Teacher Aide, (Life Skills)
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