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, narrowly defined services.

Ooltewah Middle School is a 6-8 school located in Ooltewah, TN, just outside of Chattanooga. Teachers at Ooltewah Middle can expect a supportive and collaborative climate, including the following supports:

• New Teacher Academy led by our instructional coach, which meets monthly to discuss ideas and solutions
• Mentor teacher for new teachers
• Every teacher is a member of a grade level team, and each core teacher has a content partner that meets for collaborative planning weekly
• Instructional Coach who provides job‑embedded professional development

Ooltewah Middle School has a strong Fine Arts Program. We believe that students need to have multiple opportunities and outlets to express themselves in different ways.

We are looking for teaching candidates who can develop strong relationships with a diverse group of students, parents, and staff. You will be a great fit on our team if you want to collaborate with others, innovate and engage, are a team player, and believe all students have the ability to learn.

• 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 occur.
• Competence at and a willingness to incorporate consistent patterns of assertive communication, 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 when a teacher must be away from the group.
• Provide educational assistance to students with disabilities; assist in preparing, modifying, and utilizing instructional materials to meet individual needs; assist in the development and implementation of Individual Education Programs for each student; assist with data collection and progress monitoring of students’ physical, communication, social/emotional, and educational development; use special educational strategies and techniques to address academic needs.
• Provide physical assistance, including but not limited to toileting, positioning, lifting, carrying, feeding, personal hygiene, or other assistance as determined by specific student needs, based on a student’s Individual Education Program.
• Oversee, monitor, or cover classes during the short‑term absence of the teacher.
• Assist teacher and work with students during various class activities; prepare instructional materials for classroom use; assist with instructional and assistive technology.
• Assist with data collection and progress monitoring used to evaluate student performance and skill levels.
• Follow established procedures for ensuring students are safe.
• Perform clerical tasks in support of teaching activities, office operations, and/or other school functions.
• Respond appropriately to students’ inappropriate behavior(s); be willing to be trained as needed and maintain certification in non‑violent positive behavioral interventions and support methods to diffuse, de‑escalate, and control aggressive behavior using physical restraint as appropriate.
• Assist students and model appropriate social and professional behaviors during community experience or work‑based learning.
• Chaperone students on field trips…