Reports to:          

Learning Center Principal and Classroom Teacher

Location of Work:          

Bert Goens Learning Center

705 South Paw Paw Street

Lawrence, MI 49064

Starting Date:

February 16th, 2026

Rate of Pay:          

Placement on current program assistant salary schedule

Hours to Work:

M-F 7:45-2:45

Classification:

Program Assistant

Job Goals:          

The overall job goal of the Program Assistant for Severely Multiply Impaired is to work with the classroom teacher in carrying out the instructional program for each student in the assigned class.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education:

• High school diploma required 
• Associates degree preferred
• CPI/CTI certification or willing to complete training for certification

Work Experience:

Two years’ experience as a program assistant specialized training preferred.

Skills:

• Ability to work with students with low ability and deficits in language/comprehension, daily living skills, and all academic areas
• Ability to implement consistent student specific schedules 
• Possess good communication, teamwork and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work as a member of a team providing a coordinated care
• Ability to maintain open communication channels with teachers and staff and keep them informed of  student concerns/observations
• Willingness to take directions and follow-through with teacher and team decisions
• Willingness to function on a team providing education to students with severe cognitive deficits
• Ability to assist in providing physical care and lifting to students up to adult size.
• Physical ability to do proper restraints and holds (training provided)

Essential Job Functions:

• Demonstrate care and compassion to a vulnerable population. 
• Demonstrate effective classroom and behavior management skills.
• Follow teacher direction and written lesson plans in programming on a group and on a one-on-one basis.
• Assist teacher in classroom preparation for instruction and organization.
• Assist in monitoring and maintaining records of student’s progress toward objectives.
• Assist students with personal needs (i.e., toileting, dressing, etc).
• Assist in development of procedures; implement and collect data regarding their effectiveness.
• Communicate effectively with others.
• Deliver students to appropriate location, on time, for programming or bus.
• Participate in staff meetings.
• Demonstrate reliable attendance and punctuality.
• Demonstrate ethical handling of confidential student and parent information.
• Participate on the Crisis Intervention Team.
• Adhere to Van Buren ISD policies and procedures.
• Complete assigned responsibilities within agreed upon or established timelines.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Special Education Supervisor.
• Regular and reliable, in person attendance.
• Valid driver's license requred.

Terms of Employment: As per master agreement and provisions established by the Van Buren Board of Education. 

This posting and our online application can be found on the Van Buren ISD’s website at www.vbisd.org under Employment.  If you do not have access to a computer with internet access, you may use a computer at VBISD by calling 269-539-5218. 

Position is open until filled.

In-house staff must fill out the online internal application.