Aide - Special Education

Special Education Aide (Paraprofessional)

To assist students with physical limitations and educational needs. To assist students with special needs under the direction of a certified teacher. To assist the teacher in general daily classroom activities, help special needs students, and cares for students' physical, emotional health and safety, affirming their abilities and striving to promote dignity in all relationships. To provide support, explanation, re-teaching, and discipline.

Essential Functions:

• Ensure the safety of students
• Possesses a knowledge level and/or holds previous working experience as a classroom paraprofessional with students who have disabilities (cognitive, language and autistic)
• Must be flexible, patient, and tolerant of students with challenging behaviors and diverse skill levels
• Be able to take directives positively from the teacher and work with minimal direct supervision
• Must be able to report on time and have a good attendance record
• Must be physically capable of lifting 60 pounds
• Must be physically able to transfer students from wheelchair to various activities/personal care needs
• Must pass lifting in-service administered by the physical therapist
• Maintain accurate, complete and correct records as required
• Provide guidance to the students which will promote their welfare and their proper educational development
• Attend educational field trips
• Attempt to meet the goals and objectives of the instructional program as defined in the IEP
• Take all necessary and reasonable precautions to protect students, equipment, materials, and facilities
• Regularly communicate with parents and administrators
• Prepare materials needed for student's instructional needs
• Schedule appropriate intervention times for students with a classroom teacher
• Perform bus duty, lunch duty, and playground duty, as requested
• Perform all other assigned duties
• Make contacts with the public with tact and diplomacy
• Interact in a professional manner with staff, students and parents
• Attend meetings and in-services as required
• Assist students who are physically limited
• Escort students during school
• Promote good public relations
• Respond to routine questions and requests in an appropriate manner
• Establish and maintain cooperative professional relationships
• Attend professional growth seminars, workshops, etc., to keep current on relevant issues
• Interact with other departments and school personnel when necessary
• Interact with the public in an official capacity when required
• Interact with Superintendent and/or Board of Education and present information as requested
• Duplicate classroom materials
• Assist students during lunchtime
• Assist students with toiletry needs as necessary
• Write for the student
• Communicating needs of the student to the proper authority
• Assists with all classroom procedures as directed by the teacher, therapists, and school nurse
• Toilets or manages students' personal care needs
• Supervision of lunch periods/recess
• Follows IEP goals as instructed by teachers to facilitate learning in the self-contained classroom as well as in other areas of the building
• Performs other duties as directed by the teacher, therapists, building and/or district administrator(s)
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Principal and/or Special Education Coordinator

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or GED
• Two years of higher education; associate's degree or higher or passing score on State Parapro Assessment
• Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Superintendent and/or Board of Education may find appropriate

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the academic area and teaching methodology
• Ability to work effectively with others
• Ability to communicate ideas and directives clearly and effectively both orally and in writing
• Effective active listening skills
• Organizational and problem-solving skills
• Basic first-aid and CPR training
• Knowledge of child development and an understanding of age-appropriate tasks
• Ability to work in a team environment
• Knowledge and training in various restraint methods

Equipment Operated:

• Overhead projector
• Copy machines
• Computer
• Printer
• Calculator
• Laminator
• Telephone
• Tape recorder
• LCD Ellis machine
• Language master
• Hydraulic lift
• Wheelchairs

Additional Working Conditions:

• Exposure to blood, bodily fluids and tissue
• Operation of a vehicle under inclement weather conditions, i.e., being prepared to attend to classes on all scheduled school days, except calamity days
• Interaction with unruly children
• The requirement to travel, i.e., between school buildings if necessary
• Evening/weekend/summer work
• The regular requirement to sit, stand, walk, talk, hear, see, read, speak, reach, stretch with hands and arms, crouch, climb, kneel, and stoop
• The requirement to lift, push, pull and carry various classroom materials, supplies and/or equipment up to a maximum of 100 pounds, e.g., overhead projector, books, supplies, audio-visual cart and children