Mobility Paraprofessional/1:1 Aide
Description
Organization Overview
Excel Academy was founded in 2003 with the mission to provide a high-quality, free, and public education to students in East Boston and Chelsea Massachusetts, communities that are predominantly low-income and Latinx and historically have faced significant social and educational barriers. Our success in Massachusetts is proof that the opportunity gap can be closed and we opened a new school in Rhode Island in 2022. At Excel Academy Charter Schools, we believe that when a student has the support and tools to pursue a productive post-secondary pathway aligned to their personal identity and values, it can fundamentally change their life trajectory.
At Excel Academy we learn from our students, families, and staff and make improvements. We have increasingly adapted to provide a holistic education that values our community as collaborators in the learning process, social-emotional support, equity for diverse learners, and fosters identity development. We prioritize an approach that is both rigorous and inclusive. Our team of passionate, intelligent, driven, and loving staff are at the core of the work we do.
About the Role
The Mobility Paraprofessional is responsible for ensuring that students are provided adequate support and are positioned to find success in the school setting.
Your Impact
Instructional Responsibilities
- Work with students in small groups or 1:1 as directed and supervised by classroom teacher;
- Implement classroom instructional procedures and protocols;
- Confer and collaborate with teachers to ensure accommodations are met in inclusive settings; and
Mobility Responsibilities
- Assist students in activities of daily living;
- Assist in general orientation and mobility and exercises under the direction of appropriate staff (Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Orientation & Mobility Instructor), including full lifts and transfers into and out of wheelchairs;
- Participate with children positively on field trips and non-instructional activities, observing and guarding against accidents;
- Observe and assist in collecting data and completing reports regarding child’s behavior and development;
- Constantly monitor and support child’s well-being and safety;
- Offer assistance to others in the safe and orderly treatment of the child when the child is struggling;
- Follow appropriate school protocols when a child is exhibiting unsafe behaviors; and
- Follow plans efficiently and effectively for any safety concern or drill for safety readiness.
Behavior Management Responsibilities
- Provide input for behavioral intervention plans and implement plans to ensure student learning and classroom behavior goals are met;
- Provide for physical, emotional and socialization needs of children with teacher, therapist and educational team input.
- Serve as the point person for behavior management protocols in the classroom (i.e. redirects, consequences, resets, etc.); and
- Implement classroom behavioral procedures and protocols.
Administrative Responsibilities
- Serve as an IEP participant for students in program, including: Provide input at team meetings; Implement relevant aspects of students’ IEPs;
- Assist in collecting progress monitoring data in accordance with IEP goals and objectives; and
- Communicate regularly with stakeholders including subject area teachers, sub-separate classroom team members, and administrators to ensure all parties remain aware of student progress.
Team Member Responsibilities
- Enforce school-wide systems and procedures to ensure that students can thrive in school;
- Serve as a productive member of the Excel Community;
- Participate in generating and upholding Excel Staff norms;
- Provide coverage when needed;
- Meaningfully participate in Friday meetings, school PD and Family Conferences; and
- Meet regularly with your manager.
Qualifications
- A high school diploma or equivalent, AND
- An associate's (or higher) degree; OR
- Completion of 48 credit hours at an Institution of Higher Education; OR
- Completion of one of the formal Massachusetts-endorsed Assessments: Parapro or WorkKeys.
Preference will be given to applicants who share points of intersection with our students, such as speaking Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, or a language commonly spoken by our students and families at an advanced level, being first generation college graduates, or having grown up low-income.
Mission Alignment
- You share a commitment to and belief in all students and the mission of Excel Academy Charter Schools, including Excel’s values and educational model;
- You are committed to addressing racial and economic inequity in education;
- You work effectively in a team environment and have a willingness and desire to support others in doing their best work; and
- You are open to change, are willing to problem-solve, and seek feedback for your own professional growth and improvement.
Excel Academy Charter Schools do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, ancestry, athletic performance, special need, proficiency in the English language or a foreign language or prior academic achievement.
Applications will be reviewed as they are received and candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.