The Hermiston School District is seeking applicants for the Special Education Assistant-Life Skills position at Sandstone Middle School. The successful candidate will work under the supervision of the Special Education teacher to assist students defined as physically, mentally, and/or emotionally disabled. The position begins in August 2024.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Must meet NCLB educational requirements by possessing a minimum of an Associate's Degree or 72 college credit hours. Passage of the Work Keys Assessment test serves as an alternative to the educational requirement. The Work Keys exam is administered by the District as needed.
• Demonstrated standards of moral character and behavior as required of teachers (e.g., to serve as an effective role model).
• Previous experience working with students desired

The Work Keys exam study guide is available on our website: https://www.hermiston.k12.or.us/apps/pages/human_resources/-2

(Click on the Substitute Information link)

About our Middle Schools:Armand Larive Middle School is one of two middle schools in the Hermiston School District, serving a population of ~800 students. Each middle school campus has the support of a Principal, Assistant Principal, School Counselor, and a range of classified staff. Our goal is to support teachers in providing a premier education. With a focus on school-wide literacy and comprehensive after-school opportunities such as drama, robotics, chess, color guard, marching band, and co-curricular activities, middle school students in Hermiston stay engaged. 

About the District:

The Hermiston School District is the largest district in eastern Oregon, exceeding 5,300 students in grades kindergarten through 12, with the mission of serving the needs of all students with rigorous and engaging program choices, mutual, respect, and high expectations. The school district includes a 9-12 senior high school, two 6-8 middle schools, and six K-5 elementary schools for students and families.

The school district receives strong support from the Hermiston community. In 2019 voters approved an $82.7 million building project, which included replacement of Rocky Heights Elementary (opened fall 2022); construction of an additional elementary school, Loma Vista (opened fall 2022), and a multi-classroom annex of the high school (opened fall 2023); along with various district-wide renovations. Voters also approved a $69.9 million bond in 2008.

The district employs over 630 full time staff that includes approximately 390 teachers and over 260 classified, support, and supervisory personnel, making it one of the largest employers in the city of Hermiston. A nationally recognized community that embraces its diversity, the district serves some 28,000 residents, where half of the population is Hispanic.

The school district prides itself on the academic achievement of its students, successful athletic programs, nationally recognized club and activity organizations, and its exhaustive list of academic and elective opportunities available to students. The district’s partnership with community organizations is central to its continued success, highlighted by support groups who have provided nearly a half a million dollars to assist students and programs through such venues as the Hermiston Sports Booster Club, Hermiston Education Foundation, Band Boosters, FFA Alumni, and the community sponsorship of the student homebuilding program, to name a few.

About the Community:

The city of Hermiston is a vibrant and growing community of almost 20,000 residents located at the crossroads of the Pacific Northwest, situated near the intersection of I-84 and I-82, just minutes from a Columbia River port and 30 minutes from the Tri-Cities in Washington. Hermiston and the entire Umatilla County area have excellent potential for growth in commercial, industrial, agricultural, as well as residential development. Hermiston boasts over 100 acres for community use, volleyball courts, soccer fields, baseball diamonds, children's play areas, barbeque and picnic areas and more. Located within 10 minutes of downtown Hermiston, both Umatilla and Echo have challenging golf courses. The Columbia River offers tournament level fishing, as well as many water sports including swimming, wind surfing, and boating. Other fishing waters include the Umatilla River, Cold Springs Reservoir and many ponds. Hat Rock State Park is nearby, and the Blue Mountains are within an hour drive, affording a wide variety of fishing, hunting, and camping activities. In the winter, the mountains are home to excellent snow skiing, tubing, snowmobiling, and sledding.

Salary and Benefits:

The Hermiston School District offers an extremely competitive salary and benefits package which includes PERS retirement employer-paid pick-up, and a comprehensive health and benefits package. The full contract year for this position is 8.0 hours/day, 192 days (school year), including 5 paid holidays.

Salary hourly range for 2024-2025: $16.42 - $23.10 (based upon verified, comparable previous work experience)

Benefits include:

• Generous monthly insurance allowance (family coverage)
• District-paid employee life insurance
• District-paid PERS pick-up

Application Procedures:

The applicant must digitally supply the following items online through Recruit & Hire: https://hermiston.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx

• On-line application form
• Cover Letter
• Professional Resume
• Letters of Recommendation (optional)

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure his/her application is complete. Only complete applications will be considered.