Kindergarten Teacher’s Assistant for Special Needs Student

About Kopila Valley School (KVS):

"A world where every child is educated, safe and loved"

KVS is a nonprofit school managed by the Kopila Valley Sewa Samaj, an NGO registered in Surkhet, Nepal, and funded by BlinkNow Foundation USA to provide world-class education to the neediest children who deserve the best education.  Our mission is to change the world by empowering Nepal’s children. We provide our students a free education, educational materials, health treatment and medicine, counseling, and a place to live. With our innovative future program, we strive to provide our children with career guidance, and scholarships for further studies.

The Blink Now Foundation is a 501(c)(3) based in New Jersey which, through its country office in Nepal, oversees these programs in rural Nepal. Every day we strive to create a sustainable organization working to educate all of Kopila’s children until they are ready to enter the world as happy, skilled, confident, self-sufficient adults. We believe we can serve as a model for quality education in Nepal. We will strive to provide our children with scholarships (should they choose to pursue higher education), the skills required to enter the world as global citizens, and ambassadors for change.

Position Summary

We are seeking a compassionate and dedicated Teacher’s Assistant to support a kindergarten student with special needs in a nurturing, inclusive classroom environment. The ideal candidate will assist the classroom teacher in providing individualized support to the student, promoting their social, emotional, and academic development, and ensuring a positive, engaging learning experience.

Working Station: Birendranagar, Surkhet

Application Type: Rolling Basis

Must Haves

• Education: High school diploma or equivalent required; Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Education, Special Education, or related field preferred.
• Experience: Previous experience working with children with special needs, particularly in an educational setting, is highly desirable.
• Language: A good communicator, and fluent in both English and Nepali

Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of IEPs and experience supporting students with autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, or other developmental delays is a plus.
• Patience, empathy, and a commitment to fostering a supportive learning environment.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with teachers, parents, and other staff.
• Ability to remain calm and composed in challenging situations.
• Basic understanding of behavioural management strategies and assistive technologies for special education.
• First Aid/CPR certification is a plus (or willingness to obtain).

Core Responsibilities

1. Provide Specialized Support To the Students
2. Monitor and Review Regular Progress
3. Provide support to meet student’s need, and ensure safety

Detailed Responsibilities

1. Provide Specialized Support To Students

• Assist the student with daily routines, academic tasks, and activities based on the student’s individual education plan (IEP).
• Help manage behaviors in a positive and constructive manner using strategies outlined in the IEP, and provide redirection as needed.
• Assist the student in expressing needs and ideas, whether through verbal communication, visual aids, or assistive technology.
• Encourage Social Interaction by supporting the student in engaging with peers and participating in group activities, promoting social inclusion and peer relationships.

2. Monitor Regular Progress:

• Assist with Classroom Management and help maintain a safe and organized classroom environment, providing one-on-one or small group support during lessons.
• Help the student develop self-help skills (e.g., toileting, dressing, feeding) in a respectful and encouraging manner.
• Work with the teacher to track the student’s progress in various areas, including academic performance, social skills, and personal development.
• Collaborate with Team and regularly communicate with the teacher, special education staff, and other professionals to ensure consistency in the student’s learning and support.
• Attend IEP Meetings (as needed); participate in IEP meetings to review progress, contribute observations, and help set new goals.

3. Provide support to meet student’s need, and ensure safety

• Supervise and assist the student during transitions, lunch, recess, and other school activities, ensuring their safety and well-being.
• Provide support to meet student’s physical, social and emotional needs
• Always create a safe and interactive environment for students.

Working Conditions:

• The role will be conducted in a kindergarten classroom setting
• Ability to adapt to the needs of the student, with occasional physical tasks (e.g., helping the student with mobility or personal care) required.

Additional expectations:

• Build positive working relationships and environment in the organization
• Report to the manager weekly, and provide monthly program updates and important reports as needed in case of urgent issues.
• Ensure and enforce confidentiality in collected information/data as per school codes.
• Guide all students at all times, as needed, as you would do to your own children.

The above list of responsibilities is not comprehensive, and may be required to take on additional responsibilities, as determined by his/her Manager.

 KEY CHARACTERISTICS

• You believe that we can change the world, in the blink of an eye
• You believe in making decisions that put children first
• You are self-motivated, organized, and approachable
• You enjoy creating systems, keeping records, and increasing efficiency
• You are always looking for new ways for our team to work smarter instead of harder
• You are detail-oriented and conscientious. You make sure nothing slips through the cracks
• You have a strong work ethic and a willingness to pick up new skills. You are comfortable multi-tasking
• You are experienced and comfortable talking with a wide range of people from nursery children to government ministers
• You are positive, patient, and a clear communicator who is comfortable working with both Kopila Valley staff in Nepal and the BlinkNow staff in the United States
• You are an empathetic person, with a knack for putting out fires before they start and soothing conflicts brewing beneath the surface
• You require little supervision and are flexible. You understand that you will be wearing many hats in this role, many of which are not explicitly included in this job description

Application Procedure

If you think this opportunity will amplify your career growth, we encourage you to apply by clicking "Apply for this Job" and submit all required documents.

Note: No telephone inquiries will be entertained. If your application is a good fit, we will follow up with you directly for the screening process.