Paraprofessional - Special Education
This position is responsible for working closely with students in a general education classroom with students with learning disabilities, autism, or mild behaviors on a regular basis in an effort to provide them with the support they need to gain full benefit from the District's special education program.
Duties include:
- Discussing assigned duties with classroom teachers to coordinate instructional efforts.
- Preparing lesson materials, bulletin board displays, exhibits, equipment, and demonstrations as needed.
- Presenting subject matter to students under the direction and guidance of teachers, using lectures, discussions, or supervised role-playing methods.
- Establishing a supportive and sympathetic relationship with the student(s) without fostering or encouraging intense emotional involvement.
- Serving as a resource person to the student personnel evaluation team.
- Supervising students in classrooms, halls, cafeterias, school yards, and gymnasiums, or on field trips.
- Conducting demonstrations to teach skills such as sports, dancing, and handicrafts.
- Distributing teaching materials such as textbooks, workbooks, papers, and pencils to students.
- Distributing tests and homework assignments, and collecting them when they are completed.
- Enforcing administration policies and rules governing students.
- Grading homework and tests, and computing and recording results.
- Completing required reports in a timely manner.
- Teaching socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification and positive reinforcement.
- Working with students with multiple physical, mental, and developmental disabilities.
- Being familiar with and using adaptive equipment including communication equipment, wheelchairs, adaptive feeding tools, etc.
- Assisting students with self-care, hygiene, and feeding as necessary.
- Performing tasks that students are not able to do, i.e. taking notes, handling materials, holding books, etc.
- Working with/handling resistive students.
- Serving as the chief source of information and help to any substitute teacher assigned in the absence of the regular teacher.
- Maintaining a high level of ethical behavior and confidentiality of information about students.
- Assisting the classroom teacher in other tasks necessary in maintaining a professional and positive classroom environment.
Qualifications include:
- A registered license with the Regional Office of Education #17 at the time of hire.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to enforce school regulations and policies in a professional manner.
- Ability to maintain good working relationships with fellow employees and pupils.
- Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs.
- Ability to push/pull up to 10 lbs.
- Detail oriented.
- Possess an educator license with stipulations endorsed for paraprofessional educator or professional educator license at the time of hire.
Compensation is fully board paid medical, dental, and vision available. Per the Teaching Assistant Salary Schedule, the starting pay range is $19.48 - $22.40 per hour and is based upon experience.