Looking for a "shadow" or aide for our daughter at school

[svitale1]

Would you like to make a difference in a child’s life? We need to find a “shadow” (or aide) to help our 11-year-old daughter during her school days from 8:30 – 3:30 (35 hours/week, we can be flexible about the hours). The school, a small Jewish day school, is located in Rockville, Maryland, on Baltimore Road just off Twinbrook Parkway. Our daughter is exceptionally bright and imaginative, and funny, but has significant issues with anxiety, lack of participation in class, difficulty with initiating and completing her work, and, occasionally, making poor behavior choices. The ideal candidate would be warm, caring, and able to establish a trusting connection with her; flexible yet gently firm; and able to anticipate potential problems before they happen and help her to work through them. We would like, if possible, for the person to spend time with our daughter outside of school just to play or hang out, to help build the relationship with her that is so necessary to establishing a connection. The shadow needs to be with her throughout the school day: in the classroom, at lunch and recess, in the hallways between classes, etc. Our daughter needs help in keeping school materials organized (e.g., turning in assignments and having necessary materials in the backpack for homework). We need to have regular communication with the shadow (email or phone call daily) to know how things are going in general and to know what homework has been assigned.
We need someone to start by March 23 and stay at least through this school year (June 2012). Persons with training in Floortime or other therapeutic experience would be ideal, but someone with the right personality and strong emotional skills would also be a good fit. Knowledge of Hebrew would be helpful but is not absolutely necessary. The pay would be $10 - $12/hour, depending on the person’s qualifications. We've had a wonderful young woman doing this since November but, alas for us, she has found her dream job.

[Anonymous]

Might consider looking for someone doing ABA certification.

[Anonymous]

You can also advertise on Craigslist and university or college job boards.

You may need to offer more per hour. It's low for all you are asking for (especially if you want someone experienced).

[Anonymous]

Arlington county will provide a one on one aide to most special needs kids.

[Anonymous]

19:14 the OP is in Rockville. Artlington Co info is of no help to her. Although good for others reading to know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Arlington county will provide a one on one aide to most special needs kids.

I seriously doubt this is true. Arlington County may provide dedicated aides to a small portion of special needs kids attending their own schools, but the likelihood that they'll provide a dedicated aide to a child who lives outside the county, and attends a small private non-special needs school in a different state? None.

[Anonymous]

I agree a couple years ago I saw an opportunity like this and they were offfering $20/hr.

[Anonymous]

OP- You are probably going to have better results with higher pay. $10-12/hr is on the lower end for babysitting in this area. I doubt you'll attract the candidate you want for that amount.

[Anonymous]

You might want to contact American Univ's Masters program dept. in special ed to advertise. I know that school does alot of work with Lab School of Washington as well.

[Anonymous]

If you are getting someone in graduate school you will have to pay more. AU has an on-line career services exchange (maybe other schools do) where we once posted and found a wonderful undergraduate.

[Anonymous]

Oops, PP again. I just noticed this is essentially a full time position so an undergraduate won't do.

[Anonymous]

We use our au pair as an aide for our son at school. Have you considered doing that? It's very cost-effective and you can get a motivated college graduate. What I really like about this is the opportunity for her to bring some continuity. She shows us what works at school and visa-versa.