Special Education Paraprofessional
Primary Purpose:
Help special education teacher provide for physical and instructional needs of students with disabilities in special education and general education setting.
Assist in implementation of classroom programs, including self-help, behavior management, and instruction programs.
Work under general supervision of principal and immediate direction of certified teacher.
Qualifications:
Education/Certification: High school diploma or GED
Special Knowledge/Skills:
- Ability to work with children with disabilities
- Ability to follow verbal and written instructions
- Ability to communicate effectively Knowledge of general office equipment
Major Responsibilities and Duties:
Instructional Support:
- Help teacher prepare instructional materials and classroom displays.
- Help maintain a neat and orderly classroom.
- Help with inventory, care, and maintenance of equipment.
- Help teacher keep administrative records and prepare required reports.
- Provide orientation and assistance to substitute teachers.
Student Management:
- Assist students with physical disabilities according to their needs, including transferring to and from wheelchairs, lifting, or positioning.
- Assist students with physical needs and personal care, including feeding, bathroom needs, and personal hygiene. Help manage behavior of students.
- This includes intervening in crisis situations and restraining disruptive or dangerous student behavior as needed.
- Assume responsibility for learning and adapting to each student's special medical, physical, communicative, and emotional needs.
- Work with individual students or small groups to develop motor skills and conduct instructional exercises assigned by teacher.
- Help supervise students throughout the school day, inside and outside the classroom. This includes lunchroom, bus, and playground duty.
- Keep teacher informed of special needs or problems of individual students. Maintain confidentiality.
- Participate in staff development training programs, faculty meetings, and special events as assigned.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Equipment Used:
- Wheelchair lift, ramp, personal computer, copier, and audiovisual equipment.
Working Conditions:
- Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors
- Maintain emotional control under stress.
- Frequent standing, stooping, bending, kneeling, pushing, and pulling; regular heavy lifting of students.
- Biological exposure to bacteria and communicable diseases.