Special Education Instructional Assistant

About Caliber Schools Caliber's Mission is to achieve educational equity by shifting the experiences, expectations and outcomes for students in historically underserved communities. Our strengths-based educational program validates, affirms, respects and supports students, families and staff members to reach their full potential. Caliber graduates will be academically college ready ; have emotional intelligence or 'EQ'; be critical thinkers , and have the skills and desire to be changemakers in their communities and the world.
Caliber's four graduate pillars--Heart, Smart, Think, Act--guide our work. Caliber teaches computer science as a core academic subject K-8th grade to directly challenge the inequitable presence of women and underrepresented minorities in the computer science industry. We are a community-based organization and celebrate the diversity of the communities we serve.  Our parents are active partners; frequently engaging through school events, restorative practices, and academic support.
We are looking for educators and leaders who want the opportunity to use their voice to build something new; to be a part of a team that's building something from the ground up. Our first school, Beta Academy in Richmond, CA, opened in 2014 and is now a fully grown K-8 serving 800 students. ChangeMakers Academy in Vallejo, CA opened in fall 2016. ChangeMakers now serves almost 500 students, TK-4th and 6th/7th grades and will be fully grown in 2018. We plan to open additional schools in 2018-2021 as we grow to nearly 4,000 seats K-12 in the Bay Area.
 
Position Description Caliber Schools is a cutting-edge new school venture working to re imagine urban education. We are developing a model of education that prepares all students for the high level skills that higher education institutions and employers demand. We will accomplish this through passionate commitment to developing the academic and social skills of every student.
We are in search of a SpEd Instructional Assistant with broad knowledge of serving students with special needs, compassion and patience for the challenges these students face in the classroom, and creativity to find unique ways to make the curriculum accessible.
What We Look For
Caliber staff:

• Have a passion for helping others - you work to deeply understand the needs of students, families, and staff, and think about how you can help them achieve their goals;

• Have a passion for solving problems - you love diving into the details, understanding the needs of the schools and the larger organization, and coming up with creative solutions that produce results;

• Are flexible, curious, and love change - you are comfortable working in a "lab" style environment where innovation and experimentation are key and change is embraced;

• Leave a significant impact on the teams and organizations they work with, leading initiatives, valuing collaboration, and driving improvements - you get things done with a self-motivated & resourceful attitude.

 
Responsibilities

• Responsible for assisting the classroom teacher in the instruction of an individual student with disabilities including assistance in the laboratories, washrooms, playgrounds, gymnasiums, lunchrooms, libraries, field trips and all other educational settings as determined by the classroom teacher and IEP team
• Provides reinforcement to individual of direct material initially taught by the classroom and special education teachers
• Responsible for guiding any independent study, enrichment work, and remedial work set up by the classroom teacher
• Maintains or modifies a student's curriculum to the needs of the student as required per IEP
• Assists individual student in any testing and with special education computer programs
• Responsible for implementing and following behavior support plans
• Communicates daily with various groups of people outside the classroom including Adaptive PE, social worker, parents, technician team, vision itinerant, occupational therapist, speech therapist and physical therapist to assure smooth transition of student's services
• Maintains a daily student's activity log and student work samples
• Attends parent/teacher conferences and IEP meetings
• Performs other duties as may be necessary and assigned by the classroom teacher and/or administrator

Experience

• Three (3) years of recent experience in a special education setting preferred.
• Demonstrated ability, skill, and experience in working with diverse populations.
• Good relationship building skills and ability to build a strong rapport with students.
• Organized and able to multi-task.

Values: 
Caliber staff...

• are committed to a culture of feedback, development and continuous improvement.
• validate and affirm the identities, strengths and passions of each person.
• know that It is everyone's collective responsibility to work in service of and alongside our school communities.
• approach situations and people with empathy and kindness.

Education

• Required: HS Diploma + 2 years of college OR AA degree (or higher) OR passed CBEST
• Preferred Bachelor's Degree
• Preferred a valid teaching credential or working towards Valid State teaching credential

This is a full time position offering a competitive salary and benefits package.
  More information about Caliber Schools can be found at www.caliberschools.org .
Caliber Schools provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.