Special Education Teaching Assistant

Teacher Assistant / Special Education

The job of a Special Education Teaching Assistant is to work directly with the teacher for the purpose of assisting with the implementation of student IEPs and the program as carried out in the teacher's classroom.

Reports to: Teacher, Principal/Administrator, and Director of Special Services. Evaluation: Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with provision of the Board's policy.

The following credentials are required for this position:

• Be of good character
• Ability to work with others
• Ability to accept individual differences among children
• Good physical and mental health
• CPR certification
• Ability to pass the Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) requirements and to utilize the procedures under the direction of the teacher
• Ability to handle unforeseen situation in accordance with policy
• Physically able to lift and move students when necessary
• Ability to assist students boarding and departing from school buses
• Ability to serve as a bus assistant for transportation to and from school and on activities
• Ability to obtain Commercial Driver's License (CDL) to drive a school bus, if necessary

Assisting the teacher in the supervision of pupils with special needs at all times

• Assisting children with clothing, feeding, toileting, and/or general hygiene as necessary
• Supervising/monitoring students during lunch, assemblies, related arts, field trips, mainstream classes, recess, etc. as deemed appropriate by the teacher
• Assisting teacher with implementing the students' IEP goals and objectives
• Assisting teacher with academic instruction by supervising or providing small group instruction under supervision of teacher
• Assisting pupils as requested by teacher during seatwork
• Assisting with paperwork including organizing materials, copying, filing, etc.
• Maintaining confidentiality of students; especially regarding student IEP and record information
• Assisting with discipline procedures for student behavior under teacher supervision
• Assisting in maintaining individual records for each student
• Guiding students in developing positive relationships with peers and adults
• Serving as the main source of information and assistance to any substitute teacher assigned in the absence of the regular teacher
• Performing other duties as assigned by the classroom teacher or the Building Principal

This position may require physical demands such as lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling, stooping, or kneeling. When necessary, the teacher may be required to carry out medical responsibilities such as catheterization, trachea care, assist in tube feedings, etc.

Performs related duties as required.

A 2-year associate degree, or 60 semester hours of college course work, or taken and passed the ParaPro Assessment; or a 4-year degree

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to lift, carry, push and/or pull items with a strength factor of medium; hear and speak to exchange information in person and on the telephone; see to read a variety of materials; possess dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard; stand, walk, run and climb as required; bend at the waist, kneel or crouch to file materials. Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things. Interpersonal Communication: Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving assignments and/or directions to subordinates and receiving assignments and/or direction from supervisor. Language Ability: Requires the ability to read a variety of policy and procedures manuals. Requires the ability to prepare routine reports and records, performance appraisals, memos, etc., with proper format, punctuation, spelling and grammar, using all parts of speech. Requires the ability to speak with and before others with poise, voice control and confidence. Requires the ability to read a variety of policy and procedures manuals. Requires the ability to prepare routine reports and records, performance appraisals, memos, etc., with proper format, punctuation, spelling and grammar, using all parts of speech. Requires the ability to apply rational systems to solve practical problems, and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists, and to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic or schedule form. Requires the ability to apply influence systems in managing a staff, to learn and understand principles and techniques, to make independent judgments in absence of supervision, and to acquire knowledge of topics related to primary occupation. Must have the ability to comprehend and interpret received information. Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow and give verbal and written instructions, and to counsel and teach students. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently with persons of varying educational backgrounds. Requires the ability to add and subtract totals, to multiply and divide, to determine percentages and decimals, and to determine time. Must be able to use practical applications of fractions, percentages, ratio and proportion. Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape, and visually read various information. Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes using office machinery, and to operate motor vehicles. Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, office equipment, control knobs, switches, etc. Must have the ability to use one hand for twisting or turning motion while coordinating other hand with different activities. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination. Does not require the ability to differentiate colors and shades of color. Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress when confronted with emergency situations or tight deadlines. Requires the ability to talk and/or hear with talking defined as expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words and hearing being defined as perceiving nature of sounds by ear. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

All candidates must be able to pass an extensive background investigation before being hired.

The School District of Pickens County does not discriminate for reasons of age, race, sex, handicap, national origin, or religion in its communications with students, employees, the community, applicants for employment, events, or for access to its services.