Educational Assistant (Sign Language)

Start Date: TBD

10 months per year, 32.5 hours/week

Pay Band 9 - $28.94 to $32.15 per hour

We offer eligible employees a comprehensive employee pension (OMERS) and benefit package upon start date, a commitment to ongoing learning, and an exceptional work environment.

The Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board (KPR) offers a world-class education for approximately 34,000 students in 87 schools. Spanning over 7,000 square kilometers, across diverse rural and urban communities in southeastern Ontario, KPR serves the Municipality of Clarington, Northumberland and Peterborough Counties, and City of Quinte West/Murray Ward.

The Board is situated on the traditional territory of the Michi Saagiig Anishinaabeg people, serving three vibrant Indigenous communities which include Alderville First Nation, Curve Lake First Nation and Hiawatha First Nation.

Today, the Kawartha Pine Ridge school district is home to many First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples and we acknowledge the contributions and accomplishments of all Indigenous people across Turtle Island, current and throughout history.

All positions in the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board support the school’s priority of student achievement and the Boards mission to educate our students to excel in learning, to succeed in life and to enrich our communities."

Employees demonstrate empathy and respect in all interactions, are committed to service excellence, and embrace change through innovation. As part of our strategy to provide on-going support for our schools, the Board is now accepting resumes from qualified applicants for the full-time position of Educational Assistant - Sign.

The purpose of the Educational Assistant - Sign position is to provide instructional support in academic, social, physical, emotional and behavioural programs for students in a variety of learning situations. As well the Educational Assistant - Sign carries out personal care duties to meet the physical needs of students. As part of the student support team, the Educational Assistant - Sign promotes and maintains a safe, caring and restorative school environment. The Educational Assistant - Sign’s work is focused on supporting students who are deaf or have hearing loss by signing and speaking English, translating and interpreting modified curriculum.

REPORTS TO: School Principal with duties assigned by the teacher

Main Responsibilities

Provide identified students with support as per strategies recommended by occupational, physical, and communication therapists. Transfer and lift students, using appropriate and safe techniques and devices. Provide toileting, changing, repositioning, and dressing. Assist students with mobility as required. Assist in the operation of specialized equipment. Assist in the implementation of Student Safety Plans under the direction of the classroom Teacher and/or School Principal/ Vice-Principal. Perform clean and intermittent catheterization. Perform shallow and surface suctioning. Provide assistance with Glucometer, Insulin Pump and other procedures related to diabetes, with training as required. Provide hand over hand feeding, food preparation, deploys modified feeding tools, modeling, and monitoring for choking. Administer routine medication needs as permitted under the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA). Monitor and track the health needs of the student. Support students by promoting the development of appropriate social, communication and behavioural skills, utilizing the strategies of Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (NVCI). Assist in supervision needs as required, on class trips, in the classroom, washrooms and hallways, on the yard, at lunch, during examinations, receiving and delivering students to and from transportation, in academic groups and with individuals, and on student transportation. Assist with student safety issues including emergency evacuation, medical emergencies. Participate as a member of the school collaborative team, acting as a resource to other staff members and take part in the discussion of students’ progress and needs while maintaining confidentiality.

Program Support

Provide program support by assisting teachers with the delivery of academic and social/life skills programs for both individual and groups of students implementing effective learning support strategies, including: Using a variety of instructional support methods, techniques and learning aids such as scribing, correcting, prompting, reading, keeping student on task, adapting language for re-delivery, reinforcing concepts, lessons and skills. Providing information to teachers to assist in creation of student IEP. Supporting students in the use of assistive technology. Delivering appropriate life skills and routine activities of daily living and the promotion of independence, self-advocacy and self-reliance. Guiding, preparing, and assisting students completing work (co-op) placements, and other experiential learning, as required. Teaching personal hygiene, toilet training, washroom routines. Collecting and recording data on assigned students as directed by the principal, documenting and correlating statistical observations. Under the direction of the principal, communicates effectively with all members of the school community including assisting teachers with record keeping, such as documenting student progress, behaviours, medication administration and physical status, as well as assisting in completion of home journals, incident reports, and office referrals: regularly shares observations with school/Board personnel, approved agencies and student parent/legal guardian. Communicated using oral and total communication with student. Assists student in developing communication and language skills through questioning understanding, tracking for clarification, repeating and reinforcing ideas, encouraging expansion of vocabulary, spelling words into pictures, assisting in daily journal writing and talking to student on a one-on-one basis. Performs other duties as may be assigned by the teacher and the principal.

Supervision

No supervision of adults. May work alongside volunteers/college placement students and help guide them in their work. Supervision of students as outlined in student safety

Main Contacts

Internal: students, staff and volunteers

External: parent(s)/guardian(s), co-operative placement employers, professional and/or government agencies (Children’s Aid Society, Access Centre, Canadian Hearing Society etc.), the general public (taxi & bus drivers)

Education & Experience

Two (2) year college diploma in Educational Assistant Program or equivalent

Six (6) months to one (1) year related experience Level 2 Signing (Completed to a minimum of course 203)

Specialized Skills

Current Non Violent Crisis Intervention (NVCI) Certification (Full Program)

Effort And Working Conditions

School environment; moderate exposure to bodily wastes and fluids, foul language

and verbal abuse and infectious diseases;

Moderate amounts of dealing with difficult people, rational detachment, exposure to

noise, attention to detail and interruptions;

Moderate amounts of lifting or positioning physically disabled students and lifting

materials under 5 Kg; moderate amounts of bending and kneeling;

Expected Competencies

In order to fulfill this position with an acceptable degree of competency, the incumbent will be expected to exhibit:

Works on projects as part of a team, exchanging ideas and contributing skills that complement those of the other team members. Fulfills commitments to team member. Works independently to solve problems. Looks for opportunities to take on more responsibility. Meets standards of productivity as defined for the level and position. Demonstrates concern for the accuracy and quality of work and takes steps to correct mistakes and improve the overall product. Possesses the technical skills and knowledge needed to perform tasks efficiently. Able to take on a variety of different tasks and roles within the organization. Can be relied upon to handle a fair workload, meet deadlines and commitments, and accept responsibility for actions. Demonstrates an ability to work independently. Accepts changes and responds to setbacks with minimal disruption. Demonstrates a sense of responsibility and commitment to the public perception of the organization. Follows through on commitments and admits to mistakes. Maintains organized records and makes efficient use of resources. Always submits accurate reports, on time. Manages time and prioritizes tasks to ensure that deadlines are met. Works with an aim to assist the Planner in achieving the Areas of Emphasis, including making decisions and taking actions that will positively affect student achievement and demonstrating our Character Attributes.

A police records check, with a Vulnerable Sector Search and Pardoned Sexual Offenders Database Search, dated within 6 months prior to the date of hire, is a requirement for employment with this Board. Please note that there have been reports that it has taken some candidates up to 6 weeks to obtain a police check. With that in mind, we strongly recommend that you go about obtaining this search at your earliest convenience.

KPRDSB Is Committed To a Qualified Workforce That Is Representative Of The Diversity Of The People Of Ontario And Across The Communities We Serve. We Welcome Applications From Candidates With Diverse Background And Lived Experiences As a Member Of a Marginalized Group, Including But Not Limited To

First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, and all other Indigenous peoples; members of groups that commonly experience discrimination due to race, ancestry, colour, religion and/or spiritual beliefs, or place of origin; persons with visible and/or invisible (physical and/or mental) disabilities; persons who identify as women; and persons of marginalized sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions.

KPRDSB is committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Should you require accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process please make them known when contacted and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.