Teacher Assistant, Special Education (1:1)

Job Support Specialist

This is work providing instructional support, training, and personal assistance to teachers of students with physical disabilities or intellectual disabilities. This position works directly 1:1 with an assigned student who needs additional support.

Roles and Responsibilities

The following information is intended to describe the overall nature and scope of the work being performed. This is not a comprehensive listing of all responsibilities or tasks; work may differ and other work may be assigned when deemed appropriate.

• An employee in this assignment is responsible for assisting the teacher by performing instructional duties, preparing classroom materials, supervising student behavior, learning and applying specific behavior management techniques, performing clerical duties, and providing assistance with personal hygiene and physical care as required. The work is performed under the guidance and supervision of the teacher.
• Provides individual instructional support as assigned by the teacher; assists the teacher by having materials ready; presents activities in any of the following developmental areas: cognitive, speech and language, fine motor, gross motor, social/emotional, and daily living skills; reinforces concepts and practice skills.
• Collects and records student data such as skill practice, seizure occurrences, and toileting
• Provides discipline in the absence of the teacher and maintains consistency with procedures established by the teacher
• Implements behavior modification plans
• Practices individual speech sounds, vocabulary, and syntax objectives with students as directed by the speech therapist; reads to students and asks questions to stimulate language development; presents language activities involving expressive and receptive areas of development
• Supervises learning centers during independent student work and assists students in manipulating materials
• Participates in classroom activities such as discussions and games
• Operates computer and audiovisual equipment such as DVD, data projector, or smartboards
• Performs related work as required

Qualifications

Below are the minimum qualifications for this job. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are also acceptable.

Education

High school diploma or GED

Experience

Experience as a teacher aide or working with children

Licenses and Certifications

NA

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to work under the supervision of the teacher, including following lesson plans prepared by teachers
• Ability to work effectively with individual children and small groups, meeting the instructional objectives as established by the teacher
• Physical ability to lift, position, and assist students as required
• Ability to accept and adapt to the wide differences in student characteristics and abilities
• Ability to operate standard office equipment, learn to operate video equipment, and learn to perform individual medical procedures when necessary
• Good human relations and communications skills; patience and flexibility

Physical Requirements

The following provides a brief description of physical requirements for this job:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly talking, expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. The employee must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly. The employee must possess normal cognitive abilities including the ability to learn, recall and apply certain practices and policies. Frequently sitting and/or remaining in a stationary position for long periods of time. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.