Join our team - educational assistant

Do you:

  • enjoy working with children? 

  • have excellent communication skills? 

  • demonstrate kindness, patience, and have a positive attitude? 

Being an educational assistant (EA) may be a good career choice for you! 
 

Are you: 

  • organized and committed to personal and professional excellence? 
  • interested in assisting the classroom teacher in establishing and maintaining appropriate levels of student behaviour? 
  • able to thrive as part of a multi-disciplinary team? 
Consider becoming an educational assistant with the SCDSB. 


It takes a remarkable human being to support students with special needs in their educational journey. For some, this is not only a job, it’s a calling. We need extraordinary people like this in our schools! 

 

Interested in pursuing a career as an EA? Read below and apply today! 

 

While there are many skills needed as an EA, we’ve highlighted the top three that will position you for success. 

  1. Communication. In any job, communication is a key skill, but for EAs it’s imperative. This includes thoughtful speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, and writing. You will be working with a variety of individuals who have a range of communication skills, from the classroom teacher to parents/guardians and the student with special needs you are helping. That individual may not communicate verbally or may express their needs in different ways. You must be prepared to work in a range of communication styles. You’ll be delivering verbal and written reports to the classroom teacher, and some of this will be shared with parents/guardians. 

  2. Social perceptiveness, or ‘being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do’. As an EA, this skill will allow you to create a stronger relationship with the individuals you directly work with. Students with special needs may have unexpected ways of expressing themselves or struggle to communicate in standard ways, so there are behaviours and responses that you will need to learn to identify and interpret. Once you pick up on these cues, you’ll be able to better support and help the students advance in their education. You will need to constant look for ways to help others, whether that is the student, the classroom teacher, or the parents/guardians and family of the student. 

  3. Critical thinking and problem-solving. There will be times when you will need to apply reasoning and logic to situations to identify the potential outcomes of different solutions. For example, if a student hasn’t responded well to a particular video or a lesson, you will have to find an alternate method to teach them the same concept. There will be many times you won’t fully understand the problem or have an answer, but with experience and practice you will learn what to do in these situations. 

There are many other traits that will help you thrive as an EA, including patience and the ability to remain calm. EAs should demonstrate a positive attitude and fundamentally believe in the benefits of integrating students with special needs into mainstream environments. You’ll need to be flexible as circumstances change, you’ll change with them, adapt and quickly redirect to a new plan. 

Can you see yourself as an EA?  Apply today or contact us using the following form for more information. 

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Frequently asked questions

I have been told I am not qualified in the past; has something changed?
As a temporary measure to facilitate post-pandemic recruitment, the SCDSB will accept applications from candidates with any two-year diploma from a ministry-accredited college, and any three-year degree from a ministry-accredited university, or a combination of education and experience.
Can I transfer from another school board?
As each school board is a separate employer, you must apply to a posting to be considered. Your prior experience will serve you well in the interview process!
Does the school board offer job specific training?
Yes! The board provides new EAs hired under the temporary measures with two days of training prior to their first day working with students.
How do I apply to the Simcoe County District School Board?
Our Human Resources department uses Apply to Education (ATE) to recruit for all teaching and support staff vacancies. With this system, applicants submit their applications and supporting documentation online through the ATE website: Simcoe County DSB | Apply To Education | Search Education Jobs.

Applications are only accepted through ATE. Through ATE, you can also sign up for email alerts that notify you when new positions have been posted. 
How do I set up an Apply to Education profile?
To set up an Apply to Education profile, please go to the website https://scdsb.simplication.com/WLSBLogin.aspx and follow their guided steps on registering. All fees for the application process are covered by the SCDSB.
Can I apply to LTO (temporary) or contract (permanent) postings even if I’m not on the supply list?
Yes, you can! The SCDSB encourages supply and external candidates to apply to all positions that are of interest to them. Obtaining an LTO or contract position as a supply or external applicant is possible depending on the qualifications required for the position and the qualifications of the applicants in each posting.
What if my interview falls on a holy day or holiday?
One of the SCDSB Strategic Priorities is Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and we are committed to attracting a wide range of diverse applicants while eliminating systemic barriers to ensure an equitable hiring process. We are aware of many holy days and holidays; however, it is important and encouraged that you communicate with us when there is a known conflict in scheduling an interview and we will work to accommodate your request. 

If you have concerns or require assistance in devising reasonable accommodations for holy days and holidays, please contact HR Services at [email protected].
What is the process to request an accommodation for the recruitment process (e.g. physical disability, learning disability, visual/hearing impairment, etc.)?
The SCDSB fosters a culture of inclusion and will make an appropriate accommodation based on any of the protected grounds in the Ontario Human Rights Code to support candidate participation in the recruitment and selection process. 

The board acknowledges that it has a duty under the Ontario Human Rights Code to accommodate the disability-related needs of job and placement applicants to the point of undue hardship.

Accommodations must be based on medically demonstrated abilities, limitations, and restrictions.

The SCDSB is committed to attracting a wide range of diverse applicants while eliminating systemic barriers to ensure an equitable hiring process. Our policies and procedures ensure that recruitment, interviewing, and selection processes are accessible and fair.

Many of our work locations offer wheelchair accessible parking spaces and entrances, automatic doors, and elevators.  

If you will be required to take a test to demonstrate your ability to perform certain tasks, you will be notified ahead of time. 

Should you require an accommodation, please voluntarily inform the board of the necessary accommodation request. You may be asked to provide documentation to support the request. It is encouraged that you inform the board of your accommodation needs ahead of the interview and selection process. 

View the Workplace Accommodation Handbook.

If you have concerns or require assistance in planning reasonable accommodations, please contact HR Services at [email protected].