Dedicated Aide, Elementary

ABOUT MERIDIAN PCS

Meridian is a PreK-8th grade school located in Washington DC’s vibrant U Street Corridor. Our mission is to inspire a passion for learning in our students and to help them build their self-confidence and self-respect through academic achievement. 

Our 650+ students are a diverse mix of African-American, Latino, Asian, African, and White students. Almost 30% of our students are English language learners, and we have one of the largest Hispanic populations in DC charter schools. We are committed to building a community of teachers and staff who reflect the rich diversity of our student body. Our middle school campus serves nearly 200 students in the Columbia Heights neighborhood in grades 6-8.

Meridian is committed to serving families from our local communities; and one-third of our students live within a half mile of the school. The U Street Corridor was once the heart of black culture in DC and offers a tangible historical archive for our students, and Columbia Heights is one of the most racially and economically diverse neighborhoods in the District. We are also proud of the fact that Meridian is a school of choice for parents— all eight wards of the city are represented among our student population.

Meridian’s strengths include two beautiful and historic campuses, with nearby outdoor and recreational grounds; state of the art technology for students and teachers; updated and aligned curricula; an academic program laser-focused on student growth, achievement, and social-emotional development; extensive professional development and support for teachers and leaders; and a school culture grounded in student achievement, collaboration, and student-centered learning.

Join us as we continue to take Meridian from good to great! For additional information about Meridian visit mpcs-dc.org. 

ABOUT THE POSITION

We are seeking a dedicated aide for immediate hire to work on our elementary campus. A Dedicated Aide at Meridian works from 7:45 am - 3:45 pm during the regular academic year. The position may require occasional evening and/or weekend commitments outside of the regular school hours. A Dedicated Aide is paid on an hourly basis and is responsible for the following:

• Support the creation of environments and instructional opportunities that meet the needs of diverse learners
• Assist students with participating in daily classroom lessons and routines
• Collaborate in the implementation of daily lesson plans by supporting students’ access to instructional material
• Use positive affect and communication techniques that are sensitive to student’s needs
• Administer tests, homework assignments, make-up work, etc. for the purpose of supporting students
• Consistently implement behavioral and academic strategies as per students’ IEPs
• Communicate with teachers as may be required for the purpose of assisting in evaluating progress and/or implementing IEP objectives.
• Maintain student records; assist teachers in regularly observing students and tracking student progress
• Provide assistance to the implementation of physical and occupational therapy, speech and language, vision and hearing support programs as needed for the student
• Assist students with gross and fine motor activities including personal hygiene, feeding and toileting
• Assist student with school meals (breakfast, lunch, snack), including carrying trays, organizing meal trays for students, and cleaning up meals
• Work with families to support the progress of assigned students
• Respond to inquiries from a variety of sources (e.g. other teachers, parents, administrators, students, etc.) in order to resolve issues, providing information and/or direction
• Actively monitor students in a variety of educational environments (e.g. classroom, cafeteria, playground, hallways, restrooms, field trips, etc.) to provide a safe and positive learning environment
• Attend student, grade level, content level, and school meetings as assigned by administration or designee

QUALIFICATIONS

Ideal candidates will have the following education and experience:

• High school degree or GED equivalent
• Trained in therapeutic restraint tactics
• Demonstrate knowledge of and the ability to assist in instructing reading, writing, and mathematics
• Strong communication skills in order to ensure effective, positive interactions with teaching team, staff, parents and students
• Solution focused and goal oriented
• Energetic, reliable, and flexible
• Ability to thrive in a highly collaborative work environment
• Ability to maintain a patient and supportive relationship with assigned students required