Education Specialist Aide (Full-Time Temporary)
Wedgwood Christian Services
Grand Rapids, MI, USA
USD 23-23 / hour
Posted on Nov 13, 2025
Education Specialist Aide (Full-Time) - Boelkins Program
What you’ll do
Working in one of our residential homes alongside our experienced care team, you’ll implement individual treatment and education plans tailored to meet the needs of youth ages 10-16 in our program. You’ll mentor, join in recreational activities, provide support within a classroom setting, and create a warm, loving home for teens who need a refuge.
Compensation + Collaboration
We’re starting team members up to $23 per hour with a generous benefits package. You’ll join a passionate, purposeful, and collaborative team who is committed to doing what it takes to give youth a brighter future.
Where healing begins.
The teens who come to live at Wedgwood often have little sense of what a loving home feels like. As a Wedgwood Education Specialist Aide, you can help instill the compassion, self-worth, and optimism that our residents need to overcome their trauma, addiction, and behavioral concerns. You’ll work alongside our expert clinical care team to mentor residents, building relationships utilizing trauma-informed care techniques, helping them develop healthy life skills, and teaching teens to use their voices for position outcomes. By consistently showing up for our residents, you can help transform lives and have an impact on generations to come.
Hours: Monday - Thursday 7am-3pm, and every other weekend rotating 7am-3pm and 3pm-11pm.
*Please note: this position will provide temporary additional coverage in the classroom setting. Once classroom coverage is no longer necessary, there is potential for this position to shift to a primarily 2nd shift schedule as a Youth Treatment Specialist or to be considered for other available opportunities. Compensation base rate changes may occur.
Responsibilities:
- Assist clients in coming prepared and on time for school.
- Provide daily assistance in the classrooms or on the unit based on client census.
- Support and encourage students to positively participate and complete all school tasks.
- Assist students in the classroom with academic areas, in conjunction with the teacher.
- Respond to and address student behavioral issues as they arise.
- Communicate between school personnel and the program staff to provide advocacy and support for clients.
- Document pertinent observations on student’s behavior and successes during school; track re-groups and suspensions.
- Assist other YTS staff in event of shortage and/or crisis.
- Check school sheets for assignments and leave information for YTS to monitor completion.
- Assist with milieu coverage, including before, during, and after school.
- Monitor classroom, enabling teacher to make school contacts and/or do lesson plans (up to 3 hours per week).
Qualifications:
-
Applicant must be at least 20 years of age
-
High school diploma required
-
Must have a valid driver’s license
-
Additional education and/or certification in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling, or a related field preferred.
-
Prior experience supervising at risk youth is preferred
-
Ability to pivot, bend, twist and stoop while bearing weight of individuals served.
-
Willing to pick up third shift hours with advanced notice.
-
Ability to lift 50 lbs. non-stationary weight through the approved technique is required.
-
Subscription to the Statement of Faith of Wedgwood Christian Services and agreement with the goal, purpose, and objective of the agency.
Benefits:
- 403(b) retirement plan with employer match
- Medical plans with great coverage options
- Free supplemental virtual PCP care with medical plan
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Health Savings Accounts
- Dental and vision plans
- Pet insurance
- Legal insurance
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- A Locally Partnered Employee Assistance Program
- Competitive time off
- Direct deposit
- Federal Student Loan Forgiveness through PSLF
- Paid Holidays
- We also offer a variety of employer paid benefits for full time staff
- Short term disability
- Long term disability
- Life insurance up to 2x your annual salary
- No-cost, employer paid training and re-certification provided to staff
- Wedgwood has full gymnasium and state-of-the art 24-hour wellness center filled with a wide variety of workout equipment, available to staff at no cost.
- Walking trail that leads around the beautiful campus.
- Through community partnerships, Wedgwood employees and in some cases family members, are eligible for application and tuition fee discounts for several local colleges and universities.
Wedgwood Christian Services
Since 1960, Wedgwood Christian Services has been dedicated to boldly taking on the toughest problems facing children and families through residential care, counseling services and community programs. Leaning on our faith and core values of integrity, compassion, excellence, and diversity, we tackle the crucial work of supporting and restoring the wellbeing of all those who call West Michigan home.
Mission: Wedgwood Christian Services extends God's love to youth, adults, and families through professional counseling and educational services.
Core Values: Integrity, Compassion, Excellence, and Diversity
Copyright 2024 Hello West Michigan. All rights reserved.