• multitask and meet multiple demands from several people;
• lifting up to and including 25 lbs
• the noise level in the work environment is moderate to loud.
• may need to teach and support students with life skills development such as eating, cleaning, and toileting

The Superintendent reserves the right to re-advertise any and all positions.
All “anticipated” positions are subject to cancellation or change.

*******************

The Wayland Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer which actively seeks to increase the diversity of its work force and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, physical and intellectual differences, immigration status, homeless status, or any other class protected by law. in admission to, access to, employment in, or treatment in its programs and activities. The Wayland Public Schools System is committed to maintaining a harassment-free school environment.

Please contact Ronnie Kessler, the district's Title IX Coordinator, with any questions. She can be reached at Ronnie_Kessler@waylandps.org.