Educational Assistant

Introduction

The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is the state agency that advances public education and libraries in Wisconsin. Our mission is to advance equitable, transformative, and sustainable educational experiences that develop learners, schools, libraries, and communities in Wisconsin. Working at DPI offers you the opportunity to build on our long-standing commitment to public education so that students are learning the skills and knowledge necessary to become contributing members of our communities.

At DPI, we are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels safe, supported, and valued. Equity and inclusion are at the core of our organizational values, which include belonging, integrity, love, humility, and honor. These values guide how we build our teams, develop our leaders, and create a culture that empowers everyone to be their authentic selves. When employees are respected and valued for who they are and staff are held accountable for demonstrating that respect to others, we believe it drives greater engagement and collaboration, ignites creativity and innovation, and fosters connection between teams and those we serve.

We invest in our employees both at work and beyond. In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, employees receive access to an Employee Assistance Program with wellness resources, two hours of paid wellness time each month, and eight hours of paid volunteer time each calendar year to support causes that matter to them. We have a team-oriented atmosphere and focus on work-life balance.

The Wisconsin School for the Deaf (WSD) in the Division of Access and Opportunity is currently seeking applicants for a full-time, school year (80% full-time equivalency) Educational Assistant position. This position is a part of a progression classification series and will be filled at either the entry or objective level. WSD is a residential school that provides educational services to children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind, as well as support to their families and local education agencies (LEAs).

This position plays an important role in supporting students within a bilingual-bicultural, ASL-immersive school community. With low student-to-staff ratios, educational assistants build meaningful relationships with students while supporting their academic, behavioral, social, and communication needs alongside teachers and support staff. If you enjoy working in a collaborative environment and helping students reach their full potential, we encourage you to apply.

Position Summary

The educational assistant provides instructional and program support services to students and/or instructional staff at WSD. In this position, you will:

• Provide assistance to teachers and students in the prescribed educational programs as directed by professional staff.
• Provide direction and/or assistance in non-classroom activities.
• Participate in professional growth and development training.
• Maintain a healthy, safe, and secure environment.

Salary Information

This position is in the progression classification series of Educational Assistant. The starting salary will be $21.30 per hour (approximately $35,443 annually, prorated for the 0.80 FTE) for Educational Assistant Entry level, or $23.04 per hour (approximately $38,338 annually, prorated for the 0.80 FTE) for Educational Assistant Objective level. For current and eligible former State employees, compensation will be set in accordance with the State Compensation Plan in effect at the time of hire. This position is in pay schedule 06, range 10 for the Entry level and pay schedule 06, range 11 for the Objective level. A one-year probationary period will be required.

Check out the excellent benefits this position offers on the Employee Trust Fund’s information page. The State of Wisconsin is a qualifying employer for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Job Details

Special notes: This is a full-time, school-year position with potential opportunities to work during select summer programs, when available. The typical hours for this position are generally between 6:15am and 3:30pm. Exact schedules will be discussed during the interview process and may occasionally vary to accommodate extracurricular activities or operational needs.

Candidates must be fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) upon hire. An American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI) rating level of at least 2+ by the end of probation is required.

Candidates must be licensed or eligible for licensure as a Special Education Program Aide (O070) with the Department of Public Instruction.

For more information on licensure requirements and licensure application procedures, please refer to the following DPI resources:

• Special Education Program Aide (O070)
• Apply for an Educator License (ELO Portal)

A valid driver’s license is required upon appointment (unless exempt due to reasonable accommodation.)

The results from this recruitment will be used to fill future vacancies as they become available.

Remote Work: This position is not eligible for remote work and requires the employee to be onsite at their headquarters at the Wisconsin School for the Deaf during all regular working hours.

Headquarters: The position is headquartered at the WI School for the Deaf located at 309 West Walworth Avenue in Delavan, WI. Reimbursement for traveling to or from the employee’s headquarters is not provided (e.g., mileage, meals, parking, lodging, etc.).

Pre-hire requirements: A criminal background check will be conducted prior to an offer of hire. A tuberculosis screen will be required prior to start.

Legal authorization: Applicants must be legally entitled to work in the United States (i.e., a citizen or national of the U.S., without DPI sponsorship). The Department of Public Instruction does not sponsor visas, either at time of hire or at any later time.

Qualifications

Please address the following in your resume.

A minimally qualified applicant must:

• Have experience working with students in an educational setting.
• Have American Sign Language fluency.
• Be licensed or have eligibility for licensure as a Special Education Program Aide (O070) with the Department of Public Instruction

A well-qualified candidate will have experience working with deaf and hard of hearing students in a classroom in a residential school setting for a whole school year.

Please note that a college degree is not required for this position.

How To Apply

For this position, please submit an updated resume. Review our Application Tips page on the DPI website for additional guidance.

Application materials will be evaluated, and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the process. References will be requested from top candidates once interviews have taken place.

The State of Wisconsin offers a special program for qualified veterans with a 30% or greater service-connected disability. If you are a qualified veteran, please visit the Veterans Employment page for application instructions to be considered for the Veterans Non-Competitive Appointment program. Once you have applied, please send an email indicating your interest in being considered for the Veterans Non-Competitive Appointment program to the HR staff listed in the job posting.

The State of Wisconsin is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to applicants of any race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.

We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities.

Questions? Please contact the recruiter, Maria Butters at [email protected].

Deadline to Apply

Applications will be accepted until the needs of the Department are met. Applications will next be reviewed after October 12, 2026.