Special Education Paraprofessional

School Overview

St. Louis Voices Academy of Media Arts is a new, innovative charter public school serving students and families within the boundaries of St. Louis City. St. Louis Voices Academy is a public charter school that leverages media arts and storytelling to equip students with the agency to excel academically, author their own futures, and make meaningful contributions in their communities. St. Louis Voices Academy is committed to media and storytelling, whole-child development, real-world inquiry, and progressive learner autonomy as design elements that allow the school to fulfill its mission. The school is currently kindergarten through second grade and will add a grade each year, growing to kindergarten through fifth grade.

Role Overview

We believe that children may need more academic and social-emotional support than one teacher can offer a room of more than 20 students. To this end, skilled and caring support staff to assist and support students' academic and social-emotional needs. This role serves as a unique opportunity for talented individuals to provide more specialized attention to individual students while providing support to the teacher and to students with disabilities in the classroom who need modified instruction or assistance, in keeping with their IEP.

Under the direction of a certified classroom teacher and/or school administrator, paraprofessionals supplement student education and assist classroom teachers with instructional, behavior management, and/or administrative duties. They support the physical, behavioral, and academic needs of a specific student or group of students with special needs throughout the school day. 

Mission Alignment

Mission-aligned members of the St. Louis Voices Academy community share the following dispositions: 

• Dedication to the school’s mission, vision, values, and graduate outcomes; 
• Understanding that relationships are essential to working with students who have experienced the effects of poverty or trauma; 
• Belief that our students have strengths and assets and build on these strengths in their work;
• A positive attitude and a solution-based approach to challenges in the workplace;
• Commitment to restorative justice as a means of addressing conflicts or challenges in the community, whether between students, staff members, or students and staff members;
• Commitment to inclusive excellence, including a willingness to engage in conversations about privilege, power, equity, and diversity and to invest time in community-building and professional development based on inclusive excellence;
• Active participants in a supportive and demanding professional community that fosters respect, trust, honesty, risk-taking, open-mindedness, flexibility, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Provide instructional reinforcement for individual students or small groups of students
• Modifying or adapting instruction for students with disabilities;
• Working with individual students or small groups of students to reinforce learning of material or skills introduced by the teacher;
• Providing one-on-one assistance to students with disabilities;
• Guiding independent study, enrichment work, and remedial work with students as set up and assigned by the teacher;
• Assisting students with self-care tasks (as necessary); and
  
• Assist teacher with classroom management and general supervision of the class
• Assist with administrative duties such as setting up equipment and preparing materials
• Support students with special needs by following provisions specified in their IEPs/504 Plans
• Perform other duties as directed by the classroom teacher and school administration
• Implement and enhance the school’s systems and culture
• Communicate effectively with students, families, and colleagues
• Commit to professional growth
• Demonstrate a relentless drive to improve the minds and lives of their students in and out of school
• Perform all duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 60 College Credits or DESE alternative; Bachelor’s Preferred
• A demonstrated interest in impacting K-12 students in urban schools and communities (1-2 years of experience preferred)
• A demonstrated commitment to supporting students’ social-emotional and academic development
• A self-directed learner who solicits and implements feedback to improve outcomes and achieve objectives
• Evidence of alignment with school’s mission: leveraging media and storytelling to equip students with the agency to excel academically, author their own futures, and make meaningful contributions to the communities
• Evidence of alignment with St. Louis Voices Academy’s core values: community, commitment, courage, confidence, compassion, and celebration
• Demonstrated commitment to educational equity and a deep understanding of drivers of the opportunity gap
• Proactive, strategic problem-solver who is able to work successfully in a fast-paced environment often while balancing competing priorities
• Personal responsibility and commitment to continual professional growth

Additional Information

St. Louis Voices Academy offers competitive salaries commensurate with experience and a comprehensive benefits package. Aside from extensive professional development, all our staff members are equipped with laptops, email, and all necessary supplies. Performance is evaluated by the Director of Teaching and Learning in accordance with St. Louis Voices Academy’s human resources policy.

St. Louis Voices Academy believes in the importance of being a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization that enables our students and staff to thrive. We are committed to building a talented team that reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our students. At the same time, we work to ensure an inclusive community by creating a space for meaningful dialogue about issues of race and identity for our staff and students. As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or disability.