Overview Education Assistant Job Description Educational Assistant Evaluation Policy

Phil & Jennie Gaglardi Academy
Job Roles and Responsibilities – Educational Assistant

Job Summary

The Educational Assistant, under the general direction of the teacher and the supervision of the Learning Support Teacher, provides academic assistance to students, monitors student behaviour and facilitates the integration of the student in the classroom and school environment. The Educational Assistant plays a key role in encouraging students to learn all they can in the school environment and sets them up for success.

General Duties include:

  • Developing a positive, loving and respectful relationship with children.
  • Advocate for the conditions of success for students with special needs.
  • Advocate for the protection of the legal and human rights of students within the classroom.
  • Maintain positive, supportive, and professional relationships within the education community.

Specific Duties include:

  • Facilitates student learning individually and in small groups.
  • Observes and documents students' daily progress; marks objective student work and assists students with corrections.
  • Assists in adapting materials in an appropriate format for the individual student(s).
  • Attends Individual Education Plan (IEP) and consultative meetings with teachers, parents and therapists as feasible.
  • Communicates student-related information to teacher and/or school-based team.
  • Assists in the design, implementation and monitoring of appropriate behaviour management or social adjustment programs.
  • Supports students in a wide variety of educational computer programs and equipment where required.
  • Inputs and assists in maintaining student(s) records and keep anecdotal records/examples (ie behaviour trends, triggers, academic challenges, strengths etc.
  • Supports students in learning communication skills, social behaviour and life skills as outlined in the students (s) ‘ IEP’s.
  • Maintains and organizes classroom items such as materials, supplies and equipment for assigned students.
  • Assists the teacher in supervising activities such as work experience programs and physical education activities as needed.
  • Assists the teacher in adapting and implementing situations, environment, materials, and activities so that the student can be successful.
  • Assists in organizing, conducting and supervising school activities such as field trips and other special events.
  • Provides assistance to student(s) in the case of injury or illness; performs assigned duties during fire/earthquake drills and other crisis situations.
  • Assists students with feeding, hygiene, toileting and other personal care as required.
  • Performs other assigned comparable or transient duties, which are within the area of knowledge and skills required by this job description.
  • Communicate with parents regarding student development (when appropriate). Include the teacher in all communications.
  • Advocate for the student’s inclusion in and outside the classroom.
  • Maintain confidentiality.
  • Encourage and support responsible ways so that the student’s emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and social development will be enhanced.
  • Model appropriate ways to interact with the students and peers.

General Education

  • TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
    • Grade 12 or equivalent,
    • Current First Aid and C.P.R. courses or equivalent, and, One (1) year Community Support Worker or Teaching Assistant Program certificate or equivalent post secondary courses in child or adolescent development, or behaviour management 

Experience

  • TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
    • One (1) year specific experience working with persons with special needs 

Knowledge

  • TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
    • Broad knowledge of cognitive styles and abilities and support requirements for learning.
    • Broad knowledge of support requirements for behaviour management, social and life skills programs.
    • Broad knowledge of conflict resolution methods.
    • Broad knowledge of inclusion and integration principles.

Skills & Abilities 

  • JOB SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
    • Ability to support student(s) in the implementation of his/her IEP
    • Ability to support and implement augmented communication skill programs.
    • Ability to work with students with social, communication and behaviour challenges.
    • Ability to maintain the confidentiality of sensitive information
    • Ability to provide guidance, instructions and directions to students
    • Ability to apply conflict resolution skills
    • Creativity/Innovative
    • Organizational skills
    • Ability to prioritize workload and manage time appropriately
    • Ability to document and summarize information/data in an accurate manner
    • Ability to pay close attention to detail.

Hours of Work

It is expected that the Educational Assistants will be available for work, all school Instructional days, in addition to the evening Christmas concert, Academy Awards night, and administrative days. Administrative days include one day prior to the start of school and one day following the end of school. From time-to-time professional development may be required and is included in the per annum salary. Any requested time-off beyond the school holidays will be unpaid and the salary will be adjusted accordingly at the per diem rate.

The average work-day for an Educational Assistant is 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. The Lunch break is an unpaid break between 11:30 am – 12:00 pm. The Board will give 30 days written notice of any change in the hours of work.

Expectations of Employment

  • Arrive to begin devotions at 8:00 am.
  • Ensure you arrive at your scheduled time in the classroom assigned. It is much easier for the teacher to fill you in on the lesson prior to the students arriving or beginning the lesson.
  • Communicate with the teacher (s) you are working alongside. If there is a conflict, work it out with them first. If the issue cannot be resolved, the see the Learning Support Teacher (LST).
  • Be sure to clean up the space you are using to work with your students. Put supplies back in their appropriate places, stack chairs etc.
  • When sick, please try to find a replacement yourself using the Educational Assistant Contact list provided. Notify the LST of your replacement or if you are unable to find a replacement.

Work Evaluations

Work Evaluations will be done from time-to-time at the discretion of the Director. Evaluations will be based on EA’s Spiritual contribution, work ethic, ability to work as a team, planning and preparation, teaching/learning in the classroom environment.

Benefits

The School benefits package will apply if the Educational Assistant maintains a minimum of .75 FTE per annum.

In addition, One (1) FTE Educational Assistant shall be entitled to:

  • Maximum of 10 paid sick days per year. After 3 consecutive days, a doctor’s note will be required. Sick days cannot be accumulated and will be reset to zero at the beginning of each new school year. EA’s will receive a pro-rated amount of sick days based on their FTE.
  • A maximum of three unpaid discretionary days to be approved in advance by the Principal and used as the EA sees fit.
  • Up to 3 days leave for bereavement or compassionate leave per year, with pay, in the event of death or critical illness in the Teacher's immediate family. For purposes of this section, immediate family shall be defined as: spouse, child or grandchild, parent or grandparent, guardian, brother or sister, mother-in-law or father-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law, daughter-in-law or son-in-law, and any person who lives with the employee as a member of the employee’s family.

Salary Calculation

The compensation of an Educational Assistant is salary-based and considers the number of Instructional days in the yearly School Calendar, vacation pay of 4%, occasional professional development, administrative days, and special event evenings wages. This salary is subject to the usual deductions at source for Income Tax, Canada Pension, Employment Insurance, and other deductions as may be required by law from time to time. The annual salary can be paid over a 12 month period at the discretion of the employee. EA salaries are determined by the School Board and are subject to change at its discretion.

Code of Conduct

Since we are a Christian school, all employees are required to affirm the School’s Statement of Faith (Schedule A) and adhere to the Community Standards Policy and Code of Conduct (Schedule B).

To show commitment to Christian education, all employees of the Society should consider enrolling his/her children in Gaglardi Academy and adhere to all staffing policies of Gaglardi Academy, understanding that exceptions may be granted by the Director or Board. All employees receive tuition discounts.

By signing this agreement of job roles and responsibilities, the Educational Assistant agrees to:

Develop and maintain the highest possible level of performance within the total context of the School community.
Be accountable to the school Director, and carry out all assigned duties and responsibilities.
Affirm the Statement of Faith (see Schedule A).
Adhere to and affirm the Community Standards Policy, and the Code of Conduct (see Schedule B).

Date: _____________________

Signatures:

Educational Assistant:______________________/ Print Name:_________________


Learning Support Teacher:_____________________________/ Print Name:__________________

 

SCHEDULE A
Phil & Jennie Gaglardi Academy
STATEMENT OF FAITH

  • THE HOLY SCRIPTURES: I believe the Bible is God-inspired, inerrant and infallible (2 Timothy 3:16,17).
  • THE ETERNAL GODHEAD: I believe God is Triune: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14).
  • THE FALL OF MAN: I believe that man was created in the image of God, but that by voluntary disobedience he fell from perfection (Romans 5:12).
  • THE PLAN OF SALVATION: I believe that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us, signing the pardon of all who believe on Him (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).
  • SALVATION THROUGH GRACE: I believe that we have no righteousness and must come to God pleading the righteousness of Christ (Ephesians 2:8).
  • REPENTANCE AND ACCEPTANCE: I believe that upon sincere repentance, and a whole-hearted acceptance of Christ, we are justified before God (I John 1:9).
  • THE NEW BIRTH: I believe that the change which takes place in the heart and life at conversion is a very real one (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20).
  • DAILY CHRISTIAN LIVING: I believe that it is the will of God that I be sanctified daily, growing constantly in my faith (Hebrews 6:1).
  • BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER: I believe that baptism by immersion is an outward sign of an inward work (Matt. 28:19). I believe in the commemoration of the Lord's Supper by the symbolic use of the bread and juice of the vine (I Corinthians 11:24, 25).
  • BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT: I believe that the Baptism with the Holy Spirit is to endue the believer with power; and that His incoming is after the same manner as in Bible days (Acts 2:4). I believe that those who experience Holy Spirit baptism today will experience it in the same manner that believers experienced it in the early church; in other words, I believe that they will speak in tongues—languages that are not known to them (Acts 1: 5, 8; 2:4).
  • THE SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE: I believe that it is the will of God that I walk in the Spirit daily (Ephesians 4:30-32).
  • THE GIFTS AND FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: I believe that the Holy Spirit has gifts to bestow upon the Christian; and that I should show spiritual fruit as evidence of my Spirit-filled life (I Corinthians 12:1-11; Galatians 5:22).
  • MODERATION: I believe that the experience and daily walk of the believer should never lead him into extremes of fanaticism (Philippians 4:5).
  • DIVINE HEALING: I believe that divine healing is the power of Christ to heal the physically sick in answer to the prayer of faith (James 5:14-16).
  • THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST: I believe that the second coming of Christ is personal and imminent (I Thessalonians 4:16, 17).
  • CHURCH RELATIONSHIP: I believe it is my sacred duty to identify ourselves with the visible Body of Christ (Acts 16:5; Hebrews 10:25).
  • CIVIL GOVERNMENT: I believe that rulers should be upheld at all times except in things opposed to the will of God (Romans 13:1-5).
  • THE FINAL JUDGEMENT: I believe that all shall stand someday before the judgment seat of God, and there receive eternal life or death (2 Corinthians 5:10).
  • HEAVEN: I believe that Heaven is the glorious eternal home of born-again believers (John 14:1-3; Revelation 7:15-17).
  • HELL: I believe that hell is the place of eternal torment for all who reject Christ as the Savior (Revelation 20:10,15).
  • EVANGELISM: I believe that soul winning is the most important responsibility of every believer (James 5:20).
  • TITHES AND OFFERINGS: I believe that the method ordained of God for the support and spread of His cause is by giving of tithes and free-will offerings (Malachi 3:10; 2 Corinthians 9:7).

 

Employee Signature: __________________________________________

 

SCHEDULE B
Northgate Christian Education Society
COMMUNITY STANDARDS POLICY and CODE OF CONDUCT

At Northgate Christian Education Society (NCES) the faculty and Board are called to promote and advance the vision and mission of Phil & Jennie Gaglardi Academy (the “School”) to the people of the Comox Valley. In order to do so, the faculty and Board are expected to adhere to the standards of conduct that NCES holds for itself.

The School standards of conduct are found in various documents, policies, employment contracts and handbooks. This policy is not intended to replace those standards but to restate and add to them. NCES Faculty must, as a term and condition of their employment, support and adhere to the standards of conduct held by the School, wherever such requirements are found. Likewise, board members shall only hold office if they support and adhere to the same standards of conduct. As these people occupy positions of leadership within the School, these standards must be adhered to in their public and private life and in school-related and non-school related activities.

The code of conduct for our school is rooted in the great command of Jesus to love God and love your neighbour (Matt 22:37-40). Our school is a community. We demonstrate our love for one another in our school community by being willing to conduct our lives – through speech and behaviour – in a way that honours God and gives dignity, acceptance and respect to others.

Faculty and Board members can demonstrate that they love the students and all others in the school community by promoting a safe and accepting school culture where students are protected from harassment and bullying, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or belief system.

Faculty are called to love and respect all students; not just the ones easy to like.

  • Be kind, helpful, and encourage students.
  • Stop all bullying behaviour in hallways, classrooms and grounds including teasing, verbal “digs”, cyber-stalking, gossiping among peers, and physically harming another.
  • Be inclusive, considerate, and help students respect the diversity of others regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or belief system.
  • Do not judge one another.
  • Never cause anyone harm whether it be emotional with your words or physical with your fists; don’t fight, bully, harass or tease each other.

The following particular standards of conduct of NCES are important non-exhaustive examples of how Faculty and the School Board are to live as members of the School.

  • Demonstrate clear and active support for Christian education, but not excluding other forms of education.
  • Active membership in a Christian church.
  • Respect for the sanctity of life; and opposition to abortion.
  • Refrain from the activities such as homosexuality (Rm. 1:26-28, Lev. 20:13, 1Cor. 6:9), sexual relationships outside of heterosexual marriage, and the use of pornography, or other sexually explicit material.
  • Refrain from the abuse of alcohol, drugs, and any illegal substance.
  • Refrain from criminal activity or serious civil wrongdoing.