Asst. Professor - Special Education jobs in Kennewick, WA

The Hermiston School District is seeking applicants for the position of Special Education Assistant in the Life Skills classroom at Loma Vista Elementary School.  The successful candidate will work under the supervision of the Special Education teacher to assist students defined as physically, mentally, and/or emotionally disabled.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Must meet NCLB educational requirements by possessing a minimum of an Associate's Degree or 72 college credit hours.  Passage of the Work Keys or ParaPro Assessment test will serve as an alternative to the educational requirement.  Exam is administered by the District as needed upon hire.
• Demonstrated standards of moral character and behavior as required of teachers (e.g. to serve as an effective role model).
• Previous experience working with students with disabilities, desired

About our Elementary Schools:
There are six comprehensive elementary schools (K-5) within the Hermiston School District, ranging in size from 460-600 students.  Each elementary campus has the supports of a Principal, Dean of Students, School Counselor, an Instructional Coach, and a range of classified staff.  Our goal is to support teachers in providing a premier education. 

About the District:

The Hermiston School District is the largest district in eastern Oregon, exceeding 5,600 students in grades kindergarten through 12, with the mission of serving the needs of all children with rigorous program choices, high expectations, mutual respect, and excellence.  The school district includes a 9-12 senior high school, two 6-8 middle schools, six K-5 elementary schools, and a robust online learning program option for students and families.

Support for the school district has been strong from the community. In 2019 voters approved an $82.7 million building project, which includes replacement of Rocky Heights Elementary (opening fall 2022), construction of an additional elementary school Loma Vista (opening fall 2022), and a multi-classroom annex of the high school, along with various district-wide renovations. The voters also approved a $69.9 million bond in 2008, which served to replace Armand Larive Middle School, West Park Elementary, and Sunset Elementary schools. 

The District employs over 630 full time staff that includes approximately 365 teachers and over 265 classified, support, and supervisory personnel, making it one of the largest employers in the city of Hermiston. A nationally-recognized community that embraces its diversity, the district serves some 28,000 residents, where one-third of the population is Hispanic.

The school district prides itself on the academic achievement of its students, successful athletic programs, nationally-recognized club and activity organizations, and its exhaustive list of academic and elective opportunities available to students. The District’s partnership with community organizations has been central to its continued success, highlighted by support groups who have provided nearly a half a million dollars to assist students and programs through such venues as the Hermiston Sports Booster Club, Hermiston Education Foundation, Band Boosters, FFA Alumni, and the community sponsorship of the student homebuilding program, to name a few.

About the Community:

The city of Hermiston is a vibrant and growing community of approximately 18,000 residents located at the crossroads of the Pacific Northwest, situated near the intersection of I-84 and I-82, just minutes from a Columbia River port and 30 minutes from the Tri-Cities in Washington.  Hermiston and the entire Umatilla County area have excellent potential for growth in commercial, industrial, agricultural, as well as residential development.  Hermiston boasts over 100 acres for community use, volleyball courts, soccer fields, baseball diamonds, children's play areas, barbeque and picnic areas and more.  Located within 10 minutes of downtown Hermiston, both Umatilla and Echo have challenging golf courses.  The Columbia River offers tournament level fishing, as well as many water sports including swimming, wind surfing, and boating.  Other fishing waters include the Umatilla River, Cold Springs Reservoir and many ponds.  Nearby is Hat Rock State Park, and the Blue Mountains are within an hour drive, affording a wide variety of fishing, hunting, and camping activities.  In the winter, the mountains are home to excellent snow skiing, tubing, snowmobiling, and sledding.     

Salary and Benefits: The Hermiston School District offers an extremely competitive salary and benefits package which includes PERS retirement employer-paid pick-up, tuition reimbursement, and a comprehensive health and benefits package.  A full year contract consists of 192 days, which includes 5 paid holidays.  

Anticipated salary range for 2022-23:  $14.97-$21.06 (based upon verified, comparable previous work experience)

Application Procedures:

The applicant must supply the following items online through Applicant Tracking (formerly called Recruit & Hire)  https://hermiston.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx :

• Online Application form
• Cover Letter
• Professional Resume
• Letters of Recommendation (encouraged, but optional)

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure his/her application is complete. Only complete applications will be considered.

The Hermiston School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer