Instructional Assistant (Autism Program) (SY26-27)

Watertown Public Schools • Watertown, MA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Watertown Public Schools seeks an outstanding Instructional Assistant to support students with disabilities in accessing their education. This role involves providing direct support to students under the guidance of school administration, teachers, and related service providers, including implementing behavior support plans, maintaining student data, and assisting with curriculum access. The ideal candidate will have experience with students with significant learning and social/emotional needs, an understanding of behavior intervention, and familiarity with ABA methodology and assistive technology.

Requirements

• Flexibility with respect to age groups, assignments.
• Ability to follow through with directions.
• Experience working with students at the elementary level who have significant learning and social/emotional needs.
• Experience implementing Behavior Intervention Plans and an understanding of functions of behaviors.
• Must have experience with or ability to learn ABA methodology and techniques.
• Ability to take initiative to complete tasks and to assist students with de-escalation techniques and executive functioning skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively as a part of a team.
• Experience with, or ability to learn to utilize, assistive technology and PECS functional communication systems in support of students.
• Ability to stand for extended periods of time.
• Normal degree of flexibility; the ability to stand, walk, run, and shuffle for at least several minutes; the ability to kneel on one knee and two knees and then stand up; to bend the trunk at 45 degrees and twist to either side; to grasp firmly; to raise the hands above the head, and to learn and correctly demonstrate multi-step physical skills.
• Ability to lift and pivot (for toileting needs).
• Visual perception and discrimination and the ability to distinguish color.
• Ability to read printed matter with or without visual aids.
• Ability to visually supervise students in small and large group settings as well as vocational or community settings.
• Ability to communicate effectively with other staff members in order to exchange accurate information.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• Experience supporting students with disabilities in a public school setting preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide needed supports to students during instructional periods as well as non-instructional activities under direction from the school administration, general education teacher, special education teacher, and related service providers.
• Maintain student data as directed by teachers / related service providers.
• Follow and implement behavior support plans as provided by teachers / related service providers.
• Provide overall support to the classroom teacher and student, based on the needs of the student and the classroom.
• Incorporate knowledge of student learning styles and child development to assist student learning.
• Recognize when teaching and learning strategies are not successful and seek the guidance of the classroom teacher to adapt assistance accordingly.
• Provide verbal support, prompting, redirection, and modeling in helping the student(s) access the activities of the curriculum.
• Perform other duties as required.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level