Paraprofessional Aide

Position: Paraprofessional Aide

Location: Lake Middle/High School - Multiple Disabilities Classroom

Reports to: Building Principal and Director of Special Services

Hours: 7 hours per day

Description: Lake Paraprofessionals provide assistance to a variety of students who require one on one assistance with daily activities to maximize their potential. Students may have a variety of needs including medical, behavioral, cognitive, and sensory. Applicants should be calm and poised individuals with a passion for all kids, utilizing their ability to be flexible based on the needs of the students they serve.

NOTE: Paraprofessional Permit (Educational Aide Permit) required

• High School diploma required
• Paraprofessional permit required
• Previous experience assisting students with learning in public school settings
• Previous aide experience preferred
• Ability to maintain a calm demeanor during stressful situations
• Experience with difficult behaviors or behavior disorders preferred
• Ability to work with students with varying levels of disability and behavior disorders
• Skilled in student management
• Exemplary work attendance history
• Positive reference/recommendation from employer/supervisor
• Conflict resolution experience
• Team and department compatibility
• Computer skills and excellent keyboarding skills
• Demonstrates ability to work effectively with others and collaborate with all staff members
• Demonstrates the ability to work well with students - approachable
• Ability to communicate ideas and directives clearly and effectively both orally and in writing
• Effective, active listening skills
• Organizational and problem solving skills
• Ability to stand, walk and move in outdoor conditions and/or settings
• Ability to be flexible and adaptable to changing situations and environments
• Displays professionalism, confidentiality, strong character, and excellent work ethic
• Models responsibility, honesty, respect, integrity, citizenship, commitment, and leadership skills
• Qualifications and duties according to job description
• Salary and benefits according to negotiated contract
• All duties and behavior will be conducted morally and ethically

Essential Functions: (The below lists are not ranked in order of importance)

• Ensure safety of students
• Assist children in moving from one area to another and keep on schedule
• Organize and assist on field trips
• Assist regular classroom teacher with classroom projects and study groups
• Contact parents of students when necessary when requested by either teacher or parent
• Work with special education students individually and in small groups
• Aid student with their tasks, read to students, conduct activities that work to maintain previous teaching
• Assist students with regular classwork
• Promote good social relationships between children
• Assist student's according to IEP
• Maintain familiarity with students IEP and ETR
• Assist students who need help eating
• Make contacts with the public with tact and diplomacy
• Maintain respect at all times for confidential information, e.g., custody papers, medical records, communication with parents and other teachers.
• Interact in a positive manner with staff, students and parents
• Promote good public relations by personal appearance, attitude and conversation
• Respond to routine questions and requests in an appropriate manner
• Assist students in purchasing lunch if needed
• Observe students when they are eating to prevent choking
• Monitor student behavior - be ready to de-escalate, pursue, or separate - utilize PBIS techniques effectively and correctly to maintain safety
• Get all students to the correct buses on time
• Supervise students in the cafeteria, playground, hall and/or classroom, recess
• Direct and discipline children according to the directions of the classroom teacher and/or refer disciplinary cases to the building principal
• Circulate and spot difficult situations before they develop into problems
• Supervise games and safety precautions during use of playground equipment
• Report any damaged, broken or dangerous equipment to the building principal immediately
• Supervise children passing to and from the classroom to the cafeteria, gym, assemblies, or other activities
• Make sure children do not enter restricted supervision areas of the building
• Make sure children do not loiter in the halls, washrooms, or other unsupervised areas
• Other duties as assigned by the Supervisor

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• Encourage and help special education students in the selection of high interest reading material and mathematics material
• Assist in the modification of assignments
• Play learning games to foster understanding of material
• Prepare materials for class projects
• Distribute communiques to be sent home with the students
• Make school related telephone calls for teacher
• Administer first-aid to students
• Keep permanent records up-to-date when requested
• Attend meetings and in-services as required
• Serve as a role model for students in how to conduct themselves as citizens and as responsible, intelligent human beings
• Perform other duties as assigned by the classroom teacher or building principal
• Keep track of student's belongings, e.g., wallets, money, lunches, glasses, hats
• Cheek book bags for notes from home, permission slips, etc.

Qualifications:

• High School diploma or general education degree (GED)
• Less than one year related experience
• Appropriate State of Ohio certification license, i.e., Paraprofessional certification (Educational Aide Permit)
• Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the superintendent and/or board of education may find appropriate

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• 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
• Patience and understanding

Equipment Operated:

• Monitors
• Computer/printer
• Copier
• Phone

Additional Working Conditions:

• Occasional interaction among unruly children
• Frequent exposure to blood, bodily fluids and tissue
• Occasional requirement to travel e.g., field trips
• Frequent requirement to stand, walk, talk, hear, see, read, speak, reach, stretch with hands and arms, stoop, and crouch
• Occasional requirement to "2-person lift" and carry children up to approximately 80 pounds
• Occasional operate of a vehicle under inclement weather conditions, i.e., being prepared to come to school on all scheduled days
• Occasional requirement to climb, kneel, sit, and balance
• Occasional requirement to work overtime
• Occasional requirement to lift and carry (i.e. children) up to approximately 50 pounds
• Occasional overtime work will be requested and expected of the employee

All duties and behavior will be conducted morally and ethically. Acts that are deemed as lewd, sexual or inappropriate will be viewed as unacceptable and may be considered as grounds for administrative action, dismissal, or termination of contract.

This job description is subject to change and in no manner states or implies that these are the only duties and responsibilities to be performed by the incumbent. The incumbent will be required to follow the instructions and perform the duties required by the incumbent's supervisor, appointing authority.