Teacher Assistant/Driver

AREA COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES•Hamden, CT

66d•$24 - $28•Onsite

About The Position

Brightwell Academy is seeking an energetic, student-centered Teacher Assistant/Driver to work directly with students in grades 7 through post-high school who have autism and age-appropriate or advanced cognitive and academic abilities and benefit from individualized academic, social, behavioral, executive functioning, and transition support. This highly student-focused role works alongside students throughout the school day and across classrooms, small-group and individualized learning, social activities, transitions, vocational experiences, community programming, field trips, and other school-sponsored activities. Working collaboratively with the classroom teacher and educational team, the Teacher Assistant/Driver helps students access rigorous, meaningful learning experiences while developing independence, self-advocacy, communication, social engagement, executive functioning, and college, career, and community readiness. The successful candidate actively participates in the classroom and enjoys engaging with adolescents and young adults, building authentic relationships, supporting instruction, encouraging appropriate peer interaction, and helping students generalize skills in real-world environments. The role may include transporting and accompanying students to field trips, vocational opportunities, community-based instruction, recreational activities, internships, and other educational experiences. Employees assigned driving responsibilities must meet applicable Connecticut licensing, endorsement, physical examination, and training requirements, practice safe driving, maintain a safe and professional transportation environment, and follow ACES transportation policies and procedures. The position involves working throughout school and community environments and may require sitting, standing, walking, bending, lifting, and moving while supporting students. The employee must be able to provide appropriate supervision and safety assistance and meet applicable transportation responsibilities. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Requirements

High school diploma required.
Strong communication, relationship-building, collaboration, and organizational skills.
Ability to work collaboratively with teachers and multidisciplinary educational teams.
For positions involving student transportation, Connecticut “V” endorsement and applicable driving requirements.

Nice To Haves

College degree preferred.
Experience working with adolescents and young adults with autism or other neurodevelopmental differences preferred.
Experience supporting students in educational, vocational, recreational, or community settings preferred.

Responsibilities

Work directly with students throughout the school day across academic, social, transition, vocational, community, and extracurricular activities.
Work alongside the classroom teacher to support instruction, classroom activities, individual and small-group learning, projects, and student-centered programming.
Provide individual and small-group instructional support in a variety of educational settings.
Encourage student independence through appropriate prompting, modeling, reinforcement, and instructional support.
Support the development of communication, social skills, self-advocacy, executive functioning, problem solving, and positive peer relationships.
Help students access academic content and use assistive, adaptive, and instructional technology as appropriate.
Support students in developing skills for participation in college, career, vocational, and community environments.
Participate with students and teachers in field trips, community-based instruction, vocational experiences, recreational activities, and other experiential learning opportunities.
Maintain knowledge of individual student strengths, needs, goals, interests, motivators, and appropriate supports.
Assist the teacher and educational team with monitoring student progress and collecting educational, behavioral, social, and vocational data.
Support classroom routines, instructional material preparation, transitions, and an organized and engaging learning environment.
Promote student dignity, self-worth, independence, inclusion, and meaningful participation in the school community.
Maintain student confidentiality and required documentation consistent with ACES policies and applicable state and federal requirements.
Participate in staff meetings, professional development, student-centered meetings, and required training.
Provide safety assistance consistent with ACES safety management training and applicable regulations.
When assigned driving responsibilities, transport and accompany students, maintain required qualifications, practice safe driving, and follow ACES transportation policies and procedures.