About Aspire Public Schools:

Aspire Public Schools is a not-for-profit organization that builds and operates small, high quality public charter schools to prepare urban students for college. Aspire Public Schools has served as a model provider of public school choice in California: our schools have had strong academic results, parents and teachers are highly satisfied, and the organization was named by Fast Company Magazine and the Monitor Group as one of the top 20 social entrepreneurial organizations in the country in 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008. Through personalized learning experiences, students learn and master skills needed for the rigorous work of college and post-student life. At Aspire Public Schools, we value collaboration, ownership, quality, customer service, and purposefulness. Founded in 1998, we are focused on refining our model and fulfilling our long-term vision of improving education statewide. Aspire Public Schools now operates 30 schools in six California communities – East Palo Alto, Modesto, Oakland, Stockton, Sacramento, and Los Angeles. We plan to reach sustainability by 2020, relying solely on public funding to operate more than 60 schools.



We’re looking for individuals who are:

• 100% committed to getting all students into college

• Organized and able to create a rigorous and respectful learning environment

• Collaborative

• Comfortable with using student achievement data to guide classroom instruction and continually improve

• Resilient, proactive, and able to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.



Overview:

The instructional aide will provide support for students with special needs in the classroom environment and supports the resource specialist and/or speech and language pathologist, while upholding the values of Aspire Public Schools.



Your work as an instructional aide will not only change the lives of your students, but the lives of students throughout California. Much like the classroom is a vital part of your school community; your school is a vital part of the network of Aspire schools across the state. Together our schools are changing public education and proving that every student can achieve at the highest levels. Aspire Public Schools is a non-profit organization that opens and operates small, high-performing public charter schools that are preparing the most underserved students for college. We provide our educators with the tools and support they need to provide a high quality, personalized education for every Aspire student. We respect and treat our team members as professionals, providing full-time educators with a laptop computer, business cards and budget for classroom supplies. Our small schools and small classes give you the chance to know every student and his/her family at a personal level. Our network of schools across the state provides you with incredible opportunities to grow personally and professionally in various roles across the organization. We hope you join us in this important work for the children of California!



Responsibilities:

• Assist resource specialist to develop schedule of services that conform with IEPs
• Help and organize special education files and paperwork
• Provide services directly to students under guidance and daily supervision of resource specialist, to ensure students meet academic goals for IEP, for example: providing 1:1 support to student in classroom, explaining instructions to students, ensuring student complete tasks assigned by classroom teacher
• Assist in providing materials to help classroom teacher make modifications for students
• Help provide testing accommodations, for example, supervise student completing test in a separate location or during a extended time
• Assist student and classroom teacher on behavior; e.g. implementing behavior plan
• Demonstrate knowledge of, and support, Aspire Public Schools mission, vision, value statements, standards, policies and procedures, operating instructions, confidentiality standards, and the code of ethical behavior
• Perform other related duties as required and assigned

Qualifications:

1) Required knowledge, skills & abilities:

• Knowledge of child cognitive development and different learning styles
• Ability and willingness to implement Aspire Instructional Guidelines and Best Practices
• Ability and willingness to reflect and improve
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to collaborate with colleagues, parents and community

2) Minimum educational level:

• High school diploma

3) Experience required:

• 1+ year working with students as a teacher, teacher intern, or teaching assistant preferred
• 1+ year working with students with special needs in an educational setting