Position Type:
Other
Date Posted:
10/24/2025
Location:
School To Be Determined
Closing Date:
Until Filled
Student Development Assistant (29 hours/week)
Job Summary:
Student Development Assistant, reporting to the
Program Director, provides direct, trauma-informed social, emotional, behavioral, and academic support to students within the Highfive THRIVE Lab therapeutic classroom setting. They play a crucial role in bridging academic instruction with emotional and behavioral support, fostering a safe and restorative learning environment. This is an on-site role based in New Castle County, Delaware.
Key Responsibilities:
Direct Student Support:
-
Assist with delivering/facilitating academic instruction, providing individualized academic and social-emotional instruction and support aligned with students' home school curriculum and personalized learning plans.
- Implement individualized behavior support plans and therapeutic interventions.
- Facilitate group activities, including daily circles and mindfulness exercises.
- Provide real-time progress monitoring and coaching for each student throughout the day.
- Model and co-regulate with students, reinforcing emotional safety and self-regulation strategies.
Therapeutic Intervention Implementation:
- Support the implementation of Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) through collaborative problem-solving conversations with students.
- Integrate DBT-informed skills training (e.g., mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness) into daily interactions and lessons.
- Utilize and guide students in "Calm Down Corners" or "Zones of Regulation."
- Support daily Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons and facilitate behavior reflections.
- Apply restorative justice techniques when conflicts or rule violations occur, focusing on repairing harm and building accountability.
Collaboration & Communication:
- Participate in bi-weekly Highfive THRIVE Lab staff meetings to review student cases and feedback.
- Collaborate with the Program Director, classroom teacher, Student Development Learning Specialist, and site staff to ensure IEP/504 accommodations are met.
- Engage with families through daily communication and home-based implementation support.
- Work closely with the Program Director and other team members to ensure consistent application of the Highfive THRIVE Lab model.
Community Engagement:
- Facilitate and support building a community engagement event to engage the Appo Community
- Facilitate learning opportunities for Appo Community stakeholders
Logistics:
- Working hours follow the regular school day schedule of the assigned school site within the Appoquinimink School District at a maximum of 29 hours a week. Weekly schedule is to be determined by the Program Director.
- Laptop will be provided by district with district and Highfive access for resources
Qualifications:
- Certified para-professional or equivalent experience in an educational or therapeutic support role.
- Demonstrated understanding of trauma-informed care and restorative practices.
- Experience working with students in need of intensive behavioral and emotional support and engage in de-escalation and physical management strategies.
- Ability to implement academic and therapeutic interventions effectively.
- Strong communication, empathy, and relationship-building skills.
- Capacity to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
