Who We Are:
Assabet Valley Collaborative (AVC) is an educational service agency in Metrowest/Central Massachusetts. Our services include school programs, wraparound services, transportation services, professional development, cooperative purchasing and consulting.
Our Core Values:
We are in the process of implementing a shared leadership model to engage stakeholders across the organization in learning, leading, designing, and decision making. To thrive within AVC’s innovative shared leadership model, team members must be self-reflective, embrace the value of partnering with others through complex challenges, and recognize the mutual responsibility of giving and receiving feedback.
AVC’s Commitments to Educational Equity are the vision for our future. To achieve our vision, we are committed to a continuous study of the principles of human-centered design, social innovation, cultural proficiency, and culturally responsive practices.
Qualifications:
We are looking for a paraeducator who serves as a leader and as a learner; a team member who is flexible, resourceful, and thrives in a fast-paced, non-traditional, collaborative environment and who understands educational and human service institutions. This person demonstrates a learning mindset and ability to receive feedback, self-reflect, and adapt, as well as an ability to effectively facilitate the learning of others by pushing their thinking, building their skills, and sparking their self-reflection and curiosity.
The ideal candidate would possess or demonstrate the following:
High school diploma or equivalent required.
Post-secondary learning: college, work, military, or specialized training experience preferred.
Collaborates with others and plans for effective outcomes.
Has demonstrated a commitment to educational equity.
Ability to thrive within a team while also being able to work independently.
Experience working in schools, nonprofits, human service organizations.
Ability to support students in developing problem-solving and decision-making skills.
Ability to provide and receive feedback and engage in honest and authentic conversations with peers/staff.
Flexible and versatile - able to support many different components of our school community.
Identifies problems as well as opportunities and take initiative to find the best path forward.
A reflective learner through verbalizing self-awareness and seeking to learn and refine your skill set.
Strong interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills.
Bilingual or multilingual is a plus.
Responsibilities and Duties:
Primary responsibilities: 1:1 student support:
Serves as the dedicated 1:1 support for one middle school student, supporting their instruction and activities throughout the school day.
Partners with the student and colleagues to implement and collect data on the student's learning plans (IEP, behavior, etc.)
Monitors, supervises, and assists the student throughout the school day (ex: in classes, during transitions between classes, bathroom escorts, lunchtime, breakfast, arrival/dismissal)
Supports the student in calming, coping, and deescalating as needed: when upset, struggling, frustrated, agitated, escalated, dysregulated, etc.
Accompanies and supports the student in community-based activities including field trips, gym and recreational activities.
Additional responsibilities: whole-program support:
At times, supports middle school instruction and activities for the broader middle school program.
At times, works with and supports other middle school students, including monitoring, supervising, and assisting students in classes, during transitions, and at meals, arrival, and dismissal.
Supports other students in calming, coping, and deescalating as needed.
With colleagues, provides crisis response or physical intervention when needed.
Drives AVC vehicles when required to transport students to community-based events.
Substitutes for Teachers/Clinicians as needed.
General responsibilities:
Completes necessary documentation.
Participates and engages in professional development and community events.
Complies with collaborative-wide policies and procedures.
Performs all other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Evaluation:
Evaluation to be performed annually in accordance with Assabet Valley Collaborative’s personnel handbook and pertinent regulations and statutes.
Schedule:
185 day schedule. Operating hours of the program, 8:00am-3:00pm. Summer hours are also available, but not required.
Physical Demands:
This is an active position that requires frequent physical movement to meet the needs of our students. Staff will receive training to physically intervene as needed per AVC Physical Restraint protocol, policy and applicable regulations.
Competitive Benefits include:
Compensation competitive within public school employees sector.
Hourly pay range: $22/hour to $37/hour.
Paid leave: 10 sick days and 3 personal days per year.
$1200 Tuition Reimbursement.
$1500 Stipend (only for paras) that can be used flexibly (tuition, cash, insurance, etc),
School-year position; additional compensation available for summer school service.
75% health insurance premiums covered by AVC (High Deductible Health Plan - HDHP)
With HDHP - AVC offers Health Savings Account (HSA) and contributes 50% of deductible to HSA.
Participation in MA state pension systems.
Voluntary benefits: Life, Short-term, Long-term Insurance; Dental.