Teacher Aide SPED Unit (Life skills) 2 positions

Teacher Aide, SPED Unit

The role of the Special Education Paraprofessional involves providing assistance to the teacher in implementing the instructional program.

Prerequisites:

• High School Diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (GED) in English
• Forty-eight (48) college level hours from an accredited institution of higher education or Associate's Degree
• Ability to obtain Texas Educational Aide Certification

Special Knowledge/Skills:

• Ability to work well with parents of children with disabilities
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

• Assist assigned students according to their individual needs, including transferring to and from wheelchairs, lifting, positioning, signing, interpreting, etc.
• Assist assigned students with physical needs and personal care including feeding, bathroom needs, and personal hygiene
• Assist in managing the behavior of assigned students and intervening in crisis situations, including restraining disruptive or dangerous students as needed.
• Assume responsibility for learning and adapting to each assigned student's special medical, physical, communicative, and emotional needs.
• Work with assigned students or small groups to develop motor skills and conduct instructional exercises assigned by the teacher.
• Assist assigned students throughout the school day, inside and outside the classroom, including lunchroom, bus, and playground duty.
• Keep the teacher informed of any special needs or problems of assigned students.
• Uphold and enforce school rules, regulations, and state and local board policy.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Participate in professional development programs, faculty meetings, and special events as needed.
• Monitor the safety of students with disabilities on school buses.
• Assist in loading and unloading students from school buses.
• Assist the bus driver in emergency situations.
• Assist a substitute bus driver in following the established bus route.
• Administer first aid to students on buses as needed.
• Record information on student's pick-up and drop-off times.
• Remain with a student at the transportation area until parents pick up students.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors:

Tools/Equipment Used: Uses wheelchair lift, ramps and other equipment as required, standard office equipment including personal computer and peripherals

Posture: Frequent standing, stooping, bending, kneeling, pushing and pulling

Motion: Repetitive hand motions including frequent keyboarding and use of mouse; occasional reaching

Lifting: Regular heavy lifting of students, and in emergency situations, drag or lift injured students (up to 180 pounds) to evacuate bus

Environment: Exposure to bacteria and communicable diseases; work outside in excessive heat, cold and humidity, intermittent noise, fumes, wind, and dust

Mental Demands: Work with multiple deadlines and frequent interruptions, maintain emotional control under stress