EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM ASSISTANT TEACHER

EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM ASSISTANT TEACHER

Deadline: November 29, 2026
District/Organization: St. Joseph County ISD
Position/Type: Other, full time
Salary: $18.04-$19.53

POSITION GOAL:

Under general supervision, to provide students with appropriate classroom services while assisting teacher in maintaining a learning environment that enables students to master life skills appropriate to age, functional level and individual capacity; Student IEP goals and objectives; to perform a variety of clerical and supportive tasks for instructional personnel; and to perform related work as required.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Able to meet one of the following Michigan Department of Education requirements for approval as an instructional assistant employed in programs for students with disabilities:

• Be a high school graduate, or equivalent, with an associate degree or have completed two years of college (60 college credits) from a community college or degree-granting institution.
• Be a high school graduate, or equivalent, that has passed a rigorous standard of quality and demonstration, through a formal state or local academic assessment, that has been approved by the Michigan Department of Education for instructional paraprofessionals to meet the No Child Left Behind act.
• Be a high school graduate, or equivalent, which has a portfolio assessment that has met the Michigan Department of Education guidelines for instructional paraprofessionals as outlined to meet the No Child Left Behind act.
• Ability to pass additional LARA background check
• Responsibility of employee to obtain and maintain all training(s), certificate(s), approval(s), etc. and provide documentation to the business office before expiration date of said document(s).
• Must have regular and reliable job attendance, performance, and the physical ability to do the job.

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

INSTRUCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist the teacher with the implementation of individual instructional and/or behavioral plans.
• Assist the teacher with instruction in the cognitive domain (i.e. communication, functional academic skills, etc.).
• Assist the teacher with self-help skills development (i.e. toileting, dressing/undressing, eating, etc.).
• Assist the teacher with community based instruction (i.e. functional academics, communication, mobility training, social skills/behavior training, recreation/leisure, pre-vocational/vocational training, etc.).
• Assist the teacher with group activities (i.e. group music, special programs, Christmas program, Talent Show, etc.).
• Assist the support/ancillary staff (i.e. PT, OT, etc.) with gross and fine motor skills (i.e. grasping items, mobility, directionality, etc.).
• Assist physical education teacher with gym and swim programs.
• Assist with creative arts program (i.e. music, art, crafts, etc.).
• Assist the Sub-Teacher in following teacher’s lessons plans, completing student correspondence books, daily attendance and lunch counts.
• Assist in committees for special events and programs during school hours (i.e. parties, plays, etc.).
• Work as a team with teachers and other staff to pursue and meet individual performance objectives, collect student data, assist students in personal care and create an organized, positive and safe classroom environment which maintains the dignity of the individual student.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Supervise the students during classroom activities, students’ lunchtime and during recess periods on the playground.
• Assist in maintaining student discipline.
• Instruct, assist and supervise loading/unloading of students, including wheelchairs/adaptive equipment from buses.
• Assist the teacher in management of students during arrival and departure activities.
• Assist the teacher with supervision of students out of the classroom and/or school building (i.e. community based instruction/leisure, field trips, etc.).
• Constantly monitor & evaluate the safety of all students and report any concerns to the teacher.

PHYSICAL ASSISTANCE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist the students to and from bus, and other activities outside of classroom.
• Assist building staff in proper safety of lifting, handling and transferring of students.
• Assist the physical therapist and/or occupational therapist with the student’s therapy objectives.
• Assist the students with swim class objectives (i.e. dressing, undressing, showering, etc.).
• Assist school nurse with first aid and student safety measures, tube feeding and medication distribution as needed.
• Assist the teacher with physically aggressive students.
• Must be able to lift 30 pounds.
• Required to have a physical presence at the designated job site each and every day.

NON-INSTRUCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist the teacher with classroom clerical and record keeping duties (i.e. attendance, lunch count, base lining, task analysis sheets, filing, duplicating, etc.).
• Assist the teacher in operating a variety of school equipment (i.e. TV-VCR, computer, copy machine, etc.).
• Complete accident and/or incident reports as needed.
• Use universal precautions at all times for personal health and safety.
• Participate in yearly CPI, CPR/AED and first-aid training biyearly.
• Assist the teacher in developing and constructing bulletin boards visuals and room preparation.
• Assist the teacher in classroom maintenance and room clean-up (i.e. kitchen area, laundry, storage, etc.).
• Assist the teacher with the preparation of instructional materials and teaching aids.
• Attend and provide input at student/staff/team meetings and in-service when required.
• Assist with communication to bus drivers, as directed by teacher.
• Actively seeks advice and information relating to job.
• Adhere to the rules of confidentiality.
• Assist with other school related responsibilities as assigned by both the teacher and/or the St. Joseph County ISD administration.

REPORTS TO: Early Childhood/Special Education Supervisor

PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS: Early Childhood/Special Education Supervisor in collaboration with Special Education Principal

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: Salary for this position is based on the MEAA Master Agreement. Position will be in the ECSE program Monday-Thursday and Friday floating in Special Education classrooms, as needed. On the job travel required; mileage reimbursed per IRS guidelines.