Teaching Assistant, Drone/Aviation (CTE)

The WISD's Mission is to educate, serve, and advocate with students, families, schools, and the community. We disrupt racial inequities, build just educational systems, and expand access for all learners. We value human potential while striving to support current and future generations of Washtenaw County to enrich as many lives as we possibly can.

The WISD’s Vision is to be a leader in empowering, facilitating, and delivering high-quality, boundary- spanning, educational system that educates all children through an equitable, inclusive, and holistic approach.

SUMMARY:

The CTE Drone/Aviation Teacher Assistant is employer by the WISD, supporting the lead instructor in delivering the CTE Drone/Aviation programs within Washtenaw County, focusing on Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science & Technology (CIP Code 49.0101). This role involves assisting with classroom instruction, maintaining equipment, and ensuring compliance with FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate training requirements. Assistance and support are focused on curriculum and instruction outlined in the Perkins Core Competencies (PCCs). This includes support of all aspects of the state-approved CTE program, and the students served including student safety training, work-based learning, student leadership, and the state-required credential - Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Demonstrates a strong commitment to equity, social justice, and inclusion in all practices and position responsibilities.
• Demonstrates the ability to examine how his/her/their position (directly or indirectly) impacts educational inequities in student achievement outcomes.
• Engages in reflection and ongoing learning and development on critical concepts and terms identified in the Washtenaw ISD Educational Equity Policy including concepts such as cultural proficiency, racial equity, and systemic and structural inequities.
• Provides instructional and technical aspects of the state approved CTE program(s).
• Demonstrates the desire and ability to work with high school age students.
• Demonstrates the ability to work effectively with all ability levels and categories of students.
• Demonstrates the ability to be collaborative and flexible.
• Demonstrates success with student clubs and organizations such as SkillsUSA, etc.
• Demonstrates the willingness to maintain program curriculum consistent with current technical, academic, and related industry standards.
• Acts as liaison to the community, postsecondary partners, business/industry leaders, and educators, representing the interests of the program to these stakeholders.
• Works cooperatively with the instructor to communicate with district staff, external partners, and community agencies.
• Assists and supports the instructor with CTE-focused activities.
• Coordinates, implements, and improves the CTE state-approved program(s) to meet the needs identified in the region and increase learner access to high-quality Career Technical Education (CTE) programs of study.
• Maintains accurate records and appropriate reports aligned with CTE.
• Assists in the compilation, preparation, and administration of the state-approved program(s).
• Maintains all records in compliance with state and federal guidelines and District policies.
• Maintains accurate records in a manner consistent with state and federal law as required by the district and local educational agency, including monthly project reports.
• Supports students in understanding aeronautics principles, drone operations, and flight simulations.
• Maintains and prepares aviation equipment, simulators, and drones for instructional use.
• Monitors student progress and provides feedback to the lead instructor.
• Ensures adherence to safety protocols and FAA regulations during all activities.
• Participates in professional development and program advisory committee meetings as required.
• Works collaboratively with the WISD Career Technical Education department and local district CTE administration and staff to coordinate CTE efforts.
• Demonstrates ability to work in a team-oriented, diverse environment.
• Supports WISD vision and mission to enhance achievement for all students.
• Supports a team-based approach to problem-solving.
• Demonstrates attention to detail and excellent follow-through.
• Demonstrates excellent customer service.
• Demonstrates the ability to multitask and meet deadlines.
• Maintains regular and predictable attendance.
• Demonstrates ability to work in classroom and lab environments, including outdoor drone operations.
• Maintains a flexible schedule to accommodate extended hours or special events as needed.
• Other related duties as assigned.
  
  

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• N/A.
  
  

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Alternative requirements that may be appropriate and acceptable to the Board of Education may be considered. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Participates in professional development activities.
• Possesses knowledge and awareness of community agencies, funding sources, and services.
• Possesses familiarity with drone technology, flight simulation software, and FAA regulations.
  
  

Preferred

• Associate Degree/technical training.
• Bachelor’s Degree and a minimum of 4,000 recent relevant hours of work experience in the field within the past ten (10) years.
• Possesses experience in educational settings or the aviation industry.
  
  

Preferred

CERTIFICATION, LICENSES, REGISTARTIONS:

• Possesses a minimum of 4,000 recent relevant hours of work experience in the field within the past ten years in aviation or a related field. (This allows for an annual Authorization Certificate in the following CIP Code: CIP Code 49.0101 - Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science & Technology).
  
  

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

• Demonstrates Ability to engage a variety of community partners and build effective internal and external relationships.
• Exhibits strong communication skills including technical writing, reading, and speaking.
• Demonstrates the skills and desire to work in a collaborative team with others.
• Demonstrates ability to direct the activities of others to execute a successful CTE program(s).
• Demonstrates the ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from stakeholders.
  
  

TECHNICAL SKILLS:

• Working knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite (e.g., Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint) and Apple software and devices.
• Ability to use video conferencing (e.g., Zoom, Teams). Ability to integrate technology into the everyday workflow is necessary.
• Knowledge of New World preferred
  
  

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

• Demonstrates the ability to apply the concepts of budgeting and financial consistency.
  
  

REASONING ABILITY:

• Demonstrates high proficiency in subject areas of reasoning, problem-solving, organizational dynamics, and emotional intelligence.
• Demonstrates the ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Demonstrates the ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Exhibits a high level of professionalism with the ability to handle confidential information, use good judgment, plan, and handle complex projects and maintain a flexible attitude.
• Demonstrates the ability to work well under pressure.
• Demonstrates the ability to see the task through to a successful conclusion.
  
  

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:

• Possess excellent customer service and communication skills with a client-centered focus.
• Demonstrates the ability to build rapport with others and to serve diverse publics.
• Demonstrates the ability to take the initiative, work well with others as a collaborative team member.
• Demonstrates the ability to organize, prioritize, and work independently and cooperatively with diverse groups.
  
  

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, talk, see and hear. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl and reach with hands and arms. The employee is continuously repeating the same hand, arm, or finger motion many times. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 35 pounds such as books and training material. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distant vision and the ability to adjust focus. This position requires the individual to travel and/or drive to various off-site locations. The position requires the individual to sometimes work irregular or extended work hours and meet multiple demands from several people.

ENVIRONMENTAL ADAPTABILITY:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is quiet to loud depending upon the activity in the particular part of the day. The employee may be required to be outdoors for periods of time, and therefore subject to varying weather conditions, for purposes of accomplishing the essential functions of this job.

FUNCTIONS OF POSITION DESCRIPTION:

This position description has been prepared to define the general duties of the position, provide examples of work and to detail the required knowledge, skills and ability as well as the acceptable experience and training for the position. The description is not intended to limit or modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct and control the duties of employees under supervision. The WISD retains and reserves any and all rights to change, modify, amend, add to or delete from any portion of this description in its sole judgment.

This position description is not a contract for employment.

The WISD is an equal opportunity employer, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The District will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

TERMS:

Position subject to terms, conditions, and calendar of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the District and Unit I, AFT Local 3760. Starting salary range (dependent upon comparable experience) from $26,702 - $31,102.

Washtenaw Intermediate School District is a drug-free workplace.

It is the policy and commitment of the Washtenaw Intermediate School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, age, height, weight, familial status, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation or any legally protected characteristic, in its educational programs, activities, admissions, or employment policies in accordance with Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments, executive order 11246 as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and all other pertinent state and Federal regulations.