ESY New: Paraeducator | SALA (Summer Arts for Learning Academy)

SUMMER ARTS FOR LEARNING ACADEMY (SALA)

ESY PARAEDUCATOR      

Reports to: ESY site director on site, Summer Arts for Learning Academy  

Classification: Temporary, Non-Exempt

The SALA ESY Paraeducator Job Description:

The SALA ESY Paraeducator is a specially trained Paraprofessional who assists teachers and teaching artists in meeting a student’s needs through collaborative planning. Their main goal is to enable all students to be involved in and thrive in the entirety of our program.Under the direction of the Extended School Year (ESY) Teacher or ESY Site Lead, the Paraeducator

implements and monitors individualized education programs, provides appropriate specialized educational instructional support and works closely with ESY teachers and related staff to ensure continuity of services for meeting the specific needs of students with disabilities participating in either the ESY Life Skills or PAL Programs. An ESY paraeducator can provide support to our ESY students in many ways such as community building, instructional support, assisting with activities of daily living, and/or fostering and developing a student’s social skills. For example, a paraeducator might help a student with using the bathroom, mobility issues, specialized communication, or staying on task. We believe educators are able to build stronger relationships with students when they are able to give them the personalized attention they need. Extended School Year (ESY) & SALA.  

About the Summer Arts for Learning Academy ESY program :

Baltimore City Schools’ Summer Arts for Learning Academy (SALA) ESY program, operated by Arts for Learning Maryland, offers students an opportunity to imagine, create, and express who they are through the arts. This is a full-day, five-week program (Monday - Thursday) that introduces students to an artist integrated program.  Teaching artists, teachers and paraeducators will work together to offer ESY students an opportunity to engage in a program that integrates an artist into the ESY classrooms we serve. ESY students have a wide variety of ability levels and needs for accommodation, so the ideal candidate will have experience with a variety of special education populations and a willingness to adapt as needed.  Arts for Learning Maryland will host 10 Academy sites throughout the city, locations TBD. 

Mission and Core Values:

The mission of Arts for Learning Maryland’s Summer Arts for Learning Academy (SALA) is to provide students with an opportunity to spend summer learning from the best Teachers and Teaching Artists our state has to offer. Through a dynamic, creative, and supportive environment, students will explore math and literacy in a unique arts-integrated environment that allows them to develop socially and emotionally, expands their personal creative process, introduces them to different art forms taught by professional Artists, and allows them to experience math and literacy content from a different lens.

We...

• believe unwaveringly that ALL students can achieve high standards in and through the arts.
• provide opportunities for students to develop powerfully articulate voices through art forms and honor their creative processes along the way.
• create safe, brave learning environments for students to grow, make mistakes, and contribute to the community.
• collaborate and reflect by learning from and with each other at every step of the process, cultivating positive relationships between all ages.
• encourage the development of critical thinking, problem solving, inquiry, imagination, and creativity, and provide multiple ways for students to demonstrate knowledge and mastery.
• learn about, honor, and leverage the cultural knowledge, experiences, and frames of reference of our students and community to make learning more relevant and effective.
• ensure that our students are known, loved, supported, celebrated, and valued.

Essential Functions:

• Provides direct support to students with disabilities based on their Individual
• Education Program (IEP) under the direction of the ESY teacher and ESY Site Lead.
• Experience working with students with cognitive, behavioral, intellectual, social,and emotional disabilities.
• Maintains appropriate records and documents for students participating in ESY summer programs.
• Participates in professional development activities and staff meetings as required or assigned.
• Paraeducators will participate in professional development before the ESY program starts and meet regularly with the ESY Teacher(s) and/or ESY Site Lead.
• Functions as a Paraeducator and may perform a variety of support duties.
• Performs and promotes all activities in compliance with equal employment and non-discrimination policies; follows federal laws, state laws, school board policies and professional standards.

ESY SALA Paraeducator/Aid Staff Have:

• Paraeducators currently working in City Schools; experience with Citywide Life Skills or PAL Programs preferred.
• Satisfactory evaluation rating for the 2024-2025 school year.
• Capacity to support goals and objectives of programs to which assigned.
• Excellent oral and written communications and human relations skills.
• Proficient in the use of technical computer applications, including Microsoft Office, Google Platforms, and Excel.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills.
• A passion for students: an ability to build meaningful relationships and a desire to “go above and beyond” to ensure each student’s success.
• An ability to create inclusive environments where all students’ unique gifts and talents are discovered and cultivated and where students’ identities (racial, cultural, social, gender, etc.) are acknowledged, affirmed, and reflected around them.
• A strong desire to fully integrate into a non-traditional learning environment where flexibility is strongly valued and where new and innovative ideas are not only cultivated but expected from all staff.
• Knowledge of federal laws protecting the educational services for students with disabilities.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with students, peers, and parents.
• An ability to attend and engage in all required training and program dates.
• An ability to examine biases and an understanding of the concepts of institutional and structural racism and its impact on policies and practices, especially related to the administration of public education.
• A knowledge of Spanish is desired, in particular for serving those sites that have a large population of English Language Learners.

Required Dates, Times, and Working Hours:

SALA ESY Paraeducators must be able to commit to attending  program and training days, including PD week shortly before program launch, and spring PD dates that will occur March-June. Specific dates and deadlines will be provided in a timely manner and all training is paid.

• SALA Program Dates: For all Baltimore sites, the program will run Monday through Thursday for a 5 week period of time. Program hours for students are 8:00 am (Breakfast) to 2:00 pm. 
• Weekly Meetings: One 30-minute staff meeting per week (days/times TBD by Site Directors). These meetings are required and paid.

Compensation:

• The SALA paraeducator  position is a temporary, non-exempt position and is not eligible for employee benefits. This position is eligible for time-off in the form of Sick & Safe leave.
• Paraeducators will be paid at an hourly rate of $30.00. 
• ALL positions will be paid at the hourly rate of $25.00 for all professional development sessions and training. 

Time Off:

Grant and special-funded staff, hired for short-term assignments, internships, and as temporary project-based staff, are not eligible to accrue PTO, however Sick and Safe leave is available to these employees. Sick and Safe Leave is accrued at a rate of one hour for every thirty hours worked and begins accruing on day one of employment. Employees may use the leave in increments of 1 hour or greater. Employees will be paid at their current regular rate for each accrued Sick and Safe Leave hour used.

Employees who have questions about Sick and Safe Leave, including (i) their eligibility for Sick and Safe Leave; (ii) when Sick and Safe Leave may be used; and (iii) the amount of available Sick and Safe Leave should promptly contact the People Operations Department (pops@artsforlearningmd.org)

Job Responsibilities:

As a member of the Instructional Support Team:

• Support and supervise students during arrival and dismissal.
• Assist Classroom Teachers and Teaching Artists with copying and modifying items to support teaching and learning.
• Regularly communicate with the Instructional Team so that students' needs are being met through a cohesive team strategy.
• Build relationships with students and staff, and be an essential liaison with families to create a positive and supportive community within the classroom and the site.
• Engage parents, guardians, and families effectively and in a culturally appropriate fashion, including responding to family inquiries in a timely manner and contacting parents/guardians to provide progress updates, share challenges, or address concerns.
• Support students in transitions from and to, and during, lunch and Fitness & Fun periods.
• Attend all professional development and planning meetings as instructed by Arts for Learning and SALA ESY Site Directors.
• Complete or oversee the completion of all required paperwork as assigned by the Site Director, including student attendance records, student pre and post surveys or assessments, student observation rubrics, student progress reports, etc.
• Assist with the preparation and planning student showcases.
• Assist in the preparation and display of student work.
• Submit verbal and written reports as required.
• Assist with the administration of student program evaluations when needed.

SALA ESY Paraeducators holds these specific responsibilities:

• Work in partnership with the Classroom Teacher, Teaching Artist, and Lead Special Educator to:
• • Collaboratively plan lessons that take student abilities and accommodations into consideration. 
  • Understand student IEPs and the accommodations they need to be successful and implement strategies to meet the accommodations.
  • Support instruction based on the needs of the students and Teachers.
  • Work with other professionals, such as Speech Therapists, Social Workers, Occupational, and Physical Therapists on site.
• Support students to assist them in developing appropriate strategies to succeed.
• Maintain student supervision and safety at all times, including transition, P.E., and transportation periods.
• Other duties as assigned.

To Apply:

For consideration, apply online at www.artsforlearningmd.org/programs/summer-arts-academy/work-with-us/

Arts for Learning Maryland (formerly Young Audiences of Maryland) is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to cultivating a diverse workforce and equitable workplace. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, national origin, veteran status, and disability. All qualified applications will be given equal opportunity.