We are currently hiring for the 2025–2026 school year
Job Description
Title: Special Education Instructional Aide
Division: Special Education
Reports to: Special Education Director
Status: Full-Time, Non-Exempt (Academic Year) CalSTRS Retirement Eligible
Hourly Range: $32.67-$34.49/hr.
Summary
Under the supervision of the Special Education Director and Special Education Teacher, the Special Education Instructional Aide will assist with the instruction and support of designated Special Education students by performing a variety of instructional support duties to individuals or small groups of students within the special education setting or regular classroom. These duties shall be designed to complement the instructional program to maximize the learning opportunity and inclusion of students with learning differences. The Instructional Aide will also assist in the establishment and implementation of appropriate classroom and MWA school-wide behavior norms, expectations, and practices.
Essential Functions
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.
Instruction
Work with students in small groups or individually to tutor, reinforce, or follow up learning activities in core academic, language, and/or specialized subject areas.
Prepare and set up instructional materials and/or equipment for use in classroom activities; maintain instructional material and equipment.
Provide guidance to classroom teachers to create curriculum modifications for students, based on observations.
Assist in establishing and maintaining a clean, safe, and cooperative classroom and learning environment. Use data to help inform discussions about student learning and progress with Special Education Resource Teachers and staff.
Assessment
Provide testing accommodations, including supervising students completing tests in a separate location or during an extended time.
Review and correct student work assignments.
Assist in the implementation of behavior intervention plans which may involve use of approved positive reinforcement strategies, behavior modification, other skills or knowledge to establish and maintain appropriate behaviors.
Collaboration
Facilitate and support social interactions and foster the development of positive relationships between students with disabilities and their non-disabled peers.
Assist all students by modeling appropriate behavior and attitudes and providing emotional support and general guidance.
Support students to be active participants on field trips and school assemblies or productions.
Regularly collaborate with the IEP team (general education teachers, educational specialists, program specialists, etc.).
Mission Alignment
Demonstrate knowledge and support of Making Waves Academy’s mission, core values, standards, competencies, and code of conduct outlined in the Employee Handbook.
Participate in the school community – attending school competitions, performances, assemblies, and extracurricular activities.
Participate in required campus supervision duties every week, from Monday to Friday, with varying frequency depending on the semester's supervision assignment.
Work Environment
This job operates in an office and school environment and routinely uses standard office equipment.
Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be regularly required to move around campus, stand, sit, talk, hear, reach, stoop, kneel, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer, phone, and keyboard.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision requirements due to computer work.
Light to moderate lifting may be required.
Education and Experience
Associate's degree or minimum of 60 college credits required and experience working with children and youth, especially in an organized setting or learning environment. Direct experience working with individuals with disabilities, particularly in an educational or support role, is highly valued. Bachelor's degree desired.
Experience in implementing positive behavior support strategies and managing challenging behaviors. Experience assisting with the implementation of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) is a significant advantage.
Experience working with students and families from historically underserved communities
Skills and Abilities
Understands how to support teachers in delivering lessons and activities by directly supporting student learning and reinforcing instruction provided by a teacher
Works effectively with teachers and other school staff to support student learning and classroom management. Ability to follow directions, assist with activities, and provide individual or small group support to students under a teacher's guidance
Accurately and efficiently carries out instructions. Keeps materials organized, manages tasks efficiently, and adheres to schedules
Monitors students during various activities, ensuring their safety, and reports any concerns. Demonstrates a high level of patience, understanding, and empathy for students with diverse needs and challenges
Maintains appropriate conduct, appearance, and confidentiality regarding student information
Highly effective communication skills. Ability to build relationships with students and their families in the culturally and linguistically diverse MWA community. While not required, fluency in Spanish will be a significant advantage in this role, allowing for broader engagement with our diverse campus community
Flexibility and willingness to adapt to changing needs and student behaviors within the classroom
Basic technology skills including word processing, spreadsheets, and educational software
Licenses or Certificates
Employment eligibility will include fingerprints/Live Scan, tuberculosis (TB) screening, and other employment clearance.
CPR and First Aid Certification helpful.
Other Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice
Reasonable Accommodation
Consistent with its obligations under the law, MWA will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job.
Equal Employment Opportunity Is Our Policy
Making Waves Academy is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of the School to afford equal employment and advancement opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard to their perceived or identified: race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and hairstyle, including but not limited to braids, locks, and twists); color; gender, (including gender identity, gender expression, and transgender identity, whether or not the employee is transitioning or has transitioned); sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and medical conditions related to such); religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices); marital/registered domestic partner status; age (forty (40) and over); national origin or ancestry (including native language spoken and possession of a driver’s license issued to persons unable to prove their presence in the U.S. is authorized by federal law); physical or mental disability (including HIV and AIDS); medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics); taking of a leave of absence pursuant to the Family Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”), Pregnancy Disability Leave (“PDL”) law, Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), California Family Rights Act (“CFRA”), the Fair Employment and Housing Act (“FEHA”), or laws related to domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking laws; genetic information; sexual orientation; military and veteran status; or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.
This policy extends to all job applicants and employees and to all aspects of the employment relationship, including the hiring of new employees and the training, transfer, promotion, discipline, termination, compensation and benefits of existing employees. For a full copy of our non-discrimination policy, visit: https://bit.ly/mwapublicnotices
