Job Responsibilities
Work with children in an educational setting to implement
learning programs, reading programs, accomodate academic styles,
learning disabilities, and programs. Help children adapt to
unfamiliar settings and deal with learning and behavior problems.
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Job Requirements
Must either have a "Highly Qualified" certification from your
local school district (they give the tests) or two years of
college.
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Uppers
If you like working with kids, this is for you. Helping students succeed and
making learning fun is an awesome way to spend a day. Helping kids with special
needs or that need extra help is a good feeling.
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Downers
As in any job, there are politics, and sometimes you can't help
a child the way you think they need because the parents or
school staff are against it or are not helpful. You don't have
a LOT of control over what you are assigned to do.
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Lifestyle
This is a great position for Moms looking to get back into the work force, or
any parent that wants to be off work when their children are. I work student
contact days only, so if my kids are home, so am I. No child care! I get
summers off and don't have to worry about what my kids are doing during the days
when I can't be home. We can also take vacations and such without taking time
off. Work hours are not terrible flexible, and if you work with special needs
kids, absences are best avoided because they don't adjust to change well. But if
you need a kid-friendly job, this is definitely it.
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Compensation
School districts vary. Pay in Silverton is low - about $10 an
hour, but you do get summer paychecks even though you are not
working. In Salem (15 minutes west) you can start at $13 an
hour. Benefits are available if you need them, but the cost to
the employee is substantial (about $300 a month)
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Advice to Jobseekers
You can get your foot in the door by offering to substitute.
Substitute assistants (especially for special needs kids) are in
HIGH demand - so much so that on a lot of occasions Silverton
hasn't been able to find substitutes. I was hired because I
impressed so many people as a sub. Also, it gets you into a lot
of different schools, and you can determine what schools you
prefer to work at or staffs that you would like to work with.
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