The Opportunity: PLA SPED paraprofessionals are passionate and devoted assistants bringing creativity and rigor to our classrooms to support an improved learning experience for our scholars. Our SPED paraprofessionals are compassionate and committed to building a caring environment that nurtures the success of our school community. As a SPED paraprofessional at Phalen Leadership Academies, you will work with individual and/or small groups of scholars under the supervision of a certified teacher. You will do this by following educational and behavioral plans and modeling appropriate behaviors and interactions with students and staff. During non-classroom time, you will function in other support capacities (learning labs, hallway monitoring, lunch duty, etc.) and then implement the academic curriculum during designated blocks of time.

The Details

Key Deliverables:

• Assist certified teachers with implementation of differentiation plans for small groups
• Provide instruction and support for classroom teachers and/or one-on-one tutoring for eligible students
• Provide instructional support in the library, media center, and/or cafeteria
• Perform administrative tasks such as filing, answering the phone, etc.
• Contribute feedback and data on scholar progress, behavior, and performance
• Assist with the supervision of scholars in the lunchroom and on the playground
• Work in collaboration with teachers and administrators
• Assisting with the student(s) needs

Experience and Education Requirements:

• A passion for working with students and families in underserved communities
• High school diploma (Associate degree or 40 hours preferred)
• Analytical ability to plan individual and group activities that stimulate growth in scholars
• Prior experience with small group instruction, preferred
• Interpersonal skills necessary to establish and maintain effective relationships with scholars, parents/guardians, and other staff members

The Network: PLA is a transformative education nonprofit changing communities across the country by providing a depth of resources not found in the traditional education model. In addition to serving as one of the country’s best turnaround school operators and successfully launching charter school start-ups, PLA also provides our school communities with a successful, research-based summer learning program (Summer Advantage), a successful Reading and Math Intervention program (Reading and Math Advantage), and a workforce development program (PLA University) that provides expanded opportunities for our high school graduates, along with the family members of our current staff and students. This menu of programs and services is unique to our network, sets us apart from other organizations, and provides expanded opportunities for our staff through career advancement opportunities, and expanded income opportunities.

The Campus:

PLA @ Davis Elementary. We service about 400 students and believe that every student is a scholar. With the right education, scholars can fulfill their tremendous innate potential and become leaders in their communities and the world. In 2022, with the support of the Montgomery Education Foundation (MEF) and Phalen Leadership Academies (PLA), Davis became a premier charter school in Montgomery, Alabama. We work together with parents and the community to improve the educational outcomes of our scholars and neighborhood families. Davis Elementary School exists to serve the local community and create a safe and thriving space for scholars to feel loved, empowered, and encouraged through quality education.

Compensation and Benefits:

PLA Teacher Assistants receive a salary that is competitively aligned with the market. In addition to salary, PLA School Teacher Assistants receive:

• Competitive Compensation
• Benefits – Healthcare, vision, and dental insurance
• Professional development opportunities, coaching and mentoring, and being a part of professional communities within the school
• Incentive and bonus opportunities

PLA is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristics as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.