Paraeducator-Individual Aide

Summary: The paraeducator assists the teacher in the delivery of instruction focusing primarily on the identified student.


ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Other duties may be assigned.


Paraeducators work under the direct supervision of the teacher and provide support in the following manner:

• Work with student and/or groups of students on academic skills.
• Read aloud or listen to students read.
• Operate audiovisual equipment, copiers, laminators, overheads and computer in support of the teacher, class, or individual student.
• Facilitate centers and other learning activities.
• Communicate with teacher coordinating efforts needed.
• Reinforce school and classroom rules.
• Assist in publishing student work.
• Assist students with instruction, assignments, testing and assessments individually and in small groups as directed by teacher.
• Assist with routine classroom activities, testing and assessments.
• Assist students with clothing changes in the event of illnesses or accidents.
• Attend and assist in various classes with student.
• Redirection of problem behavior.
• Deescalate behavior, physically restrain students and/or seclusion if necessary.
• Engage in non-violent crisis intervention (CPI training will be provided as necessary).
• Monitor hall for student safety during passing time.
• This list is not to be considered inclusive of all duties performed by individuals in this position, but rather some examples of the types of duties most often performed.
• Regular, dependable attendance is a critical performance factor to ensure consistent, high quality student services.

Skills and Qualifications: Ability to maintain composure under stressful conditions. Ability to develop effective working relationships with students, staff and school community. Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Must demonstrate a willingness to accept new paraeducator pertinent job responsibilities when they are assigned. Must be able to maintain confidentiality.


REQUIRED Education/Experience:

• Minimum education of high school diploma or GED is required.
• It is required that the candidate complete at least two years of study at an institution of higher education (60 semester hours); or obtain an associate's degree (or higher); or a passing score of 460 on the ETS Parapro Assessment or a passing score on the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification-Professional Readiness (Basic Skills) Exam.
• Demonstrated experience working with At-Risk and/or special education students.

Salary and Benefits:

• Possible tuition assistance for teacher certification program.
• Salary range is $17.00 - $20.75/hour, plus $1.00 premium pay.
• Up to 7 hours per day with a 30 minute duty free lunch (6.5 paid hours/day).
• Personal and sick leave benefits.

Work Environment: The noise level in the work environment is occasionally loud. The employee is frequently exposed to infection at a greater risk than the average person due to the close contact with students. The employee must work with the public and other staff continuously meeting multiple demands from several people.


WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:
Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.


MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.


REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.


OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES:
Ability to develop effective working relationships with students, staff and the school community. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and Board of Education policies.


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 may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.


While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to reach with hands and arms. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee may lift up to 40 lbs. and or push/pull up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and peripheral vision. The employee needs to be able to tell where a sounds is coming from and hear in a noisy environment.


EOE