Special Education Assistant; SEA - Hamilton- FTE - SY

Hamilton Middle – Student Services

Starting Compensation: $24.82 Hourly Wage (25-26 Salary Schedule)

Employment Type: Non-Exempt

MMSD is seeking highly motivated and energetic applicants. Applicants should have a good attitude, willingness to learn, and passion for impactful work and learning.

The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is the second-largest school district in Wisconsin. We are committed to being anti-racist, culturally responsive, and inclusive, with a vision that every school is a thriving school and every student graduates ready for college, career, and community. We strive to retain staff across all positions and to support a diverse workforce that reflects our student population.

Under the supervision of a building principal or department leader and the daily direction of a Special Education Teacher or Student Services staff, the Special Education Assistant performs highly specialized work with students with disabilities across the developmental lifespan. Responsibilities vary by location and assignment and may include fostering foundational development in early childhood, supporting academic access in 4K-12, providing supplementary aids and services to follow student IEPs, behavior support and regulation plans, and coaching vocational independence in 18–21-year-old transition services.

• Instructional Support & Academic Assistance
• Early Childhood (4K):
  Support learning through play-based activities, navigate centers, and scaffold foundational skills such as tool use and letter recognition.
• Academic Reinforcement (4K-12):
  Implement modified curriculum and intervention strategies to maximize student independence within the general education environment.
• Transition (Ages 18–21):
  Provide on-site job coaching at community work-sites; perform task analysis to break down vocational duties and gradually fade support as mastery is gained.
• Inclusive Literacy:
  Prepare adapted materials (e.g., recorded books, visual schedules, or communication boards) to ensure accessibility at a student’s developmental level.
• Behavioral Intervention & Student Supervision
• Positive Behavior Support:
  Assist with monitoring and implementing positive behavior strategies, behavior intervention plans (BIPs), and safe space procedures; provide supervision during lunch, recess, field trips, and bus loading/unloading; coach professional workplace etiquette and social cues.
• Environmental Adaptation:
  Modify the physical and social environment to foster belonging and engagement.
• Active Supervision:
  Maintain awareness of all students, perform headcounts, and ensure safety during transitions and high-sensory activities.
• Personal Care & Physical Assistance
• Daily Living Support:
  Perform sensitive personal care tasks (e.g., dressing, eating, diapering/potty training, bathroom assistance) and health-related tasks per plans.
• Dignified Assistance:
  Maintain privacy and age-appropriateness.
• Mobility & Technology:
  Assist with transfers and adaptive devices; coach use of communication devices.
• Hygiene:
  Follow sanitation protocols and PPE usage.
• Data Collection & Documentation
• Progress Monitoring:
  Record objective data to support student programming (IEP goals, milestones, behavior logs, PTP metrics).
• Communication:
  Provide updates to families and teams through notebooks, home-to-school folders, or electronic logs.
• Confidentiality:
  Ensure FERPA/HIPAA compliance for student records.
• Team Collaboration & Logistics
• Multidisciplinary Feedback:
  Collaborate with teachers, OT, PT, SLP, and external agencies to assess effectiveness of modifications.
• Operational Readiness:
  Prepare sensory kits and organize learning or vocational spaces.
• Community Logistics:
  Coordinate daily travel schedules for community-based instruction and work-site rotations.
• Other Duties as Assigned
• Attend district and school functions supporting MMSD’s strategic framework and core values.
• Complete district-required training and build collaborative relationships with business partners.

• Inclusive Practices:
  Understanding of special education terminology and high expectations for all…