Primary Purpose:

Help special education teacher provide for physical and instructional needs of students with disabilities in special education setting. Assist in implementation of classroom programs, including self-help, behavior management, and instruction programs. Work under general supervision of principal and immediate direction of certified teacher.

Qualifications

Education/Certification:

• High school diploma or GED
• Have met formal academic assessment, associate’s degree, two years of study or 48 hours at an institution of higher learning
• Paraprofessional Aide Certification required (can be obtained once employed)

Special Knowledge/Skills

• Ability to work with children with disabilities
• Ability to organize and be detail oriented
• Able to operate the computer
• Ability to provide instruction to individual or small groups of students
• Physically and emotionally able to perform assigned tasks
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions
• Communicate and work with students
• Must possess personal qualities related to respect for the rights and confidentiality of others

Experience:

• Must have experience with students; experience may be work in church related schools, day camps, youth groups, private schools, licensed day-care centers, or similar experience

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

Instructional Support

• Provide direct instruction of students under direct supervision of teacher
• Help maintain a neat and orderly classroom.
• Help with inventory, care, and maintenance of equipment.
• Help teacher keep administrative records and prepare required reports.
• Provide orientation and assistance to substitute teachers.
• Assist in classroom management
• Assist students with physical disabilities according to their needs, including transferring to and from wheelchairs, lifting, or positioning.
• Assist students with physical needs and personal care, including feeding, bathroom needs, and personal hygiene.
• Help manage behavior of students. This includes intervening in crisis situations and restraining disruptive or dangerous student behavior as needed.
• Assume responsibility for learning and adapting to each student’s special medical, physical, communicative, and emotional needs.
• Work with individual students or small groups to develop motor skills and conduct instructional exercises assigned by teacher.

Student Management

• Help with student supervision before, during, and after school while students are loading and unloading buses, on the playground, in the cafeteria, in a learning or practice environment, inside and outside of the classroom while following appropriate training technique throughout the school day
• Keep teacher informed of special needs or problems of individual students

Professional Conduct

• Demonstrates ability to remain calm and withstand pressures
• Flexible to changes in routine and adapts quickly to changing situations
• Reliable and responsible attendance and punctuality
• Demonstrates respect, courteous to peers and visitors and assist fellow workers willingly
• Avoid speaking ill of the district and district personnel

Other

• Participate in staff development training programs to improve job performance
• Participate in faculty meeting and special events as assigned
• Perform duties as assigned, related to the position as directed by the supervisor or administrative staff

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors

The working conditions described 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 and expectations.  Biological exposure to bacteria and communicable diseases.

Maintain emotional control under stress

Physical Demands: 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 will be made if necessary:

• While performing the duties of a classroom teaching aide, the employee may frequently be required to stoop, reach, stand, walk, lift, pull, push, grasp, talk, hear, see and use repetitive motions.
• While performing these duties of the job, the employee may frequently be required to lift and/or move at least 50 pounds of materials, or move at least 50 pounds of materials, or lift children from wheelchairs onto changing tables, etc.
• While performing the duties on the job assignment, the employee may frequently be required to deescalate physical aggression including the use of safe, non-harmful physical restraint procedures.
• Tools/Equipment Used: Standard office equipment including personal computer and peripherals; wheelchair lift, ramp, audiovisual equipment
• Posture: Prolonged sitting; occasional bending/stooping, pushing/pulling, and twisting
• Motion: Repetitive hand motions, frequent keyboarding and use of mouse; occasional reaching
• Lifting: Occasional light lifting and carrying (less than 15 pounds)
• Mental Demands: Work with frequent interruptions; maintain emotional control under stress