Career Opportunity

 Education Assistant - For the Visually Impaired    

Wage: $31.93 per hour 

Mission Public Schools is dedicated to providing our students with an educational environment that nurtures the development of an Educated Citizen.  Located in the beautiful Fraser Valley, Mission is a vibrant and diverse community with over 6200 students and 850 employees. We are committed to providing a safe, equitable, and inclusive educational system for all students in our thirteen urban and rural elementary schools, two middle schools, one secondary school, distributed learning centre, alternative learning centre, and vocational and technical college. 

We are accepting resumes for a part-time Term Education Assistant with Student Services. This an itinerant position, so travel between sites is an expectation

This is work of a support nature, working as part of the Student Services Department, assisting the district Teacher for the Visually Impaired, and the regular classroom teachers, by supplementing and reinforcing teacher taught lessons and concepts with children who are visually impaired.

 Under the direction of the Teacher for the Visually Impaired, and with the general supervision of the Director of Student Services, the Education Assistant–Visually Impaired (EA-VI) works with students on an individual basis and follows an established program to assist students with their regular classroom assignments as well as the expanded core curriculum related to their visual impairment.  The EA-VI also prepares braille transcriptions to assist students in keeping up with their regular assignments.

Initially the type of assistance and assignments are outlined in detail by the teacher in conjunction with the school administrator, and closely supervised.  As the EA-VI becomes familiar with the program, materials, and students, some independence of judgement is exercised, within established guidelines.  Communication between teacher(s) and EA-VI regarding student progress takes place on a regular basis and may include the EA-VI

Duties include, but are not limited to: 

• Produces Unified English Braille, Unified English Braille for Technical Material, with the use of computer braille translation software and on a Perkins brailler
• Transcribe braille copy into print format
• Act as a reader or scribe for students who have no technical means of access or output
• Act as a sighted guide when necessary, and support concepts of orientation and mobility
• Work with students to reinforce concepts previously taught by both internal and external contacts through review, repetition, demonstration and drills
• Responsible for inventory and maintenance of books, tapes, materials and equipment on loan from the Provincial Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired and Special Education Technology BC
• Assist students in their use of technology
• Provide general assistance to students to organize their work, stay on task, locate resource material, and check for understanding
• Attend classes with students to provide assistance to the student and/or teacher, make notes for review with student
• Provide written and verbal feedback to teacher regarding student progress and behavior
• May be required to work at more than one location during a work day
• Maintain clerical aspects of programs, including photocopying, collating and filing, etc.
• Assists students in the operation of computer programs
• Assists students to follow individualized programs, such as communication program, vision program
• Performs other related duties as may reasonably be expected of a person in this position

Required Qualifications

• Completion of secondary school
• Completion of a recognized program of studies at the post secondary level in Special Education Assistant or related courses plus a certificate in Unified English Braille and Unified English Braille for Technical Materials (Math and Science).
•  Valid B.C. Class 5 driver’s license.

Required Experience

• A minimum of six (6) months experience in a similar role related experience working with children

Required Skills and Abilities

• Proven interest in, and ability to work with children who are visually impaired
• Good understanding of the effects that visual impairment may have regarding child development
• Ability to creatively describe situations, and the functions of objects to visually impaired students
• Artistic and technical ability to produce tactile diagrams, raised line drawings, maps, charts and symbols for Socials, Science and Math
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the use of computers, with familiarity with Microsoft Word, the Duxbury Braille Translator or equivalent software
• Good observation, articulation and listening discrimination skills and the ability to keep accurate notes
• Ability to assist learning in a variety of subjects
• Willing to participate in related in-service training
• Excellent communication skills to work with students and to provide feedback to teachers, principals and, within district guidelines, parents
• an ability to learn and follow prescribed educational programs and methods to assist students

Note:  A Vulnerable Sector Criminal Record Check will be required from the successful applicant, with a review every five (5) years.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Qualified applicants are invited to submit an application package which should include the following:

• Cover Letter
• Resume (Include recent professional development activities)
• Copies of: 
  • Diploma/degree
  • Three professional references

The interest of all applicants is appreciated; however, only those short-listed for interviews will be contacted.