SABA Instructional Assistant/Bus Driver

Instructional Assistant/Bus Driver

School of the Arts for Boys Academy (SABA) empowers and builds culturally and linguistically diverse boys to be strong, creative academic scholars, critical thinkers, and community leaders through a culturally responsive arts-based education.

To provide support to the teacher in the instruction of students. A wide variety of technical and clerical tasks are performed to support the teacher in the teaching-learning process for students. The second aspect of this job is bus driving in which under general supervision, it is expected that an employee operates a school bus on assigned route(s) and schedule to provide safe and efficient transportation to students of the school.

High School diploma or equivalent is required. Employee should also have some experience in driving large vehicles with some experience transporting humans preferred; or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required skills, knowledge and abilities.

Performance Responsibilities

1. Assists teacher with executing instruction and evaluating its effectiveness.
2. Monitors student behavior and helps maintain discipline in the classroom; records time out and in-class suspension; assists with crisis prevention; restrains students as needed.
3. Monitors the safety and well-being of students; monitors student attitudes and encourages self-esteem; assists students with becoming increasingly independent.
4. Assists students with learning; reinforces and clarifies instructions; conducts short sessions on improving study skills; provides one-on-one assistance as needed.
5. Performs required pre-trip and post-trip inspections and document inspections as required by bus drivers. Reports mechanical defect(s) or failure(s) to the Head of School. In the event the assigned school bus is declared unfit for service, performs pre and post-trip inspections on substitute school bus.
6. In accordance with Transportation Department Operating Instructions for bus drivers, performs required post-trip inspection, to detect students who may still be on board the school bus asleep or incapacitated and to detect any other irregularities or vandalism to the bus interior.
7. Operates the assigned school bus on the route(s) and schedule as provided.
8. Reports to the Head of School, on the day of occurrence, any student added to or deleted from the route by the Head of School which will necessitate a change in the route, bus stops and/or schedule.
9. Obeys all traffic laws and school bus regulations while operating the school bus.
10. Observes all safety regulations and standards for school buses. This includes clearing the bus and evacuating students quickly in the event of an emergency.
11. Has a copy of the current Handbook for the School Bus Driver and the Safety Assistant and refers to it periodically for guidance and to answer questions.
12. Maintains discipline of students assigned to ride the school bus. Establishes a discipline plan that is consistent with school disciplinary objectives, as stated by the Head of School, and which provides a clear, progressive plan of consequences for students who cause disciplinary problems and rewards for those who maintain proper school bus safety standards.
13. Reports undisciplined students to the Head of School.
14. Discharges students only at the authorized school or bus stop locations.
15. Transports only authorized students.
16. Keeps the school bus clean and free of papers, bottles, cans, food wrappers and other items which may present a safety problem.
17. Reports all accidents as required and remains at the scene of the accident until released by the on-scene transportation supervisor.
18. Completes personal time card and required reports, including reports required in the event of an accident or incident aboard the school bus.
19. Remains in charge of all students aboard the bus at the time of an accident, determining the existence and extent of any injuries and maintaining the safety of all passengers.
20. Secures the assigned bus before leaving the vehicle at the conclusion of a run or route. This includes parking the vehicle properly, making a visual inspection of the bus to check for damage and the possibility of remaining passengers, and securing all windows and doors to protect the interior of the vehicle.
21. Maintains acceptable relationships with parents/guardians of students transported and with school personnel.
22. Performs other related tasks as required.

Minimum Standards Required to Perform Responsibilities

Physical Requirements: Must be physically able to operate a school bus. Must be able to quickly decelerate the bus and firmly apply the brake in an emergency situation. Must be able to turn the steering wheel of the vehicle rapidly in an emergency situation. Must be able to begin in a seated position with seat belt fastened, parking brake released, and engine running, secure the bus (parking brake set, key removed), rise from the seat, exit through the rearmost emergency exit, and be in position to assist passengers in exiting the bus within 20 seconds. Physical demand requirements are for Medium Work.

Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural or composite characteristics (whether similar or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.

Interpersonal Communication: Requires the ability to speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving instructions, assignments or directions to subordinates or assistants.

Language Ability: Requires the ability to read a variety of correspondence, reports, forms, strategic plans, etc. Requires the ability to prepare correspondence, reports, forms, evaluations, budgets, etc., using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style. Requires the ability to speak before groups of people with poise, voice control and confidence.

Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in standard English.

Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract; multiply and divide; utilize decimals and percentages; and to apply the principles of algebra, descriptive statistics and statistical inference.

Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.

Motor Coordination: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using janitorial equipment as well as in operating a school bus.

Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items such as janitorial equipment, school bus equipment, control knobs, switches, etc. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.

Color Discrimination: Requires the ability to recognize the colors of traffic signals and devices showing standard red, green, and amber. Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with emergency situations. Physical Communication: Requires the ability to talk and hear: (Talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words. Hearing: perceiving nature of sounds by ear.) Must be able to communicate via telephone.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. General knowledge of activities performed by lead teacher
2. General knowledge of daily routines of the classroom
3. General knowledge of student handbook rules
4. General knowledge of procedures to follow in the event of an emergency
5. General knowledge of the principles of organization and administration
6. Some knowledge of the curriculum for the grade
7. Ability to motivate students
8. Ability to perform general clerical duties.
9. Ability to maintain order and discipline in a classroom
10. Ability to maintain a clean and orderly environment
11. Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions
12. Considerable knowledge of safe and efficient practices and procedures used in the operation of a school bus
13. Considerable knowledge of traffic laws and school bus regulations
14. Considerable knowledge of safety regulations and standards for school buses
15. General knowledge of Transportation Department Operating Instructions
16. Ability to physically inspect the bus according to Transportation Department Operating Instructions
17. Ability to detect and report observable mechanical defects or failures on the school bus
18. Ability to maintain discipline of students assigned to ride the school bus
19. Ability to maintain a clean school bus
20. Ability to complete required reports
21. Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions
22. Ability to exercise independent judgment and initiative in applying standards to a variety of work situations
23. Ability to exercise tact and courtesy in contact with parents/guardians or students and with school personnel
24. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments
25. Performs other work related tasks as required