Paraprofessional

As a Paraprofessional with The Menta Group, you will be responsible for working with classroom instructors and staff to offer targeted teaching and support to students in the classroom, as well as general support for all students in the school.

Responsibilities

• Manage classroom behaviors
• Report behavioral concerns of students to appropriate staff
• Implement and maintain behavioral program policies and data
• Maintain classroom order and safety (Security)
• Provide general supervision of students inside the school setting
• Assist in the prevention and management of incidents of non-compliance and/or escalation in behavior
• Maintain alertness for problems likely to disrupt the educational process or to be a safety concern and correct and report these conditions Respond to emergency situations
• Provide interventions to students to assist in managing behaviors
• Think quickly, independently, and tactfully

Qualifications

• Paraprofessional experience is helpful
• Security or Juvenile Justice background is helpful
• Military Veterans are encouraged to apply
• Ability to operate tactfully under stress
• Flexibility to change in routines
• At least 23 years of age
• Able to work with high-risk special needs students
• Good driving record and willing and able to drive student van is strongly preferred

Compensation & Benefits

• In accordance with the Pay Transparency amendment to the Illinois Equal Pay Act of 2003, information about pay ranges and employee benefits can be found at the following links:
• Full Time Employee Benefits Overview:
• Our benefits package includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance; paid time off (PTO); and a 403(b) retirement plan with an employer match. For more information visit:
• https://menta.com/employee-benefits-full-time/
• Compensation Information:
• https://menta.com/compensation-arizona-and-illinois/
• Please refer to the "Classroom Support" section for this position's category.

About Menta Academy DeKalb K-12 and Menta Academy 912

The staff at Menta Academy DeKalb is dedicated to seeing each child reaches their potential in becoming 3-C Ready: College Ready, Career Ready, and Citizenship Ready.

Educational services are intended to meet both the developmental and individual learning needs of each student. Classrooms are designed to be active learning environments where young people have the opportunity to experience educational and behavioral success on a daily basis.

For students requiring intensive transitional services, a continuum of support is established. After earning necessary credits and demonstrating self-management of behaviors, students learn to generalize classroom skills in a community setting within Menta. This allows them to practice new skills and behaviors in a safe environment and be assessed through various methods.

Students learn employability skills such as problem-solving, effective communication, time-management, self-advocacy, community integration and transportation, adaptive living skills, and related work behaviors like grooming, hygiene, communication, following dress codes and schedules, completing tasks, and taking initiative.

Menta Academy Dekalb 912 is a collaboration with Dekalb Community School District 428 and like other Menta programs utilizes a unique curricular framework that relies on the Expanded Menta Method and Trauma Informed Practices as the foundational principles for the teaching, counseling and mentoring work done by our highly trained staff. Every aspect of the framework supports students with attainment of graduate competencies.

Our curriculum is personalized to meet the needs of each student, with technology and skilled teachers creating a dynamic learning environment. At Menta's Academy Dekalb, our unique learning spaces combine traditional teaching with cutting-edge technology and innovation. These flexible spaces support inquiry-based and project-based learning, designed to prepare students for real-world work environment. Menta Academy Dekalb Transition program readies students for their desired post-secondary opportunity, including college, technical schools, trades, military or gainful employment. It emphasizes the language and expectations of the workplace and offers job development and placement services in entry-level positions.

Professional Associations and/or Partnerships

The Menta Education Group affiliates are members/partners with CEC, CASE, Autism Speaks, ASBA, AAPSEC, AASA, CCSSO, SEAA, ASCD, and many more associations that focus on the education of children with disabilities.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Menta Education Group (“Menta”) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, gender identity and gender expression), color, national origin, religion, age, pregnancy or related conditions, veteran status, sexual orientation, disability or any other basis protected under federal, state or local law.   Any individual needing assistance in making an application for any opening should contact Menta’s office.