Education Assistant - Casual

The Mission Public School District is located on the traditional, ancestral, unsurrendered, and shared territories of Stó:lo people, of Leq'á:mel, Semá:th, Máthxwi, Sq'éwlets and Qwó:ltl'el First Nations, stewards of this land since time immemorial.

Halq'eméylem is the language of this land and of Stó:lo ancestors. The place from where Halqeméylem (Upriver dialect) originates is Leqá:mel. The language comes from the land, and it has been this way since time immemorial.

Career Opportunity

Casual Education Assistants

$31.93/hour

(Casual employees are not guaranteed hours as it’s an on-call / as-needed basis)

Why the Mission Public School?

We are a medium-sized district with rural and urban schools. We are large enough to provide a variety of programs and services, and small enough to build meaningful relationships with our students, parents, colleagues, and other stakeholders.

About Mission

Mission is nestled on a southern coastal mountain slope, overlooking the lush valley of the mighty Fraser River. Ideally situated, Mission is located an hour east of Vancouver and 20 minutes from Abbotsford. Mission was originally inhabited by the Sto:lo First Nations people, and today this rapidly growing and dynamic centre is home to a population of some 38,000 residents. Come see why Mission is "the Jewel in the Valley".

SUMMARY

This is work of a support nature, assisting classroom teachers, by supplementing and reinforcing teacher taught lessons and concepts.

Under the direction of the teacher, and with the general supervision of the school administrator, the Education Assistant (EA) works with students on an individual or small group basis and follows an established program to develop the students' skills and abilities. These include behavioral, social, academic or life skills. Positions may vary and may require the EA to provide personal care, lift and transfer or medication administration.

The work may be done in a meeting room and/or it may involve attending a regular classroom where students are integrated. Initially, the type and style of assistance and assignments are outlined in detail by the teacher in conjunction with the International Department, and supervised closely, but as the EA-I/SLS becomes familiar with the program, materials, and student(s), some independence of judgment is exercised, within established guidelines.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Work with special needs students to develop basic academic and social skills using prepared learning kits or teacher-prepared lesson plans and schedules
• Assist children to complete prescribed programs covering concepts such as word recognition, language development, spelling, printing/writing, reading, arithmetic, etc.
• Assist students with personal hygiene requirements, thus reinforcing the concepts of personal care
• Provide general assistance to students: to organize their work, to keep on task, to locate resource material, and checks for understanding on a variety of subjects
• attends classes where students are integrated to provide assistance to the student and/or teacher; may make notes for later review with student
• Adjust the pace of a scheduled program, given the student's response and/or behavior, reporting adjustment to teacher
• Provide written and verbal feedback to teacher regarding students' progress and behavior
• marks worksheets and objective tests, using answer keys; and records drill results
• monitors and modifies behavior as part of an established behavioral management program
• assists the teacher to gather additional lesson material by searching for subject matter in books and magazines, making flash cards, charts, etc.
• may interpret words, concepts and instructions to students to assist their learning
• may act as an interpreter for correspondence or meetings between school staff and parents
• Maintain clerical aspects of programs, including photocopying, collating and filing, etc.
• Provides encouragement to students who may have frustrations or emotional problems, listening to their concerns and reacting in a patient and positive manner
• Implement programs in the area of social skills and life skills development
• Provide personal care for students which may include changing diapers, assistance with toileting, feeding (may include tube feeding when certified)
• Assist students putting on or taking off braces; and getting in and out of wheelchairs and standing frames
• Administer, monitor and log of medications required by the student
• Supervises assigned students at recess and lunch and oversees and encourages interaction with other students
• Assists students in the operation of computer programs
• Assists students to follow individualized programs, such as communication program, vision program
• May implement gross motor exercises, and hydrotherapy programs under the guidance of a physiotherapist or teacher
• sets up F.M., hearing aides and light box
• sets up and operates audio-visual equipment
• Performs other related duties as may reasonably be expected of a person in this position

Required Qualifications

• Completion of a recognized certificate in Special Education Assistant or equivalent post-secondary education of one (1) year
• Valid B.C. Class 5 driver’s license
• There may be a requirement for a specific skill or course such as First Aid, Non-violent Crisis Intervention, Applied Behaviour Analysis or Autism Spectrum Disorder

Required Experience

• A minimum of six (6) months experience in a similar role related experience working with children

Required Skills and Abilities

• Proven interest in, and ability to work with children who may have learning disabilities, physical disabilities and challenging behaviours
• Good observation, articulation and listening discrimination skills and the ability to keep accurate notes
• Ability to demonstrate nurturing and sensitivity toward students with widely varied backgrounds and abilities
• Flexibility and patience to work effectively with the varied needs of students being served
• Ability to assist learning in a variety of subjects
• Willing to participate in related in-service training
• Excellent communication skills to work with students and to provide feedback to teachers, principals and, within district guidelines, parents
• an ability to learn and follow prescribed educational programs and methods to assist students
• a willingness to learn methods and become certified for procedures such as tube feeding, seizure management, glucose monitoring, etc.
• sufficient physical strength to lift and position students, and knowledge of lifting techniques

Note: A Vulnerable Sector Criminal Record Check will be required from successful applicants, with a review every five (5) years.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Qualified applicants are invited to submit an application package which should include the following:

• Cover Letter
• Resume (Include recent professional development activities)
• Copies of:
  • Diploma/degree
  • Three professional references

The interest of all applicants is appreciated; however, only those short-listed for interviews will be contacted.

Accommodations/adjustments are available for interviews and in the workplace. If selected for an interview Human Resources will provide information on how to request accommodation/adjustments.