PRE-K INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT

Job Title

Under general supervision, performs a variety of instructional tasks, along with some technical and clerical duties. Employee may perform a wide range of tasks in order to support the efforts of teachers, meet the needs of all students, and ensure the provision of quality instruction for all students. Employee provides assistance with academics and classroom management and will lead small group activities. Reports to a Principal and/or lead teachers.

Essential Job Functions

Assists teachers with executing instruction and evaluating its effectiveness.

Promotes a supportive, nurturing, inclusive, flexible learning environment. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Constantly monitoring the safety and social-emotional well-being of students; encouraging resilience and positive self-esteem; assisting students with becoming increasingly independent.
• Monitoring and recording student behavior; helping maintain discipline in the classroom and encouraging positive behavior; assisting with de-escalation and crisis prevention as needed.
• Assisting students with learning; reinforcing and clarifying directions for assignments; providing small group instruction and/or one-on-one assistance.
• Contributing to a positive, collaborative work environment by demonstrating professionalism both inside and outside of the classroom.

Maintains documentation concerning student information; adhering to strict guidelines regarding confidentiality.

Helps maintain classroom organization and cleanliness; reports maintenance and safety concerns to supervisor.

Performs various technical and clerical duties, such as preparing and setting up materials/equipment.

Oversees students during non-classroom time including transitions, during lunch, and other activities.

Aids students with daily living skills, including meals and toileting needs when necessary; and helps with any other tasks, personal or healthcare students are not able to perform for themselves.

Participates in meetings and training aligned with school/district goals in order to meet student needs.

Performs other related work as assigned.

Minimum Training and Experience

High School diploma and either an associate's degree (equivalent hours or higher degree) or demonstration of being highly qualified by completing a local training program and meeting assessment requirements in reading, writing, and math.

Minimum Qualifications or Standards Required to Perform Essential Job Functions

Physical Requirements: Must be able to use a variety of equipment, classroom tools, and technology, including those for children with special needs. Must be able to exert a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Due to the amount of time spent standing and/or walking, physical requirements are consistent with those for Light to Medium Work.

Conceptual Awareness: Requires the ability to observe, compare, and contrast various people, data, or items.

Interpersonal Communication: Requires the ability to speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving instructions, assignments and/or directions from colleagues or supervisors.

Language Ability: Requires the ability to read and prepare a variety of instructional materials, correspondence, reports, handbooks, forms, lists, etc.

Intelligence: Requires the ability to rationalize and solve problems with a variety of variables, aligned with policies, procedures, and professional expectations.

Verbal Aptitude: 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 use mathematical operations and apply mathematical skills to solve work-related problems; including but not limited to adding, subtracting, and utilizing decimals and percentages.

Motor Coordination & Dexterity: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.

Visual and Spatial Aptitude: Requires visual acuity to complete essential duties, including the ability to conceptualize visual representations, size, shape, and color.

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 persons acting under stress.

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

General knowledge of activities performed by teachers. General knowledge of daily routines of the classroom.

General knowledge of student and staff handbook rules.

General knowledge of procedures to follow in the event of an emergency.

General knowledge of the principles of organization and administration.

Some knowledge of the curriculum for the grade levels.

Ability to constantly monitor the safety and well-being of students.

Ability to motivate students.

Ability to maintain a clean and orderly environment. Ability to perform general clerical duties.

Ability to maintain order and discipline in a classroom. Ability to operate common classroom technology and office equipment.

Ability to maintain basic files and records.

Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.

Disclaimer

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to this job.