Calgary Board of Education Looking for Education Assistant, Special Education – Clarence Sansom School (ALP/ACCESS) – Area 4 at Calgary, AB Full Time

Competition Close Date: Monday, January 16, 2023 @ 11:59pm

Calendar: 10 Month Traditional

Salary: SA Grade D, $23.62 – $30.96/Hour

FTE: 0.4286 – 15 Hours/Week

The successful candidate will be working in a grades 7-9 setting in ALP and ACCESS classrooms. Students may have co-occurring diagnosis including Autism, ADHD, Down Syndrome, ADD, ADHD, FAS, FAE, as well as learning disbailities, speech language delays, and sensory processing issues.

This position has many responsibilities and requires a collaborative minded individual who is able to work with complex needs students. Toileting and personal care work will be a main component of this job. The EA will be required to support mobility needs as a student is in a wheel chair. This may include bending, lifting, managing a walker, toileting and physical support in and out of the school building. Additionally, support with communication, fine motor development and navigating peer relationships is essential.

The position may require the candidate to support students in:

• Supervision and support with toileting routines
• Supervision and support with dressing (putting on coat, boots, etc.)
• Supervision and support with speech devices and mobility aides
• Lifting up to 50lbs

Students may demonstrate challenging behaviours:

• Aggression towards self & others (hitting, biting)
• Destructive behaviour (throwing, breaking)
• Disruptive behaviour (crying, screaming)
• Unsafe behaviour (running, limited awareness of surroundings and personal safety)

The successful applicant will be required to complete a TCI course if they do not already have TCI certification or equivalent.

Responsibilities

Under the direction of the Teacher:

• Provides educational instruction for students.
• Supports students in accessing technology.
• Provides input into planning the student’s Individual Program Plan. Participates, as required, as a member of the student’s learning team in periodic meetings with the students, parents/guardians to review goals and develop revisions. Collects data to support student growth and the IPP development.
• Maintains an effective professional working relationship within the student’s learning team by providing suggestions to the Teacher based on experience and knowledge of the students, with respect to ways to help the students reach their goals, including recognition of the support a student needs to reach their unique goals.
• Communicates with parents and the student’s learning team members, to provide information of interest and receive information that may impact the child’s progress.
• Facilitates and encourages the development of the student’s self-esteem and independence through established programs and techniques deemed appropriate for the individual student.
• Encourages students to develop and maintain positive interaction.
• As required, provides personal care including toileting, diapering, feeding, dressing, grooming, etc. ensuring that student dignity is maintained. Attends to physical needs including lifting, positioning and range of motion programs as identified by appropriate personnel.
• Ensures the safety of students in the school and community, which includes maintaining close supervision of students, ensuring student equipment is sanitized and put away, retrieving students who attempt to leave their learning environment; calming and/or restraining students engaged in challenging behaviours; supervising and assisting students who utilize a variety of life skills tools (i.e. scissors, cooking utensils, etc).
• Maintains confidentiality, and a patient, supportive and enthusiastic commitment to students.
• Maintains collegial relationships with the student’s learning team.
• Works with students in a variety of settings in the school and community, including assisting in the supervision of students at breaks or on field trips as required.
• Assists with and sanitizing educational tools and clean up in the classroom resulting from spills and other accidents.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Completion of a recognized post-secondary certificate or recognized vocational certificate in child care/development or behaviour management with demonstrated successful practicum experience working with students with special needs
• The completion of at least one full year (ten courses) of course work towards an undergraduate degree in education is also acceptable
• Other equivalent combinations of directly related education and directly related experience may also be considered
• Current Standard First Aid and CPR certificates (Child CPR Certificate is a strong asset)

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies

• Ability to successfully complete a Therapeutic Crisis Intervention course or an equivalent course
• Reliability and dependability
• Personal integrity and trustworthiness
• Success in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships
• Ability to work effectively as an active team member in cooperation with other school personnel, parents/guardians, therapists, instructional resource personnel, and students
• Ability to establish trust and rapport with students
• Comfort and competency working with personal computers and other technologies to support student learning
• Commitment to lifelong learning and willingness to regularly enhance skills and knowledge for professional development
• Ability to respect and value all individuals with sensitivity to diversity
• Ability to manage situations of conflict, frustration and unpleasantness effectively
• Ability to respond appropriately to challenging behaviours of students
• Ability to effectively utilize crisis intervention strategies
• Good organizational skills, time management skills and pacing skills to support student scheduling
• Strong oral and listening communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills combined with tact and diplomacy skills
• Ability to gather, analyze and synthesize information
• Ability to make straightforward decisions and apply straightforward reasoning in problem solving
• Ability to demonstrate flexibility in work assignments
• Ability to multi-task and work effectively in situations with frequent distractions and interruptions
• Ability to be alert and respond to situations of risk
• Personal suitability.

NOTE: This position requires lifting and carrying demands that require the ability to bend at the waist, stoop, and twist frequently, the ability to lift between 10 to 50 lbs, the ability to carry, push and pull between 10 to 50 lbs, and the ability to stand, walk and sit frequently. The incumbent may be subject to challenging behaviours of students.

Police Information Clearance: Applicants new to the Calgary Board of Education WHO ARE OFFERED EMPLOYMENT must complete and pass a police information clearance before employment is confirmed.

Are you looking for an opportunity to join a team where your contribution makes a positive impact on the lives and learning of more than 125,000 CBE students? The Calgary Board of Education is looking for exceptional professionals to join our team. Our employees are highly valued and recognized, a career with the CBE offers incredible opportunities, rewards and supports.

We thank all candidates for their interest in this position however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.