Special Education Support Staff

Walker•Needham, MA

About The Position

Walker Therapeutic & Educational Programs is hiring a Special Education Support Staff member to work as part of a three-person classroom team serving up to nine children with social, emotional, learning, and behavioral disabilities. The role provides behavior management and social-emotional support, assists teachers with planning and implementing academic tasks, and works with specialists to maintain a structured, calm learning environment. Staff also support residential students during wakeups, school vacations, holidays, and non-school days. The position uses child-centered, family-focused, culturally competent, strengths-based, trauma-informed, and relationship-based practices. It involves collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, implementation of individualized treatment and education plans, supervision and care of youth, crisis response, activity planning, transportation, documentation, and participation in meetings, training, supervision, and professional development. During the summer session, the staff member leads the assigned classroom and accompanies students on field trips.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Successfully pass and apply Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) training.
Successfully complete First Aid/CPR training.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including strong written and verbal communication.
Ability to remain calm and make safe decisions in high-pressure situations.
Ability to work effectively in a stressful, fast-paced environment.
Ability to learn, retain, and apply principles taught in training and supervision.
Physical stamina to participate in activities with children.
Ability to stand, walk, and run for extended periods and frequently bend, stoop, stretch, lift, sit, use stairs, type, and look at a computer screen.
Computer experience.
Ability to meet deadlines and follow through with multiple projects simultaneously.
Ability to work flexibly and collaboratively as part of a team, including during high-stress periods.
Ability to transport clients in company vehicles.
Successfully complete all background-check suitability requirements.
Reliable transportation.

Nice To Haves

Associate degree or higher.
Prior experience working with youth in a residential or special education setting.
Valid Massachusetts driver's license.

Responsibilities

Perform work in alignment with the agency mission and core values, including trauma-informed, relationship-based, family-involved, developmentally focused, competence-centered, and ecologically oriented services.
Work with a multidisciplinary team to support youth's emotional, behavioral, and educational development and maintain a classroom environment conducive to learning.
Manage student behavior individually and in groups.
Implement treatment protocols established in youth treatment plans, IEPs, and individual support plans.
Supervise youth at all times and plan and implement engaging social and recreational activities as needed.
Respond to youth challenges using crisis intervention techniques consistent with Walker's training.
Work in a residential house during school vacation periods and holidays.
Plan developmentally appropriate group activities and programming and provide caretaking throughout the shift.
Transport students to appointments as needed.
Participate in residence wake-up routines, ensure tasks such as medications and breakfast are completed, and help students arrive at school on time.
Lead the assigned classroom during the summer session, ensure student participation in activities, and lead students on field trips.
Participate actively in supervision and remain receptive to feedback and professional development.
Assist the lead teacher with data collection and progress notes, document incidents, and complete oral and written reports accurately and on time.
Attend multidisciplinary team and treatment meetings as needed to discuss youth progress.
Collaborate with staff and supervisors across shifts and campus programs to support smooth operations and consistent treatment.
Participate in required training and professional development.
Perform additional duties as assigned.