SPED Instructional Assistant

Special Education Paraprofessional

FLSA Status:  Non-Exempt

Pay Group: 4

Days of Work: 185

Hours per Day: 7.5

GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB

The job of the Special Education Teacher Assistant was established for the purpose(s) of working with individual and/or small groups of students under the supervision of a certificated special education teacher in the supervision and instruction of students; assisting students by modeling the necessary skills to perform assignments; following educational individual plans and specific behavioral plans/goals; modeling appropriate behaviors and interactions with students and staff; and assisting student by providing for special health care needs. Employees in this classification will receive a variety of assignments including classroom support, lunchroom, playground, etc.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Provides classroom assistance to students and to the assigned District school teacher, who has ultimate responsibility for designing and implementing educational programs, activities and services.

Adapts classroom activities, assignments and/or materials under the direction of the classroom teacher for the purpose of supporting and reinforcing classroom objectives.
Provides daily personal and close, non-physical contact with children to provide classroom management and learning environment support.
Ability to assist in the implementation of an instructional support program with students of varying ages and sizes.
Provides effective organizational, communication and interpersonal communication skills.
Follows oral and written directions and have the ability to establish effective working relationships with District staff and students.
Maintains and/or assists in maintaining classroom control and classroom equipment that fosters a safe, positive environment for all students and staff in accordance with District policies and all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

Monitors individual and/or groups of students in a variety of settings (e.g. rest rooms, playgrounds, hallways, bus loading zones, cafeteria, assemblies, field trips, etc.) for the purpose of maintaining a safe and positive learning environment.

Provides, under the supervision of assigned teacher, instruction to students in a variety of individual and group activities (e.g. self esteem, behavioral skills, daily living skills, etc.) for the purpose of implementing goals for remediation of student deficiencies and ensuring student’s success.

Documents student’s daily activities (e.g. behavior, completed assignments, on/off task times, etc.) for the purpose of completing daily logs and student’s hourly activities.

Monitors student’s daily schedule and behavior plan (e.g. class schedule, toileting, medication, appetite, etc.) for the purpose of maintaining a safe and positive learning environment.
Keep supervisory teacher(s) informed of progress, incidents, and concerns. 

Maintains a professional behavior at all times.

Maintains a clean, safe and orderly classroom and playground area.

Assists with hygiene and toiletry issues as necessary.

Responds to emergency situations for the purpose of resolving safety concerns immediately.

Attends meetings and in-service presentations as assigned for the purpose of acquiring and/or conveying information relative to job functions.

Willingly performs other duties as assigned or requested.

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

Passing score on Paraprofessional Assessment or 60 hours of higher education.  Good verbal and written communication skills. Completion of Registered Behavior Technician modules is strongly preferred. Associate degree in a related field and coursework equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education, with experience teaching preschool-age children highly preferred. 

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Knowledge:

Specific skill-based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include: adhering to safety practices; operating standard office equipment including using pertinent job related software applications; and basic mathematical skills (e.g. add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals; compute rate, ratio, and percent, draw and interpret graphs, etc.).

Specific knowledge-based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include: concepts of grammar and punctuation; reading fluency and comprehension; age appropriate activities; and health and safety standards.

Specific ability-based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include: working with emotionally, physically and/or mentally impaired students; maintaining confidentiality; maintaining composure under stressful situations; communicating with diverse groups; adapting to changing work priorities; working as part of a team; applying common sense understanding to carry out instructions; dealing with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations; effectively presenting information in one-to-one and group situations to students; and working with frequent interruptions. 

Skills/Effort:

Advanced management, organizational, human relations, communications and interpersonal skills. Skill in conflict resolution with the ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with others. Ability to use and effectively apply independent judgment and discretion, and accept broad autonomy in directing and managing school operations; ability to delegate authority while maintaining accountability. Ability to assist in the development of long and short-range district goals and set appropriate educational priorities. Ability to utilize sound management practices; ability to instruct others through explanation, demonstration and supervised practice, and/or make recommendations on the basis of technical disciplines. Ability to complete, process, and maintain all required records, reports, and other information. Ability to develop and maintain effective communications with school and district employees, supervisors, media representatives, attorneys, and the general public. Ability to operate general office equipment such as a computer, calculator, copier, facsimile machine, etc.

Additional Physical, Cognitive, and Other Requirements:

Duties involve work in a school, office, or home environment that is sedentary or may involve walking and standing. Must be able to talk, read and hear, and effectively perceive and exchange information in a variety of oral, written and/or printed formats. Requires the ability to apply judgment and complex logic in defining problems, collecting information, and drawing valid conclusions. Duties require the ability to effectively inform and counsel students, teachers, parents, community members and others. Must prepare reports, recommendations, correspondence, etc., in correct form including proper spelling, punctuation, and grammar. Duties require successful adaption to stressors, emergencies, interpersonal conflicts, volatile situations, tight deadlines, etc. Must be able to record and exchange data, follow or deliver detailed verbal or written instructions, and make presentations to varied groups, including students, school administrators and staff, etc. Must be able to read academic or counseling reports, texts, or journals and interpret/apply school or District policies and procedures. Must possess the ability to add and subtract, multiply and divide, determine decimals and percents, and apply statistical analysis. Must be able to compare and analyze information in numeric or symbolic form, and appropriately process colors and shades of color. Must have sufficient hand, eye and foot coordination to use or operate standard office equipment, items, and supplies. Duties of the job require routine keyboard operations and the frequent use of a computer monitor and related equipment. Duties may involve the exertion of up to 10 pounds of force on a recurring basis.

Working Conditions:

The usual and customary methods of performing the job’s functions require the following physical demands: some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling and significant fine finger dexterity. Generally the job requires 20% sitting, 40% walking, and 40% standing. This job is performed in a generally clean and healthy indoor environment with work inside about 85% of the time and work outside about 15% of the work schedule. The employee must frequently move up to 50 pounds such as adaptive equipment and supplies and also work with members of the team to address student’s physical needs (e.g. positioning students under the direction of the physical therapist, bathrooms needs, etc.).

Responsibility:

No supervisory responsibilities.

DISCLAIMER STATEMENT

This job description is not intended as a complete listing of job duties.  The incumbent is responsible for the performance of other related duties as assigned/required.

EEO STATEMENT

Clarendon County School District does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sex, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, military status, political beliefs, reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, or any other basis prohibited by law.