POSITION OVERVIEW: Special Ed Ed Tech III, Behavioral and Social-Emotional Support (Breathe Program) - Multiple Openings at King Middle
Portland Public Schools is seeking dedicated Special Ed Ed Tech III's to support students in the Behavioral and Social-Emotional Support Program ("Breathe") at King Middle School. Under the direction of the Principal, the selected Educational Technician implements academic and positive behavioral support plans, to help ensure a high quality education program and Success for Every Student. The Educational Technician also collects and maintains appropriate records and follows required record-keeping procedures and practices. The Educational Technician demonstrates outstanding interpersonal skills as well as conflict management and resolution skills. The Educational Technician recognizes and embraces the essential role s/he plays in the experience of students within Portland Public Schools. Finally, the Educational Technician is an integral member of King Middle School that serves as a support to students’ holistic well-being; teachers at Portland Public Schools thrive by having the opportunity to collaborate with students’ families and caregivers and all relevant stakeholders in support of students’ learning and social-emotional needs.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Support direct instruction to students individually, in small groups, and in classroom settings to ensure achievement of academic goals.
- Demonstrate cultural proficiency and actively foster relationships that respect, embrace and celebrate students’ diverse backgrounds, identities, strengths, and challenges.
- Learn about and leverage students’ strengths and opportunity gaps and adapt learning methods that appropriately guide, engage and challenge student(s).
- Collect, organize, and share data to ensure proactive and ongoing communication with all relevant stakeholders in service of student achievement of academic and behavioral goals.
- Foster an engaging and inclusive learning space and relationship that establishes positive student expectations conducive to learners' needs through developmentally appropriate and supportive routines and practices; manages student behavior using prescribed and adapted approaches.
- Collaborate and communicate across the students’ teachers and all relevant staff to ensure students receive necessary additional forms of academic assistance and/or relevant social-emotional support.
- Collaborate and communicate with the students’ families/caregivers and all relevant stakeholders to ensure necessary stakeholders are engaged in understanding and supporting the students’ learning and social emotional needs.
- Performs other related duties as requested by the Principal
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
+ General: - An understanding of the teaching and learning process at the middle school level.
- The ability to provide adjustments to instructional approaches and materials that reflect diverse perspectives and trauma-informed practices.
- Excellent human relations skills; the ability to work effectively with students, colleagues, school and non-school based service-providers, parents/caregivers and community members.
- An understanding of data collection, organizing, and sharing best practices that support student achievement of academic and behavioral goals.
- Applicants must be able to lift up to thirty-five pounds.
+ Equity Mindset and Approach to Work - Committed to challenging personal perspectives, examining one’s own biases and a willingness to take feedback, learn and grow around diversity, equity and inclusion related ideas.
- Exhibits the necessary mindsets to hold self as well as others accountable for supporting the district’s goal of becoming an equitable, anti-racist organization.
+ Effective Collaborator - Ability to collaborate across lines of differences with a diverse student population and staff, as well as community partners, and families/caregivers.
- Engages with families/caregivers and builds collaborative, respectful relationships with them in service of student learning.
+ Effective Communicator - Highly responsive and oriented towards transparency and proactive, explicit communication.
- Communicates ideas in ways that demonstrates respect and is digestible for varied audiences.
+ Teamwork Skills - Is effective at collaborating and is open to accepting new ideas.
- Is aligned with the Portland Promise and offers a diverse perspective and approach.
EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE:
- Approval as an Educational Technician III by the Maine Department of Education. In the alternative, Maine provisional or professional teacher certification.
- Preference will be given to candidates with a college degree that includes nine credit hours related to an education field such as behavior management or classroom strategies, and to candidates who have at least one year of experience working with students in structured situations.
- Must be willing to take Safety Care and/or Behavioral Health Professional training.
- Additional combinations of applicable education, training, and experience are welcome.
- Portland Public Schools values linguistic diversity and believes that candidates who speak another language bring added value to the classroom, school, and district culture and diversity.
CREDENTIAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Maine State fingerprint (CHRC) authorization (more info)
- Maine State Educational Technician III (023) authorization (more info)
- Possession of or ability to attain ESSA authorization within the first year of hire
EMPLOYMENT DETAILS:
- School-year position
- Full time, 1.0 FTE
- Permanent
- Overtime eligible
- Covered under the Ed Tech contract (see 2024-2027 CBA here)
- Salary based on experience, as outlined in CBA
- Eligible for benefits as outlined here (may not be updated with 25-26 plan information or $ amounts)
ABOUT KING:
Portland Public Schools is dedicated to providing a rich academic experience to support every student’s path to success. As a staff member at King, you will become a part of an inclusive community of educators ready to share the knowledge, skills, and abilities essential to thriving in a diverse environment. We strive to actively recruit, support, and retain BIPOC staff and to create a culturally responsive and representative learning environment where everyone feels connected, supported, recognized, and empowered. We focus on embracing the diversity of thought, identity, and experience of our staff and students, and on creating opportunities for fellowship and relationship building within our schools and community. We offer career and leadership development opportunities through district-wide programs such as professional development, on-the-job learning experiences, and mentoring that are intended to help you fulfill your career goals and aspirations. We are looking for people who are aligned with our vision. If you share these values, we welcome you to partner with us in this work.
--Portland Public Schools is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws.
