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 Blind and Visually Impaired (WSBVI), part of the Division of Learning Support, is seeking applicants for Educational Assistant-Entry positions. These are full-time, school-year positions (80%). WSBVI is a residential school that provides comprehensive educational services to children who are Blind or Visually Impaired, as well as supporting their families and local education agencies (LEAs) 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 collaborative team environment. This setting fosters personalized attention and deep connections with each student while promoting independence, mobility, and skills development that are crucial for students with visual impairments.

The staff at WSBVI 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 a collaborative environment that empowers students with visual impairments, we encourage you to apply and become part of our dedicated team.

This position provides essential support to students who are blind or visually impaired, including those with multiple disabilities, at the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired. The Educational Assistant-Entry works closely with teachers and therapists to assist with instructional activities, personal care, and mobility needs, helping students thrive in a safe and inclusive environment. By supporting individualized educational plans and fostering independence, this role plays a key part in the success and well-being of each student.

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.

Required work hours between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. qualify for an additional eighty cents ($0.80) per hour.

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

Special notes: The typical hours for this position are either 7:00am – 3:30pm or 6:30 – 3:00pm, though they may occasionally vary to accommodate extracurricular activities.

Candidates must be licensed or eligible for licensure as a Special Education Program Aide (070) with the Department of Public Instruction. Candidates will be required to obtain this licensure 3 months from the time of appointment if they do not have it. 

Headquarters: The position is headquartered at the WI Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 1700 West State Street, Janesville, WI. Reimbursement for traveling to or from the employee’s headquarters is not provided (e.g., mileage, meals, parking, lodging, etc.).

Pre-hire requirements: A criminal background check will be conducted prior to an offer of hire.  A TB screen will be required prior to start.

Legal authorization: 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.

Please address the following in your resume.
 

A minimally qualified applicant must:

• Be willing to work with individuals who are blind and/or have low vision.
• Be willing and able to assist students in all personal functions (including feeding, toileting, washing, hygiene, cleaning, and moving children) and academic functions as directed or as the need arises.
  
  

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 and letter of qualifications. 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 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. 

The State of Wisconsin offers a special program for qualified veterans with a 30% or greater service-connected disability.  If you are a qualified veteran, please visit the Veterans Employment page for application instructions to be considered for the Veterans Non-Competitive Appointment program.  Once you have applied, please send an email indicating your interest in being considered for the Veterans Non-Competitive Appointment program to the HR staff listed in the​​ job posting.

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 July 10, 2025.