The North Adams Public Schools, a Prek-12 district, is seeking a skilled and experienced personal care assistant to work with special education students in substantially separate programs (i.e. Castles) and occasionally with special education students in the general education classroom. The Castles Program is a specialized program with a low student to teacher ratio for students with intellectual and other developmental disabilities who require intensive programming and support. The program addresses the unique needs of each student, ensuring that instruction is developmentally appropriate. Students are provided with ongoing opportunities for inclusion on an individual basis with the support of program staff. Within this developmental model, the instructional strategies of Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) are utilized throughout the school day.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Adapt communication methods to meet the student’s individual needs and support instructional participation.

• Provide personal care and assistance with toileting, feeding, positioning, mobility, and other activities of daily living, as needed.

• Support the student’s successful transitions between classrooms, activities, and settings throughout the school day.

• Communicate relevant student needs, progress, and concerns to the classroom teacher and appropriate school personnel.

• Collaborate with the lead teacher to provide academic, social, emotional, behavioral, and functional support.

• Implement instructional reinforcement activities as directed by the teacher, including activities that support visual, auditory, motor, cognitive, communication, and life-skills development.

• Collect and document student data as directed by the teacher or special education staff.

• Assist with related services and follow-through activities, including occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech and language services, adapted physical education, and vision services.

• Accompany the teacher and student on field trips and community-based instructional experiences during the school day.

• Assist the assigned student with boarding and exiting the school bus at arrival and dismissal.

• Maintain and respect the confidentiality of student, family, and school personnel information.

• Accompany the assigned student and assist the teacher during emergency drills and other safety procedures.

• Attend required trainings, which may include crisis intervention, CPR, First Aid, and other professional development.

• Perform other duties and assignments as directed by the Principal and/or Special Education Administrator.

• Modify and adapt classroom materials under teacher direction to accommodate the student's unique physical or cognitive profile, ensuring full participation in general curriculum and specialized instructional activities.

   

Qualifications:

• Experience as a personal care attendant preferred

• Experience in public school setting preferred

• Experience working with students with developmental disabilities

• Able to take initiative and work independently

• Compassion

• Empathy

• Reliability

• Must successfully pass Criminal Offender (CORI) background check and national fingerprinting screening (CHRI)

Salary: $28,000 per year