Support Staff

Job Description

Job Description

Position Title: Support Staff

Supervisor: Principal or Designee

Term of Employment: 10 months

Group: 1

Job Summary:  Provides a variety of instructional assistance and support services associated with specialized educational programs and student needs.

Essential Functions:  Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include, but are not limited to, the following tasks, duties, knowledge, skills, and other characteristics. This list is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by the Support Staff.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

Generally include the following. Other duties may be assigned:

• Prepares instructional and art activity materials and copies.
• Prepares and distributes learning packets according to teacher direction.
• Assists students to use educational tools.
• Assists in teaching eating, food preparation, and cleaning skills.
• Disinfects eating and food preparation areas.
• Takes out the trash.
• Assists in teaching daily living skills such as eating, spending money, time management, rules of behavior, and personal hygiene such as brushing teeth and combing hair.
• Monitors and assists students to complete tasks, stay focused, and not disturb others.
• Escorts students around campus.
• Leads individual and small group activities with students under teacher direction.
• Provides support in monitoring, intervening, and redirecting student behaviors.
• Acts to prevent and deescalate student behavior.
• Models, directs, and supervises student behavior in social situations in the classroom, cafeteria, playground environment, and on community outings.
• Utilizes and assists students with utilization of augmentative communications (devices, communication boards, etc.).
• Assists in implementing individual student programs for behavior, sensory, or academics, including but not limited to behavior support plans and sensory integration strategies.
• Assists in data collection related to behavior and IEP goals.
• Assists in preparation, sending, and receipt of student grade checks.
• As directed, assists with toileting, diapering, cleaning bodily fluids; cleans and disinfects toileting/changing areas, launders classroom towels and sheets.
• Maintains documentation and records for student files.
• Assists in transporting students to and from school.
• Assists with morning arrival and afternoon dismissal.
• Supports during PE, art, music, recess, and animal therapy.
• Completes CPI paperwork and Incident reports as needed.
• Assists in transporting students to and from school.
• Abides by the VAA Employee Handbook.
• Abides by the VAA Support Staff Handbook.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Knowledge of applicable Victory Autism Academy policies and procedures.
• Demonstrates an understanding of the unique needs and characteristics of children with Autism.
• Knowledge of principles of behavior management.
• Knowledge of principles of record, file, and database management.
• Knowledge of principles of basic non-typical child development stages and non-typical developmental delays.
• Demonstrates flexibility, common sense, and good judgment.
• Skill in following oral and written directions.
• Skill in identifying, preventing, and de-escalating negative behaviors.
• Skill in instructing and assisting students in self-help living skills.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relations with co-workers, vendors, students, parents, the general public, and others having business with VAA.
• Skill in operating a personal computer utilizing a variety of software applications.

Minimum Qualifications:

• High School Diploma

Other Requirements:

• Must be able to pass a fingerprint and background clearance check.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain an Arizona driver’s license.
• Must be able to complete training in CPR, First Aid, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (CPI), and specialized training for students with disabilities.
• Must be able to attend training and utilize approved therapeutic CPI holds; must be able to run after students who are at risk of fleeing from a safe location.
• May be required to demonstrate fluency in English; written and oral communications.
• May be required to lift and carry heavy, bulky supplies, and materials weighing up to 50 pounds.
• May be required to lift students weighing up to 60 pounds.
• May be required to work outside normal working hours.
• May be required to travel to perform work functions.