SY21-22 Springfield Realization Academy Founding Instructional Paraprofessional

Grade Level: 6

Location: Springfield Realization Academy at Forest Park

About Springfield Realization Academy

Springfield Realization Academy (SRA) is a new 6th-8th grade school within the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership (SEZP) in Massachusetts. We are a dual-language school that offers a technology enhanced college preparation curriculum embedding 21st century learning skills. We are seeking a dedicated and competent educator and instructional leader for the position of Founding Instructional Paraprofessional. SRA will open in July 2021 for staff, and August 2021 for students. We will have approximately 80 students in year I and add a grade of 80 students each year until we are 6th-8th grade with 240 students. We are building a founding team of passionate, adaptive, and detail-oriented educators who are committed to equity in educational opportunities for children of underserved communities, and whose educational philosophy aligns with our mission:

Springfield Realization Academy (SRA) provides a technology enhanced, college preparatory curriculum that is tailored to meet the needs of students in grades 6-8. Through effective instruction, including an emphasis on bilingual education, purposeful use of data, and in partnership with our families, we ensure our students develop the 21st century learning skills to be successful in high school, college and beyond.

Job Summary

As a learning community, one of our foundational core beliefs is that student engagement with rigorous instruction and grade level content ensures academic success. In advancing that belief, we underscore the importance of our teachers and the need for them to be as effective as possible in meeting the needs of their charges. We believe that our teachers hold the most important job in our school, and our program is designed to provide the tools, resources, and professional support to ensure their success as leaders of learning every day. A Humanities teacher at SRA teaches four periods (two double periods) each day, and leads intervention, remediation, and enrichment classes for students. Our Humanities program is a combination of ELA and Social Studies. The Founding Humanities Teacher will report to the Head of School and participate in weekly collaboration, coaching, and professional development to maximize their positive impact on our scholars at Springfield Realization Academy.

Key Responsibilities

• Supports direct instruction to children individually, in small groups, and in classroom settings.
• Provides assistance with classroom activities.
• Prepares instructional materials.
• Manages individual and classroom behavior.
• Supervises students on ?eld trip activities.
• Performs other support services and related duties as requested by Building Principal.

Key Competencies & Qualifications

• Unwavering high expectations for all scholars and a belief that all children deserve access to a college education and can all thrive academically given the appropriate supports.
• Positivity and enthusiasm for the potential of every scholar.
• Must be able to use a variety of equipment and classroom tools such as computers, copiers, calculators, pencils, scissors, equipment for children with special needs, etc.
• Ability to ready a variety of correspondence, reports, handbooks, forms, lists, etc.
• Strong communication, organization, and on-the-fly problem solving skills.
• Capacity and passion to grow every day based on data and feedback from school leaders and peers.
• High School Diploma or GED, and Associate of Arts or Science Degree or higher, or 60 undergraduate college credits, or Meeting or exceeding the State mandated score on the Paraprofessional Assessment or Work Keys Assessment
• BA Degree with Educator Licensure and Experience working with special education students in education settings preferred.
• Proficiency in technological tools, including Google Sheets, Google Slides, Google Drive (or equivalents) and other online teaching tools.

If you meet some of the qualifications above, we encourage you to apply or to reach out for more information. We know that historically marginalized groups – including people of color, women, people from working class backgrounds, and people who identify as LGBTQ – are less likely to apply unless and until they meet every requirement for a job. Therefore, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities or who are members of other marginalized communities.

We encourage you to reach out to SEZP@springfieldempowerment.org if you have questions about the role or your qualifications. We are happy to help you feel ready to apply!

Benefits

Paraprofessionals in SEZP qualify for benefits (personal/sick days, retirement, health insurance, etc.) offered to other employees in the Springfield Public Schools.

Positions will be filled on a rolling basis; applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. Please contact sezp@springfieldempowerment.org with any questions.

About the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership

While Massachusetts is consistently ranked as one of the top states for education results in the country, we have one of the highest and most persistent opportunity gaps. The Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership (SEZP) - established in 2015 as a collaboration between Springfield Public Schools (SPS), the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and the Springfield Education Association (SEA) – seeks to improve the longitudinal life outcomes of the more than 5,000 students in our eleven middle and high schools.

As a “zone” of schools within the city of Springfield, SEZP’s approach draws on a deep and embedded partnership with the school district and local teachers’ union, while harnessing the flexibility and innovation found in autonomous school models. As a result, each school within SEZP is accorded significant school-based autonomies - in curriculum, talent, calendar, schedule, and budget – while being held accountable for realizing achievement gains for historically marginalized students. In all of our work, SEZP is in pursuit of equity and anti-racism – acknowledging the systemic oppression our students and families encounter daily and working to disrupt these provision gaps urgently and courageously.

Nondiscrimination Statement

The Springfield Public Schools does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, age, disability or military service or marital status. The Springfield Public Schools does not discriminate in admission to, access or treatment in its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation, disability or homelessness.

Title IX Notice of Nondiscrimination

Springfield Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of sex in admission, administration of its educational programs or activities or employment. Springfield Public Schools is required by Title IX and its implementing regulations at 34 C.F.R. Part 106 not to discrimination on the basis of sex in admission, administration of its educational programs or activities or employment. The Senior Administrator of Human Resources, Kathleen O’Sullivan, Springfield Public Schools, 1550 Main St. Springfield MA, 011103, 413-787-7100, ext. 55428, has been designated as the employee responsible for coordinating Springfield Public Schools efforts to comply with and carry out its responsibilities under Title IX. Inquiries concerning the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations at 34 C.F.R. Part 106 to Springfield Public Schools may be referred to Kathleen O’Sullivan or to U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, 400 Maryland Ave., SW Washington, DC 20202-1100, telephone 800-421-3481.