MacArthur High School is looking for a Deaf and Hard of Hearing educational aide to join the team for the 2026-2027 school year. Our students need your expertise, passion and leadership.
In August 2023, DCPS opened its newest high school! MacArthur High School will be a comprehensive, neighborhood high school serving the diverse interests and needs of students in Ward 3 and across the city. This new school will offer rigorous academics, Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways, arts programming, and a range of athletic and club options, shaped by community feedback and the interests of the first cohorts of students. By enrolling in MacArthur at its founding, the first cohorts of students will have access to exceptional leadership opportunities and will help to shape the character of the newest high school in DCPS!
DCPS serves more than 51,000 students in the nation's capital through the efforts of approximately 4,200 educators in 117 schools. As part of a comprehensive reform effort to become the preeminent urban school system in America, DCPS intends to have the highest-performing, best paid, most satisfied, and most honored educator force in the nation and a distinctive central office staff whose work supports and drives instructional excellence and significant achievement gains for DCPS students.
On a daily basis, the educational aide performs a variety of duties that involve working with students individually and in small groups, reinforcing daily lessons, motivating learning, assessing progress, assisting with classroom management, and other similar duties as assigned.
Position Overview
The Educational Aide is located in all public schools within the DCPS system. Situated at the center of national government, the goal of DPCS is to provide students with a quality education that prepares them to become future leaders, productive citizens, and individuals who are engaged in the life of the community. The District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) has students with disabilities that require the services and supports of a variety of Educational Aides pursuant to their Individual Education Plan (IEP).
This position is a safety-sensitive position. As a result, throughout employment this position will be subject to the Employee Mandatory Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy.
Now Hiring: High School Paraprofessional/Aide – Deaf and Hard of Hearing Classroom
The DC Public Schools Deaf and Hard of Hearing Department is seeking a dedicated Paraprofessional/Aide to support students in a high school Deaf and Hard of Hearing classroom. This position plays a vital role in fostering an accessible, inclusive, and engaging learning environment where students can thrive academically and socially.
Position Responsibilities:
· Provide instructional and classroom support to Deaf and Hard of Hearing students under the direction of the classroom teacher.
· Communicate effectively with students using American Sign Language (ASL).
· Reinforce lessons and assist with individual and small-group instruction.
· Support students with classroom activities, organization, and transitions throughout the school day.
· Collaborate closely with the teacher and other school staff to meet students' academic, communication, and social-emotional needs.
· Maintain confidentiality and professionalism while promoting a positive and respectful classroom environment.
Minimum Qualifications:
· Bachelor's degree required preferred.
· Fluency in American Sign Language (ASL) is required.
· Experience working with Deaf and Hard of Hearing students or individuals is preferred.
· Ability to work collaboratively as part of a classroom team.
· Strong communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
· Dependable, punctual, and committed to maintaining regular attendance.
· Passion for supporting student learning and success in a Deaf and Hard of Hearing educational setting.
If you are committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of Deaf and Hard of Hearing students, we encourage you to apply and become a valued member of the DC Public Schools Deaf and Hard of Hearing team.
Responsibilities
- Collaborate in the implementation of the daily lesson plans by performing tasks that reinforce learning
- Assist the classroom teacher in regularly observing students and taking anecdotal notes to inform planning, arrangement of small groups, and assessments
- Help maintain accurate student records
- Work closely with students who may require individual or close attention
- Assist the teacher with the development of individualized programs
- Read to students, listen to and write down their dictations, and model language by conversing with students throughout the day
- Work with groups of students engaged in drawing, writing, centers, or similar work while the teacher is otherwise occupied
- Assist in the administration of the instructional plan for students with disabilities
- Address multiple intelligences of each student through lesson plans and materials
- Infuse culturally relevant, anti-bias materials and pedagogical strategies
- Maintain on-going communication with families
- Implement a variety of instructional groupings of students (small group and cooperative learning)Perform other related duties as assigned
Click here for a detailed breakdown of the responsibilities for each educational aide specialization.
Qualifications
- Associate’s Degree or 48 college credit hours required
- Fluency in American Sign Language required.
- Child Development Associates credential is preferred for Early Childhood Education Aides
- Experience working with students with disabilities is preferred for Special Education Aides
- Proficiency in English and Spanish required for English Language Learner Aides
Personal Qualities of Top Candidates:
Commitment to Equity: Passionate about closing the achievement gap and ensuring that every child, regardless of background or circumstance, receives an excellent education.
Leadership: Coaches, mentors, and challenges others to excel despite obstacles and challenging situations.
Focus on Data-Driven Results: Relentlessly pursues the improvement of central office performance and school leadership, instruction, and operations, and is driven by a desire to produce quantifiable student achievement gains.
Innovative Problem-Solving: Approaches work with a sense of possibility and sees challenges as opportunities for creative problem solving; takes initiative to explore issues and find potential innovative solutions.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $19.37 - $24.46 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Do you have at least an Associate's degree or 48 credit hours?
Education:
Work Location: In person
