Returner Student Support Specialist | SALA (Summer Arts for Learning Academy)

SUMMER ARTS FOR LEARNING ACADEMY (SALA)

STUDENT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

Reports to: Site Director Summer Arts for Learning Academy

About the Summer Arts for Learning Academy:

Baltimore City Schools Summer Arts for Learning Academy (SALA) operated by Arts for Learning Maryland offers students an opportunity to imagine create and express who they are through the arts. This is an action-packed full-day five-week program (Monday - Thursday) that introduces students to a wide variety of art forms from illustration and spoken word to percussion drama and dance which gives students a chance to work alongside students from across the city and be taught by professional Artists. Students work is celebrated through a student showcase on the final day of the program. Arts for Learning Maryland will host ten Academy sites throughout the city locations TBD.

Mission and Core Values:

The mission of Arts for Learning Marylands Summer Arts for Learning Academy (SALA) is to provide students with an opportunity to spend summer learning from the best Teachers and Teaching Artists our state has to offer. Through a dynamic creative and supportive environment students will explore math and literacy in a unique arts-integrated environment that allows them to develop socially and emotionally expands their personal creative process introduces them to different art forms taught by professional Artists and allows them to experience math and literacy content from a different lens.

We...

• believe unwaveringly that ALL students can achieve high standards in and through the arts.
• provide opportunities for students to develop powerfully articulate voices through art forms and honor their creative processes along the way.
• create safe brave learning environments for students to grow make mistakes and contribute to the community.
• collaborate and reflect by learning from and with each other at every step of the process cultivating positive relationships between all ages.
• encourage the development of critical thinking problem solving inquiry imagination and creativity and provide multiple ways for students to demonstrate knowledge and mastery.
• learn about honor and leverage the cultural knowledge experiences and frames of reference of our students and community to make learning more relevant and effective.
• ensure that our students are known loved supported celebrated and valued.

SALA Student Support Specialist

Job Description:

The Summer Arts for Learning Academy (SALA) Student Support Specialist works side by side with the Site Director the Arts Integration Coach and the Lead Special Educator to create and foster a positive safe and productive learning environment for all students and staff at their site. The Student Support Specialist is key in developing the Student Support Plan for the site in partnership with the Site Director who will effectively oversee these plans throughout the Summer.

The position requires the staff member to facilitate one-on-one and group conflict-resolution sessions and provide in-classroom support when needed. The Student Support Specialist is also required to provide supervision to students while not in classroom settings (e.g. lunchtime Fitness and Fun field trips etc.)

Ideal Student Support Specialists Have:

• A knowledge of and experience utilizing restorative practices when conflict arises.
• A willingness to collaborate with the Site Director in finding strategies to best support the students at their site.
• An ability to support inclusive environments where all students unique gifts and talents are discovered and cultivated and where students identities (racial cultural social gender etc.) are acknowledged affirmed and reflected around them.
• An ability to examine biases and an understanding of the concepts of institutional and structural racism and its impact on policies and practices especially related to the administration of public education.
• A passion for students: an ability to build meaningful relationships and a desire to go above and beyond to ensure each students success.
• A commitment to seeing families as partners in education and communicating with them regularly.
• A strong desire to fully integrate into a non-traditional learning environment where flexibility is strongly valued and where new and innovative ideas are not only cultivated but expected from all staff.
• A willingness to use either the school office landline or their personal cell phone (number blocking is acceptable) to contact parents and guardians as needed.

Please note staff working in SALA will need to be able to stand walk and be active throughout the entire duration of the program day. They will need to be able to keep up with and supervise students within and outside the classroom for example during Fitness and Fun time and field trips. Staff will also need to be able to lift up to 20lbs on occasion when setting up and breaking down classroom and/or preparing for performances and other events. Bending kneeling and climbing stairs are also frequently needed during SALA.

Job Responsibilities:

As a member of the Instructional Support Team:

• Support and supervise students during arrival and dismissal.
• Assist Classroom Teachers and Teaching Artists with copying and modifying items to support teaching and learning.
• Regularly communicate with the Instructional Team so that students needs are being met through a cohesive team strategy.
• Build relationships with students and staff and be an essential liaison with families to create a positive and supportive community within the classroom and the site.
• Engage parents guardians and families effectively and in a culturally appropriate fashion including responding to family inquiries in a timely manner and contacting parents/guardians to provide progress updates share challenges or address concerns.
• Support students in transitions from and to and during lunch and Fitness & Fun periods.
• Attend all professional development and planning meetings as instructed by Arts for Learning and SALA Site Directors.
• Complete or oversee the completion of all required paperwork as assigned by the Site Director including student attendance records student pre and post surveys or assessments student observation rubrics student progress reports etc.
• Assist with the preparation and planning student showcases.
• Assist in the preparation and display of student work.
• Submit verbal and written reports as required.
• Assist with the administration of student program evaluations when needed.

Collaborating with the onsite Lead Special Educator and Site Director to:

• Determine the best ways to support and counsel children who consistently challenge classroom norms and agreements.
• Share best practices strategies and pedagogies that will help Teachers and Teaching Artists support students in times of crisis.
• Monitor hallways and bathrooms both during class time and transition time.

Regarding the Student Support Plan:

• Be fully knowledgeable in the Student Support Plan for their site.
• Keep an updated record of all student interactions and/or incidents to be shared with the Site Directors and the SALA HQ team as required.
• Maintain frequent communication with students families to keep them informed of any incidents their students may have been involved with. Keep a log of such communications.
• Connect with staff and parents/guardians as needed to ensure student support in the classroom.
• Support Classroom Teachers and Teaching Artists in fostering an inclusive environment by adapting lesson plans/schedules so all students can participate.
• In partnership with Classroom Teachers Teaching Artists Lead Special Educator and the Site Admin team identify monitor and provide services to students so that all learners can be successful in SALA using all available resource

Regarding Crisis Protocols:

• Assist children who may be facing emotional or behavioral challenges through redirection and additional supports.
• Work one-on-one with children on academic content as needed when a child has been removed from the classroom.
• Supervise students during Breakfast Lunch and transition time.
• Support PE Teachers during Fitness and Fun time as required.
• Act as a positive role model to students and model positive interactions with the other adults on site.

Required Dates Times and Working Hours:

SALA Student Support staff must be able to commit to attending program and training days including PD week shortly before program launch and spring PD dates that will occur March-June. Specific dates and deadlines will be provided in a timely manner and all training is paid.

SALA Program Dates: For all Baltimore sites the program will run Monday through Thursday for a 5 week period of time. Program hours for students are 8:30 am (Breakfast) to 3:00 pm.

• Student Support staff time commitment: 7 hours a day (8.30am - 3.30pm)
• Weekly Meetings: One 30-minute staff meeting per week (days/times TBD by Site Directors). These meetings are required and paid.

Compensation:

• The SALA Student Support Specialist position is a temporary non-exempt position and is not eligible for employee benefits. This position is eligible for time-off in the form of Sick & Safe leave.
• Student Support Specialists will be paid an hourly rate of $30.00.
• ALL positions will be paid at the hourly rate of $25.00 for all professional development sessions and training.

Time Off:

Grant and special-funded staff hired for short-term assignments internships and as temporary project-based staff are not eligible to accrue PTO however Sick and Safe leave is available to these employees. Sick and Safe Leave is accrued at a rate of one hour for every thirty hours worked and begins accruing on day one of employment. Employees may use the leave in increments of 1 hour or greater. Employees will be paid at their current regular rate for each accrued Sick and Safe Leave hour used.

Employees who have questions about Sick and Safe Leave including (i) their eligibility for Sick and Safe Leave; (ii) when Sick and Safe Leave may be used; and (iii) the amount of available Sick and Safe Leave should promptly contact the People Operations Department ()

To Apply:

For consideration apply online at for Learning Maryland (formerly Young Audiences of Maryland) is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to cultivating a diverse workforce and equitable workplace. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds regardless of race ethnicity gender sexual orientation gender identity and expression age national origin veteran status and disability. All qualified applications will be given equal opportunity.

Required Experience:

IC