The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is the state agency that advances public education and libraries in Wisconsin. Our mission is to advance equitable, transformative, and sustainable educational experiences that develop learners, schools, libraries, and communities in Wisconsin. Working at DPI offers you the opportunity to build on our long-standing commitment to public education so that students are learning the skills and knowledge necessary to become contributing members of our communities.

At DPI, we are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels safe, supported, and valued. Equity and inclusion are at the core of our organizational values, which include belonging, integrity, love, humility, and honor. These values guide how we build our teams, develop our leaders, and create a culture that empowers everyone to be their authentic selves. When employees are respected and valued for who they are and staff are held accountable for demonstrating that respect to others, we believe it drives greater engagement and collaboration, ignites creativity and innovation, and fosters connection between teams and those we serve. 

Our employees enjoy an exceptional employee assistance program that offers a variety of programs and tools to help promote wellness. We have a team-oriented atmosphere and a focus on work-life balance.

The Wisconsin School for the Deaf (WSD), part of the Division of Learning Support, is seeking applicants for Educational Assistant-Entry positions. These are full-time, school-year positions (80%). WSD is a residential school dedicated to providing comprehensive educational services to children who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or Deafblind, as well as supporting their families and the local education agencies (LEA) and programs that serve them.

Educational Assistants play an essential role in supporting the academic, social, and emotional growth of students with unique needs. With low student-to-staff ratios, Educational Assistants have the opportunity to build strong, meaningful relationships within a bilingual ASL-immersive team environment. This setting fosters personalized attention and deep connections with each student while promoting language development and cultural understanding.

The staff at WSD are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive educational environment where every student can thrive and reach their full potential. If you are passionate about working in an ASL-rich, collaborative environment that empowers students, we encourage you to apply and become part of our dedicated team.

This position provides instructional and program support services to students and/or instructional staff at WSD. This includes assisting individual students and/or groups of students in the prescribed educational programs as directed by professional staff, directing non-classroom activities, and preparing and/or procuring educational materials. 

The Educational Assistant-Entry participates in professional development activities and supports a healthy, safe, and security school environment. This position requires the ability to use American Sign Language (ASL) to work in a bilingual environment, which includes Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, and hearing individuals.

For more information, please view the complete position description.

Starting salary will be $18.42 per hour (approximately $30,650 per year). For current and eligible former State employees, compensation will be set in accordance with the State Compensation Plan effective at time of hire. This position is in pay schedule 06, range 10. A one-year probationary period will be required.

This position is eligible for an additional $1.00 per hour add-on for fluency in American Sign Language (ASL).

This position offers excellent benefits. The State of Wisconsin is a qualifying employer for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

This position is located on the beautiful WI School for the Deaf campus located at 309 West Walworth Avenue in Delavan, WI. The typical hours for this position are 7:00am – 3:30pm, though they may occasionally vary to accommodate extracurricular activities. 

A TB screen will be required prior to start.

Candidates must be fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) upon hire. An American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI) rating level of at least 2+ by the end of probation is required.

Candidates must be licensed or eligible for licensure as a Special Education Program Aide (070) with the Department of Public Instruction.

A valid driver’s license is required upon appointment (unless exempt due to reasonable accommodation.)

A criminal background check will be conducted prior to an offer of hire.

Applicants must be legally entitled to work in the United States (i.e., a citizen or national of the U.S., without DPI sponsorship). The Department of Public Instruction does not sponsor visas, either at time of hire or at any later time.

This announcement may be used to fill multiple full-time school year positions.

Please address the following in your resume.

A minimally qualified applicant must:

• Have experience working with students in an educational setting.
• Be fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) upon hire and receive an American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI) rating of 2+ by the end of the probationary period.
• Be licensed or have eligibility for licensure as a Special Education Program Aide (070) with the Department of Public Instruction.
  
  

Please note that a college degree is not required for this position.

Applying is easy! Click “Apply for Job” to start your application process.  Sign into your account or click “Register Now” to create an account before applying for the job. Follow the steps outlined in the application process and submit your application.

Helpful Tips:

• Current state employees must apply through the STAR “Careers” tile. Do not create an external applicant account. 
• There will be no opportunity to change your application materials once you have clicked “Submit”.
• The system will automatically log you off after 30 minutes of inactivity, so click “Save as a Draft” often. 
• Please visit the Frequently Asked Questions section for general Wisc.Jobs user information and technical assistance. 
• Candidates may need to check their spam or junk email folders for correspondence about this position.

Each time you apply for a state job; you should update and tailor your resume. You should clearly describe your education, training, and experience related to the items listed in the “Qualifications” section of the job announcement. These qualifications should be addressed in your resume. This will allow a fuller assessment regarding your qualifications and those required for the job applying for. Please review these resume and letter of qualifications tips for more information on your application materials.

Your resume should include the following:

• Your educational background including any course work that relates to the position in which you are applying. 
• Your employment history, including experiences and/or duties and a summary of accomplishments and skills learned or used. 
• Any training or experience, including volunteer work or internships, you have related specifically to the “Qualifications” section of the assessment. 
• Spell out any acronyms and/or abbreviations the first time used. 

What not to include in your resume:

Your application materials should not include any information that is not job-related, such as race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, creed, disability, or genetic information. Further, do not include any self-identifying information such as photos, social security numbers, political affiliation, citizen status or conviction records. This document is not a letter of recommendation that someone else wrote about you.

Application materials will be evaluated, and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the process. References will be requested from top candidates once interviews have taken place. 

If you are a veteran with a 30% or greater service-related disability and are not currently employed in a permanent position with Wisconsin State Government, please send a letter of qualifications, resume, DD-214 and documentation of your service-connected disability rating (dated within 12 months) to the contact listed below.

The State of Wisconsin is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to applicants of any race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.

We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities.

Questions? Please contact the recruiter at:
Jamie Smith
DPI Human Resources Specialist
Phone: (608) 267-9119
Email: Jamie.Smith@dpi.wi.gov

Applications will be accepted until the needs of the Department are met. Applications will next be reviewed after February 3, 2025.