Job Description:
About THRIVE Community School
THRIVE Community School opened in the fall of 2022 as an intentionally diverse public charter school, the first of its kind in Santa Fe. We are an affirming learning community who ensures that every child who walks through our doors is seen and heard so that they can receive the education they deserve to pursue paths of their choice. We combine evidenced-based instruction with innovation to drive achievement and eliminate disparities in student outcomes. We also embrace social and emotional learning practices and support our students to develop a positive self-concept.

General Job Description
THRIVE’s Special Education Staff plays an enormous role in advancing the mission, vision, and values of our school. Our Special Education Staff holds a deep belief in the potential of all students, and they deliver the high-quality instruction that each student needs. A key component of THRIVE’s approach to social and emotional learning is providing students many opportunities to work and learn in small groups. Instructional Assistants will help with monitoring and support of small groups, some of which are teacher led, independent, or collaborative.  Instructional Assistants also play a crucial role in the execution of THRIVE’s approach to Mastery Learning, where Direct Instruction Programs and teaching techniques are used to ensure students master critical foundational reading, math, oral language, and written language skills. Due to the varied and individual needs of each student, Special Education Assistants may provide a variety of support and assistance, and should be flexible in adjusting to student needs. 

Responsibilities

1. Works with individuals and small groups in the classroom to reinforce material introduced by the teacher.
2. Serves as a model in developing students’ language and behavior.
3. Collects, prepares, and arranges resource material for use by certified personnel.
4. Monitors testing and make-up work for students.
5. Collects data as requested by teacher or other service provider.
6. Prepares and maintains accurate and completes records and reports as required by law, state directives, district policy and administrative regulations.
7. Monitors students and assists instructional staff in instructional and non-instructional activities in classrooms, school grounds, hallways, lunchroom, field trips, bus loading areas, restrooms and clothing areas, etc. This may include running to provide adequate supervision for a student and returning the student to the designated setting safely.
8. Provides preventative and follow-up behavior management to students exhibiting disruptive behaviors and documents these situations. 
9. Uses knowledge of students to make necessary modifications to daily activities.
10. Implements student behavior plans as designated by IEP and teacher.
11. Uses appropriate crisis prevention interventions as trained.
12. Assists in physical therapy, occupational therapy, orientation, and mobility activities as scheduled and as trained by licensed PT and/or OT and/or Teacher of the Visually Impaired and/or Orientation and Mobility Specialist when needed.
13. Assists in PE or adaptive PE as assigned with students with IEPs.
14. Follows safety and evacuation procedures consistent with policies and procedures and the individual evacuation plans.
15. Assists instructional staff in the supervision of students while they are loading and unloading buses, in the gym/multipurpose room, playground, hallways, bathrooms, and other school environments.
16. Assists and instructs pupils in personal hygiene skills and needs, toileting, changing diapers, brushing teeth, hand washing and other self-care activities as assigned.
17. Assists and instructs students with feeding needs and skills.
18. Lifts or assists with lifting students from wheelchairs to changing tables or designated areas, including using appropriate equipment as trained.  Lifting up to 50 lbs.
19. Sanitizes classroom and equipment using approved materials and procedures.
20. Attends school open houses and conferences as requested.
21. Attends IEP meetings when assigned.
22.  Attends IA professional development workshops and activities as required by assignment and responsibilities.
23. Communicates with parents only under the supervision of the teacher or administrator.

Qualification and Requirements

• State licensure and any other requirements specified by the NM Public Education Department
• Criminal background clearance 
• Authorization to work in the United States