Special Education Assistant

Special Education Assistant (K-4)

The Special Education Paraprofessional will assist and carry out the goals, objectives, and adaptations in the individual education plan of special needs students in various settings; classrooms, physical education, lunchroom, bus loading area, cafeteria, and common spaces.

Essential functions may include, but are not limited to:

• Carrying out the duties and responsibilities outlined in a student's individual education plan.
• Assisting students in individual and group settings whether in the resource room or inclusive educational setting.
• Providing specialized instruction/interventions/accommodations as outlined in the IEP.
• Teaming with the classroom teacher and/or special education teacher to deliver classroom instruction.
• Demonstrating and modeling appropriate developmental and behavioral skills through play or interaction with the child.
• Assisting the individual student in self-help and independent living skills including dressing and undressing, toileting, supervising and assisting with eating skills, supervising and assisting child with an assistive device, supporting students in developmentally adaptive phy ed activities and special Olympics events and activities.
• Supervising student(s) during lunch, time out situations, recess, field trips, and emergency situations or in temporary absence of the teacher due to emergency or restrictive procedure situation.
• Monitoring classroom instruction for purpose of ensuring student progress and a safe learning environment.
• Bus duty that could involve riding the bus and following through with prescribed bus programs, meeting the bus, and reporting about student's bus behavior/needs to the case manager.
• Participate physically with the students in activities being taught.
• Collaborating with special education teachers, classroom teachers, and related service providers to ensure student safety and success.
• Maintaining confidentiality.
• Developing effective working relationships with students.
• Supporting building and classroom discipline policy.
• Maintaining good communication skills and a cooperative working environment with other school staff.
• Participating in assigned professional development.
• Maintaining knowledge of building procedures manual and school district policies.
• Working cooperatively with the building administrator, accepting constructive feedback and direction.
• Addressing disagreements with fellow employees constructively and respectfully.
• Monitoring student progress on assigned tasks.
• Following school district policy in reporting suspected abuse/neglect.
• All other duties as identified by the team in the IEP process for individual situations.
• Other special education related duties as assigned by the proper administrative authority.

Qualifications:

• Meet highly-qualified requirements for paraprofessional (two-year associate degree, 60 college credits, para-pro or para e-link certification).
• Experience working with students with physical, cognitive, and/or mild behavioral needs.
• Handle with Care Training - certification required within three months of being hired and maintained during employment.
• Must possess strong communication and interpersonal skills and be able to be a member of a team.
• Ability to be flexible based on program and student needs.
• Ability to assist students in individual or group settings whether in the resource room or inclusive education setting as well as in the community as a job coach.
• Ability to implement and follow through on specific therapies and programs for an individual as prescribed by the individual education plan.
• Ability to collect data on student progress as defined in the Individual Education Plan.
• Ability to remain calm and patient in volatile situations and react and respond quickly in a variety of situations.
• Ability to work under the supervision of a site principal and/or special education teacher.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks at once while dealing with constant interruptions.
• Ability to work with students, families, professionals, and staff of various cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
• Ability to interact with and maintain cooperative relationship with all levels of staff and the public.
• Must possess the ability to maintain confidentiality and professionalism.