EA Specialized Program

Job Details

Are you interested in working with our dynamic and progressive school division to pursue excellence in education for students, professional learning opportunities, a flexible health benefits package, and a workplace that embraces diversity? Then we are the place for you!

Who we are and what we value:

Parkland School Division (PSD) is a large progressive school jurisdiction serving Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, Fort Chipewyan and Parkland County. PSD meets the diverse educational needs of over 12,000 rural and urban students among 23 sites, including outreach schools and alternative education programs.

Our values are what guide us. We strive for learning opportunities that are purposeful, essential, relevant, authentic and responsive while aiming for excellence in achievement. PSD also values trustworthy, respectful relationships that promote resilience as students and staff work towards our Ultimate Goal: Student Success & Well-being.

The Parkland School Division currently has a Temporary Full-time (for new employees) or Permanent Full-time (for existing Permanent employees) EA Specialized Program position (1.0 FTE) available at Westview School in the STEPS program. This temporary position is not eligible for benefits or leave entitlements.

The successful applicant will support students with complex social-emotional behaviour needs; academic support and Non-Violent Crisis Intervention is required. Experience working with complex students and having a trauma informed approach is necessary.

EA Specialized Program employees assist teachers with many instructional and non-instructional tasks in the classroom and with other school activities. EA Specialized Program employees work as members of the school and as members of a student support team. EA Specialized Program employees must have met PSD’s mandatory educational requirements. The minimum mandatory educational requirement is an Educational Assistant Certificate or comparable education.

EA Specialized Program employees may:
• Work under the supervision of one teacher or several different teachers
• Work independently with students or in the classroom with the teacher
• Work with a particular special needs student or a group of students within a class or in a special program
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Perform clerical tasks in the classroom or school

The EA Specialized Program employees provide routine and repetitive instructional support. Under the direction of the teacher, the EA assists the student in acquiring the education and skills necessary for advancement in the educational setting. To reach this objective, the EA follows an individually prescribed learning program, through team planning and working one-on-one with the student(s). This involves routine recording, basic charting and logging of observations on anecdotal record sheets or data sheets. EA does provide personal care to students.

Instructional Support
• Provide assistance in all curriculum areas/one on one or in small groups as directed by teacher.
• Help with organizing notebooks, timetables, agendas, and lockers.
• Scribe notes from board, scribe and read exams for students as required.
• Modify and adapt the program for individual students as directed by the classroom teacher.
• Assist in the implementation of Individual Program Plan (IPP) goals and adaptive devices.
• Assist students with computer access.
• Provide support to students utilizing various educational software packages.
• Providing assistance to communicate with peers and adults in the school (e.g. American Sign Language, assistive tech. devices).
• Apply foundational knowledge about First Nations, Métis and Inuit for the benefit of all students.

Behaviour
• Under direction of the teacher, observe, chart and monitor individual student progress and behavior.
• Assist the teacher in maintaining a safe and secure environment for both students and staff through the application of de-escalation strategies and non- violent physical intervention techniques.
• Provide behavioural management assistance for students with behavioural disorders (implementing predetermined non-aversive disciplinary methods and nonviolent crisis intervention techniques to diffuse escalating negative behaviour patterns).
• Deal with student behaviour and assists with classroom discipline.

Student Assistance and Personal Care
• Assist student with walking (e.g. holding their hand, stabilizing them, guiding on stairs).
• Assist student with personal care and hygiene, which may include food preparation, dressing, grooming, and toileting.
• Feeding assistance (can include spoon or tube feeding), lifting and handling of medically fragile students.
• Ability to manipulate assistive devices (e.g. insulin pumps, braces, dressing fasteners, fasten seat belts, etc.).
• Catheterization.
• Respiratory therapy interventions, physiotherapy interventions and other medically related tasks.
• Administer medication as required.
• Toileting and diapering for students who are physically dependent.
• Assist and or participate in exercising, implementing adaptive physical education, range of motion programs, fine and gross motor skills development, individualized or group communication techniques and life skills management.
• Monitor feeding, tube feeding and breathing apparatuses, seizure management (e.g. monitor and assess severity of seizure through the use of medical equipment and administer oxygen if required), and catheterization.
• Operate specialized equipment to support instruction for students with physical care needs (e.g. wheelchairs, mechanical lifts, walkers, transfer belt, FM and/or communications systems and hearing aid equipment).
• Lifting and carrying students into and out of specialized equipment (i.e., gym equipment, sensory equipment, walkers, wheelchairs, toilets, commodes) to carry out program requirements as well as personal hygiene care.

Speech Therapy/Occupational Therapy/Physical Therapy
• Help student with speech language difficulties, as instructed by Speech Pathologist.
• Update progress on a daily basis for Individual Program Plan purposes.
• Provide physiotherapy program as directed.
• Model and practice speech program.
• Liaise with members of Therapy Team to monitor student progress and use of Assistive Technology / Devices.

Communication and Reporting
• As requested by the teacher, communicate observations regarding health and behaviours to the teacher (as gathered in logs, charts, and data sheets).
• Maintain accurate medication data sheets, record medical situations.
• Participate in student team conferences when requested by the teacher.
• Under the direction of the classroom teacher, maintain a home-school communication book (teacher to initial before book sent home).

Assist Teacher/Classroom Preparation
• Organize bulletin board display, photocopy material, laminate articles and prepare snacks.
• Modify and prepare materials for special needs student.
• Ensure equipment and facilities are kept in a clean, safe, orderly manner.
• Assist in marking, testing, and filing of student work.
• Prepare, set up, and dismantle displays, information areas and work areas.

Supervise Students
• Supervise and assist students in preparing for special activities (preparation for swimming lessons, skating, etc.).
• Ability to work in a variety of environments and conditions (e.g. swimming, playground equipment, community facilities).
• Ability to provide active supervision and support with students in typical school related physical activities for full work hours (including gym, playground equipment, track and field, classroom and hallways.
• Supervise small groups on field trips.
• Assist students boarding and disembarking from buses.

Community Living and Vocational Skills
• Travel with student to job placement, provide job training.
• Assist students to be integrated into the regular classroom.
• Facilitate the development of social skills.
• Assist students in recreation activities (crafts, preparing meals).
• Travel with individuals or small groups to community outings such as banking, and/or shopping.
• Journal and assist in choosing books.

Student Personal Development
• Assist in building the self-esteem and self-confidence of students.
• Encourage students to participate in classroom activities to build social skills.
• Provide and encourage routine and repetitive personal care to students.
• Administer first aid as required.

Other Duties
• May provide Braille to students starting to learn Braille (specification).
• May provide signing to students (American Sign Language or Signed Exact English) (specification).
• Other duties as assigned (specification).

Education and Experience
a) Education:
i) High School Diploma
ii) Teacher Assistant Certificate/Educational Assistant Certificate
iii) Nonviolent Crisis Intervention and First Aid Certificate would be an asset
iv) Courses related to working with students with special needs OR that are specifically related to the above-mentioned duties.

b) Experience:
i) Training and experience in working with children with challenging behaviors, strong technology skills, ability to build strong relationships and a team player

Equivalencies will be considered.

Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes
• Good oral and written communication skills
• Good interpersonal skills
• The ability to take direction and work independently
• Flexibility, patience, sensitivity, tolerance, enthusiasm, creativity and imagination
• The ability to deal with the emotional and mental stress of working with children/group of children/school setting.
• First Aid Certificate
• Courses or training in Attention Deficit Disorder, Special Needs Disorders, English as a Second Language, Behaviour Management, Crisis Prevention, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, and Food Handling and Preparation, would be an asset
• Lifts and transfers
• G-tube feeding, catheterization
• Knowledge of office equipment
• Knowledge of computers
• Some assignments may require use of own vehicle