Ex Ed Educational Assistant

Overview

Hamilton County Schools, located in Chattanooga, TN, is working to ensure that all students thrive and experience a future without limits. We are committed to excellence for every student and are seeking outstanding leaders, teachers, support staff, and district employees who desire to make a difference in the lives of students. With nearly 75 schools, we are confident that you can find your place in Hamilton County.

Learn more about working for Hamilton County Schools e.org and get to know us and our strategic plan, Opportunity 2030.

The purpose of this job is to provide teaching support and services under the direction of a licensed special education teacher in the implementation of Individual Education Programs for students with disabilities in general or special education classrooms, one-on-one or in small group settings, or with special, more narrowly defined services, or as otherwise needed.

Loftis Middle School is a grades 6–8 school located in Hixson, Tennessee, just north of Chattanooga. At Loftis, our work is grounded in joy, purpose, and a deep commitment to keeping students at the center of every decision we make. We believe meaningful learning happens when students feel known, valued, and challenged in a supportive and engaging environment.

Teachers at Loftis have a strong understanding of how to use data to inform instruction, plan with intention, and collaborate within both horizontal and vertical teams to meet the diverse needs of students. We value reflective practice and believe that continuous growth—for both students and adults—is essential to a thriving school community.

We are seeking educators who bring a growth mindset, a collaborative spirit, and a genuine love for teaching and learning. Our teachers understand the importance of clear procedures, strong relationships, purposeful planning, state standards, and instructional best practices—all while fostering a classroom culture rooted in joy, belonging, and high expectations.

We are looking for staff who are committed to excellence and who are passionate about working with students with disabilities. Our teachers and paraprofessionals accept accountability, work collaboratively, are flexible, and utilize multiple strategies when working with students. We look for staff members who believe that “every day is a new day” with students and who are willing to be a team player both in and out of the classroom.

• Training in or willingness to be trained in nonviolent crisis intervention techniques.
• Competent use of verbal and nonverbal techniques designed to prevent or de-escalate students when acting out behaviors occurs.
• Competence at and a willingness to incorporate consistent patterns of assertive communications including delivering a three part statement of empathy, verbalizing conflict behavior, and communicating a rectifying statement when behavioral conflict is apparent.
• Ability to maintain a group during emergencies or a time when a teacher must be away from the group.
• Provides educational assistance to students with disabilities; assists in preparing, modifying, and utilizing instructional materials to meet individual needs of students; assists with development and implementation of Individual Education Program for each student; assists with the data collection and progress monitoring of student’s physical, communication, social/emotional, and educational levels of development; uses special educational strategies and techniques to address students’ academic needs.
• Provides physical assistance, including but not limited to toileting, positioning, lifting, carrying, feeding, personal hygiene, or other assistance as determined by specific student needs, to any student with disabilities based on a student’s Individual Education Program.
• Oversees, monitors, or covers classes during the short term absence of the teacher.
• Assists teacher and works with students during various class activities; prepares instructional materials for classroom use; assists with instructional and assistive technology.
• Assists with data collection and progress monitoring used to evaluate student performance and skill levels;
• Follows…