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Special Education Assistant (aka Student Support Specialist)

Employer
One City Schools
Location
Madison, Wisconsin
Salary
Starting at $17.00 per hour+, depending on knowledge and experience

View more

Job Category
Administrator, Human Resources
Grade Level
Elementary School
Job Type
Full-Time

Job Details

One City Schools is growing! Be a part of the Team! Join our Dream Team! We are hiring Student Support Specialists (aka Special Education Assistants) for the 2021-22 school year. You must be dedicated to moving children beyond academic achievement and opportunity gaps, supporting children with special education needs, be passionate about helping children see and reach their full potential, and bring energy, inspiration, excitement, and love to the students you teach and support.

We are specifically seeking Student Support Specialists for grades K - 4 that want to work with One City Schools to help us grow one of the most unique and transformational public schools in Wisconsin: One City Expeditionary Elementary School (OCEES). Our teaching positions include competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and an unbelievable opportunity to help redefine public education in Wisconsin and do something exceptional for children. Visit our website to learn more at https://www.onecityschools.org.

DEADLINE TO APPLY 

Positions will remain open until filled

All new One City team members participate in a fun, informative, and engaging New Employee Orientation and significant professional development in our education models, de-escalation training and other relevant training, beginning in the summer of 2020. We teach our Student Support Specialists how to teach, and they contribute daily to support instruction and student learning. They attend the exact same teacher training as our special education and lead classroom teachers, and have a coach to help support and guide their learning and implementation of our education program and Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) with their students.

BACKGROUND ON ONE CITY SCHOOLS

One City Schools is a Wisconsin-based nonprofit organization that provides high quality educational opportunities for young children. Our mission is to seed a new model of public education that ensures young children are on track to succeed in a college or career preparatory program from birth through high school graduation. Our vision is of a Greater Madison community (and country) where all children are prepared to contribute and succeed as adults. More importantly, we aim to partner with families and the broader community to cultivate children who become free, global and deep thinkers, curious learners, effective problem solvers, humanitarians, happy people and young people who care about the world around them.

One City Expeditionary Elementary School (OCEES) is an EL Education Network School, offering the highly regarded Expeditionary Learning curriculum in kindergarten through 4th grade (and eventually through grade 6). It is also a unique, two-generation public school, authorized by the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents, that provides a tuition-free education to children and works directly with families to ensure children are inspired, learning, growing and achieving to their full potential. OCEES is also the only public school in Wisconsin that offers both a longer school day (8:15am to 5:00pm) and longer school year (219 days vs 180 days in traditional public schools), including 60-minutes of co-curricular extended-day learning academies in Sports, Fitness, STEM, Girl Scouts, Boys to Men and Creative and Performing Arts. However, our educators work a standard 8-hour workday.

We are currently located in a 57,000 square foot building on Madison's Nob Hill on the South Side of our capital city. However, this fall, we will move into our permanent home, a $12 million facility located at 1707 W. Broadway in Monona, Wisconsin, a small city locate on the South Side of our capital city just three minutes from our current location. This 13.5 acre campus includes a 157,000 school facility that will eventually serve grades K - 12 , a 714-stall parking deck with underground access, a wooded nature are for science and outdoor learning, and outdoor play space. The campus is situated just 5 blocks from Lake Monona, just north of Lake Waubesa and 10 minutes from downtown Madison.

TEACHER’S PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES

The Student Support Specialist is responsible for assisting teachers and the Director of Special Education in the delivery of educational and behavioral interventions to students with special education needs. They also assists special needs students in general education classrooms with the goal of helping students to reach their educational goals. Due to the varied and individual needs of each student, Student Support Specialists may provide a variety of support and assistance, and should be flexible adjusting to student needs. Specifically, responsibilities include:

  • Deliver educational interventions designed by special education teachers to help students meet educational, academic, life skill, behavioral, physical, social and emotional goals.
  • Assist in preparation of materials needed for classrooms, including duplication, lamination, etc.
  • Assist in and around the school with recess/lunch/bus duty and general assistance in hallways and classrooms.
  • Take notes for students and provide to appropriate staff.
  • Assist teachers with Special Education students to enable learning with minimal disruptions to other students.
  • Administer medications as trained, assigned, and directed.
  • Attend to physical needs of students. May include handling equipment such as prone standards (muscle inactivity so student is changed manually), wheelchairs and braces, (how to refit once removed, now to use properly, and physical lifting).
  • Assist special education students in study labs to complete homework assignments and prepare for tests.
  • Provide small group and tutorial instruction and supervision as directed.
  • Provide preventative and follow-up behavior management to students exhibiting disruptive behaviors and documents these situations.
  • Communicate effectively with staff, students, and/or parents regarding needs and concerns.
  • Use NVCI and de-escalation techniques to assist with behavioral non-compliance and to work with students in crisis to enable their return to the proper academic setting.
  • Learn and implement a variety of behavior plans for students.
  • Use knowledge of student needs to make necessary modifications to daily activities.
  • Attend to health care physical needs of students, which may include feeding, toileting, diapering, responding to medical emergencies, and handling equipment.
  • Participate in professional development as directed. Attend staff meetings and trainings as needed.
  • Attend and participate in parent/teacher conferences as directed.
  • Perform other related duties as assigned.

LEADERSHIP QUALITIES

  • Model appropriate behavior reflective of One City’s Habits of Character: integrity, self-respect, compassion, perseverance and a willingness to encourage and allow students to take risks;
  • Maintain appropriate work habits, including regular and punctual attendance & appropriate use of planning time;
  • Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with other staff members;
  • Strive to communicate the positive aspects of One City to the public in word and deed;
  • Help maintain a clean an orderly educational environment and facility, and at all times and shows grace and support when engaging children, parents and guests who utilize or visit One City; and
  • Excellent judgment, growth mindset and creative problem-solving skills; committed to teamwork and collaboration
  • Self-reflective and open-minded; open and willing to change
  • Energetic, flexible, dependable, collaborative and proactive, and desire to be innovative, receive and provide feedback, and try new strategies with students.

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

  • Strong commitment to the mission, vision, goals and objectives of One City, and to working to with young children from diverse racial/cultural populations and their families; experience working with diverse children preferred
  • High school diploma or equivalency; interest in pursuing a bachelor’s degree and certification in teaching a plus
  • Minimum of two (2) years experience working with young children from racial, ethnic and linguistically diverse backgrounds preferred.
  • Minimum two (2) years of experience working with special needs students preferred.
  • Ability to regularly and routinely lift and push at least 50 pounds.
  • Ability to speak Spanish fluently, a plus but not required.
  • Completion of a background check required.
  • Be at least 18 years of age.
  • Other duties as assigned

WHAT WE OFFER TEACHERS: COMPENSATION AND EVALUATION

One City offers salaries and wages that are competitive within our local market and area public schools, as well as comprehensive benefits to all full-time employees. Benefits include:

  • Minimum $17 per hour, depending on education, experience and demonstrated impact on student achievement and children's success
  • Although we have a longer school year, between scheduled breaks and PTO, staff receive nearly 60 days off
  • Generous time-off program, including 18 Days of PTO and holidays, spring break and winter break (same dates as the Madison Metropolitan School District)
  • Comprehensive health benefits (medical, dental and vision)
  • Comprehensive professional development in student-driven, project-based learning models
  • Opportunity to continue your education towards receiving a teaching degree, with financial support from One City Schools
  • 401K with employer match of 5.9%
  • Voluntary Benefits (Supplemental Life, Accident, Short Term Disability, etc.)
  • Your age-eligible child automatically admitted to One City Expeditionary School
  • Family Perks Discount Program (https://ocs.abenity.com)
  • Life Insurance and Long-term Disability
  • Investment in Professional Growth and Development
  • Employee Assistant Plan

Compensation will be consistent with One City’s approved compensation plan as stipulated by the Board of Directors.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

One City is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all team members and applicants, and to maintaining a work environment in which everyone is treated with respect and dignity.

COVID-19 CONSIDERATIONS:

Presently, 70% of our students are learning in-person and 30% are virtual. We have also implemented a rapid COVID-19 testing program in partnership with a testing lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and have strong health/safety protocols in place.

Company

One City Schools is a Wisconsin-based nonprofit organization that provides high quality educational opportunities for young children. Our mission is to seed a new model of public education that ensures children and teens are on track to succeed in a college or career preparatory program from birth through high school graduation. Our vision is of a Greater Madison community where there are no persistent achievement and opportunity gaps, and where all children are prepared to contribute and succeed as adults. To this end, One City’s goal is to ensure young children are prepared to read, compute and succeed at grade level by the time they reach first grade. More importantly, we aim to partner with families and the broader community to cultivate children who become free, global and deep thinkers, curious learners, effective problem solvers, humanitarians, happy people and young people who care about the world around them.

OUR SCHOOLS

Currently, One City operates two schools and will open its secondary school in September 2022.

One City Preschool is a noteworthy, accredited, 5-star early childhood learning center that serves children ages 2 – 4. It utilizes the highly regarded Anji Play curriculum of Anji, China, and was the first school in the world outside Mainland China to implement the program, thus winning it international attention. It has also been recognized as the “Best of Madison in Child Care”.

One City Elementary School (OCES) is a unique, two-generation public school, authorized by the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents, that provides a tuition-free education to children in grades 4K through Grade 4 in South Madison, and will add 5th grade in September 2022. OCES works directly with families to ensure children are learning, inspired and making solid progress. It is an EL Education Affiliate School, offering the highly effective Expeditionary Learning curriculum. It is also the only public school in Wisconsin that has both a longer school day and longer school year.

One City Preparatory Academy (OCPA) will enroll children in grades 6 through 12 and serve as Wisconsin’s only full-serve Early College and Career Preparatory school, where all students will begin taking college courses in high school, and as early as 9th grade. Also authorized as a public charter school by the UW System Board of Regents, it will open in fall 2022.

At maturity, One City will serve as many as 970 students at capacity, with the potential to add other school locations in the future.

One City Schools achieves its mission by: 

  • Attracting dedicated families committed to the mission of the school
  • Sustaining a diverse, inclusive, and multicultural community that affirms and values each individual
  • Focusing on wellness, including providing healthy prepared breakfast, lunch, and snack on a daily basis
  • Providing a longer school day and longer school year, ensuring our scholars and their families are continually supported
  • Ensuring transparency and accountability, including a 20-year longitudinal study in partnership with University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • Providing financial, physical, and educational support for scholars from age 2 through HS graduation
  • Focusing on professional development and support
  • Cultivating resilience, agency, compassion, and community-mindedness
  • Embracing the whole child, from athletics to social-emotional development to content knowledge
  • Embedding a community-minded approach t o education, including a focus on collaboration amongst teachers, parents, and scholars

OUR FACILITIES

In August 2021, we moved into our permanent home, a $12 million facility located at 1707 W. Broadway in Monona, Wisconsin, a small city located on the south side of Madison, our capital city. This 13.5 acre campus includes a 157,000 school facility that will serve as our administrative headquarters, and home to our elementary and secondary schools. We are also building a 180,000 square foot athletic center that will have Southern Wisconsin’s only FIFA regulated indoor competition soccer field, two adult-sized basketball courts, weight training and cardio rooms, locker rooms and underground parking. Our campus also includes a wooded nature area for science and outdoor learning, and outdoor play. Our campus is situated just 5 blocks from Lake Monona, near Lake Waubesa, and 10 minutes from downtown Madison.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES 
One City Scholars will graduate from our school but always be a part of our community. They will emerge from our program as thinkers, learners, and problem-solvers, ready to tackle life’s challenges and provide effective leadership in our state and globally.

Our graduates will be prepared to lead in the local and global community and serve as role models, mentors and problem solvers. They will understand the importance of reflection, perseverance, compassion and risk-taking. One City scholars, to put it simply, will make the world a better place.

STATEMENT ON DIVERSITY 
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are more than just words for One City Schools. We strive to create a team that reflects the scholars and families we serve, and empowers all to bring their full, authentic selves to school each day. Currently, 60% of our staff and 87% of our scholars identify as Black, Brown, Asian, Hispanic, Latino, and/or multi-racial. One City Schools is designed to prepare ALL students for success in school, career, and life, particularly the Black, Brown, Hispanic, Latino, and low-income scholars in the Madison community and beyond, who have been historically underserved in traditional school environments.

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE 
In September of 2022, One City Preparatory Academy will welcome as many as 72 scholars in Grade 6 and 96 in each of Grades 9 and 10, while One City Elementary School will expand through Grade 5 with 48 scholars/grade. In the following two years (School Years 2023-24 and 2024-25), expansion will continue until One City Schools serves children from as young a s age 2 (One City Preschool) through high school graduation. The first graduating class will be in June of 2025.

Our new facility at 1707 W Broadway is currently under renovation while we simultaneously use it for instruction for Grades K-4. Renovations will be complete by September of 2022, at which time construction on the Athletics Center will begin. Programs will expand as OCPA grows and will always center on our mission and vision.

Company info
Website
Telephone
608-268-8004
Location
1707 W. Broadway
Madison
WI
53713
United States

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