The Associate Teacher works under the direction of a licensed classroom teacher to ensure curriculum is implementing correctly, plan and schedule students, assist with classroom organization and materials preparation, supervise paraprofessional staff as assigned, provide assistance and relief to paraprofessionals for scheduled breaks and ensure all documentation is completed before staff leave for the day. The Associate Teacher will assist the teacher in developing lesson plans, completing formative assessments, maintain all records and materials for the classroom ensure that the classroom is prepared for educational activities for the next day and assist with students as needed.

Essential Functions

STUDENT SUPPORT:
Ensure that staff is providing ongoing instruction and academic programming.
Ensure that staff is following all functional communication protocols.
CLASSROOM SUPPORT:
Ensure staff is following the classroom schedule.
Helping teacher with all preparations of materials for the students each day
Helping teacher keep the classroom and materials clean, off the floor, organized and put away on an ongoing basis.
Helping teacher with other staff implementation of Positive Behavior Support Plan & behavioral protocols.
Helping teacher in conducting academic, group, and social activities.
In the absence of the classroom teacher, the associate teacher, with the support of the administrative team, will be responsible for ensuring all classroom and supervisory duties are fulfilled inclusive of providing periodic observations and assistance with performance evaluations for assigned staff.
BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT:
Managing behavioral episodes in a positive and respectful manner under the guidance of Crotched Mountain policies and procedures.
To utilize training to de-escalate students safely when they have become an immediate safety risk to themselves or to others.
To perform standing restraints safely and effectively; be able to avoid, deflect or redirect inappropriate physical contact. Begin to anticipate events likely to cause problems, and explain, teach about, or avoid them.
MEDICAL SUPPORT:
Support the medical needs of the students.
Recognize signs of impending medical concerns and when trained adequately, administer medication as prescribed by physician under the direction of classroom teacher and school nurse.
Respond to seizure protocols for student with seizure disorders
Be able to respond to injury emergencies, contact required personnel, and document medical incidents according to CMRC policy and procedure
COLLABORATION:
Develops cooperation and teamwork while participating in a group of people, working toward solutions which generally benefit all involved parties.
Facilitate and/or attend classroom meetings, trainings, workshops as assigned
Keep teacher and other team members informed and up-to-date
DOCUMENTATION:
Thoroughness in accomplishing all required paperwork. Monitors and checks documentation and plans and organizes time and resources efficiently.
Ensure that staff completes all required documentation on time; required daily paperwork, includes but is not limited to: medication sheets, one to one sheets, Individual Education Program data collection documents, Behavioral Support Plan data collection documents and shift to shift communication logs.
Utilizing Matrix Point of Care accurately document medical information.

Additional Responsibilities

PRIMARY COMPETENCIES:
At the start of the Associate Teachers shift (in the classroom), s/he will be immediately ready to respond and support the classroom and students through the direction of the teacher.
Utilizing prompting and prompt fading techniques.
Attending all required team meetings and supervision meetings (e.g. RBT).
Reporting all feedback, observations and concerns to teacher
Checking email at least once per day
Ensuring that only encouraging conversations between staff are present when around students. All staff will refrain from speaking negatively about any persons in front of students. All conversations that are negative and in front of students will be reported to teacher.
Ensuring that all engagement and interactions with students are appropriate models, functional, and are encouraging, and positive. The focus will be on all progress, efforts, accomplishments and the staff establishing/pairing themselves as generalized conditioned rein forcers. No personal conversations!
Ensures that staff have and presents all materials needed for students at all times.
Distributing teaching materials (e.g. assignments, workbooks, papers, pencils etc)
Filling out answer keys as needed
Following all task analyses, teaching protocols, discrete trials and naturalistic teaching techniques.
Completion of a physical every three years per child care licensing regulations.
Advocate and protect clients rights in accordance with current policies and procedures.
Actively participate in vocational opportunities, field trips, community outings, and all other special events at Crotched Mountain School.
Assist with meals and snacks following all dietary and prescribed Meal and Nutrition protocols.
Assist with activities of daily living (ADLs) as determined by their level of independence and need, this includes personal hygiene, toileting, dressing, preparing for activities.

Must have at least a Bachelors Degree. Willing and able to work with students of all ability levels.CERTIFICATION: Obtain and maintain a Para-educator II certification through the New Hampshire Department of Education. Within six months of being hired, each Associate Teacher will complete RBT training. Associate Teachers must complete an Individual Professional Development Plan with measurable goals through the assigned Classroom Teacher. Over the next three years, the Associate Teacher must complete 50 hours of professional development activities that aligns with the identified goals. Renewal through the New Hampshire Department of Education is required every three years.