MI Special Education Teaching Assistant

MISSION We exist to foster a diverse community of youths and adults striving together for academic, personal, and civic excellence.

VISION Creating inclusive excellence in public education.

Assignment: MI Assistant Teacher

Reporting directly to Highline’s campus Special Education teacher, our staff are the heart of our organization - the ones who make the mission come alive for our students. We expect our staff to be caring about the whole child, strong and nurturing at classroom management, and excellent collaborators with teammates and families. We look for people with good communication skills, dedication to do everything it takes to make a difference for each child, and a growth mindset.

Position Schedule: Assistant Teachers are paid year round on a salary. Their student contact days (177) and their professional development days and parent conference days adds up to a 189 days work year. Assistant teachers are expected to be on campus ready for students by 7:30 am and to stay until 4:00 each day school is in session, and to 4:00 on Wednesdays when we have early release days for students followed by teacher P.D. or planning meetings. There is one week of professional development every summer before school begins which is part of the accounted professional development days.

REPORTS TO: Campus Assistant Principal

DEPARTMENT: Elementary School Faculty

SUPERVISES: N/A

HIGHLINE OVERVIEW: Highline Academy is a community of diverse youth and adults striving together for academic, civic, and personal excellence. Founded in 2004, Highline is committed to inclusive excellence. In 2013, we launched our second school in Green Valley Ranch. Our students come from fifty countries, speak 26 different languages, represent a full range of socio-economic backgrounds, and previous educational experiences. Our diverse and integrated community has already begun to achieve excellence. Highline students have consistently out-performed district and state averages. Strong faculty and student retention rates are emblematic of the school’s positive culture and strong community.

Highline has a commitment to a liberal arts education which includes Art, Music, Spanish and P.E. instruction for our students. We have high expectations for all of our learners, with an understanding that some learners need more or different instruction. We have Performance Group teachers at each grade level which enable us to give smaller group instruction for the core content areas of math and language arts. Additionally, we have a robust intervention program with additional supports available as students show they need them. We are a fully inclusive organization for students with special needs, who are integrated into the general education classrooms. We have a character education program designed by Highline called Reach. This teaches, practices, and celebrates the Reach values of responsibility, empowerment, aspiration, citizenship and honesty. All our students are taught to Reach Out to support and care about their classmates and community, Reach In to learn about themselves and reflect about their learning and Reach Up to their very best academic achievement. We are a students’ first, growth mindset organization and we expect all of our employees to model these values. All Highline employees are expected to read and follow all policies as written in the employee handbook and to review it annually for updates.

Major Responsibilities: All Highline assistant teachers must show clear competency and reliable practice of the following indicators:

• Create a Positive Classroom Culture and Climate
• Practice Effective Classroom Management
• Practice Restorative Justice Protocols
• Effective student management in all school areas, inside and outside
• Demonstrate Effective Collaboration and Engagement with students and colleagues
• Demonstrate thoughtful reflection, learning and development

MI Assistant teachers must also:

• Keep student knowledge about goals, progress and IEPS confidential
• Work one-on-one and in small group with students according to their needs
• Support students in specific behavioral and academic goals in general education class and in specialized settings.
• Be positive and proactive about supporting the students and parents of the MI program

All Highline assistant teachers are also expected to demonstrate the Highline Internal Commitments for Professional Practice.

• We will take responsibility for student learning by valuing diversity, needs, learning styles and through shared ownership.
• We will commit to being clear and purposeful in our objectives and instruction while continuing to reflect and revise learning strategies by frequently monitoring student assessment data and ensuring that it is used as a tool for learning.
• We accept and embrace diversity within our community of faculty, students, and parent/guardians by valuing each other for who and where we all are in life as learners and as people, and we commit to providing a safe place for all to succeed.
• We will be direct, intentional, timely, and graceful in giving and receiving communication without judgment and for positive and proactive purposes.
• We will create an environment that empowers faculty, students and parent/guardians to be active participants in student success.
• We will create a focused and sustainable adult community by focusing on what is most essential to student success and staying focused on Highline’s goal.
• We will consistently model and enforce Highline’s academic and behavioral expectations.

MI Assistant Teacher Responsibilities: Assistant teachers collaborate with their Special education classroom lead teacher to provide a rigorous and yet supportive and adaptive curriculum for every student in their program. MI Assistant teachers are expected to meet with their team to co-plan their lessons and may also be expected to meet with general education teachers or interventionist teachers to further support all students. MI Assistant teachers are also responsible for supporting the teaching of the Reach program, writing, Social Studies and Science or other adapted curriculum to their assigned groups of students. MI Assistant teachers are expected to help collect data and progress monitor as directed by their classroom teacher.

MI Assistant teachers set the tone with their students each day and set up the community expectations for their students. MI Assistant teachers are expected to build positive relationships with their students and also hold them to high expectations. MI Assistant teachers should manage their classes with positive proactive systems and strong rituals and routines. They are also expected to seek out more information and support from other staff members (the MI Special Education teacher) as needed. At Highline we believe in a student’s first approach at all times, and the MI assistant teacher is the foundation of this work.

MI Assistant teachers should be welcoming and supportive of families and work to support a thriving home to school connection for our students. MI Assistant teachers are expected to attend all professional development as assigned by their principal and participate with respect and attention.

Qualifications:

• An AA or BA in a related field
• Experience appropriate to the assignment;
• Demonstrated commitment to and understanding of the Highline mission;
• All teachers will be hired based on being highly qualified per No Child Left Behind (NCLB)

specifications.

• Strong communication and collaboration skills

• Dedication to Inclusive Excellence

Minimum Physical Requirements

• Be able to walk quickly, bend, kneel, crouch, sit, stand, grab or hold with one or both hands.
• To be able to lift up to 40lbs without difficulty
• To maintain appropriate demeanor and professional classroom behavior when working with

children and adults

• The ability to sit for extended periods during group training

Starting Salary Range:$33,300-42,138

Benefits:

Colorado PERA/PERA 401K

Life Insurance

PTO

Short Term Disability

Health

Gap Insurance

Dental

Aflac

Vision

FLEX24

Highline Academy Charter School proudly values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer.