Instructional Assistant-Severe SPED (Paraeducator)

Job Summary

Required Qualifications

• •High school diploma, GED, or equivalent
• •Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds independently
• •Capability to assist with lifting and positioning students with physical disabilities
• •Ability to carry teaching materials, equipment, and supplies as needed
• •Ability to stand for extended periods while monitoring and assisting students
• •Frequent walking throughout the school day to various locations, including classrooms, playgrounds, and other school facilities
• •Ability to bend, kneel, and squat to assist students with tasks such as tying shoes, picking up items, and other activities at ground level
• •Frequent crouching and reaching to support students during activities and transitions
• •Sufficient hand and finger dexterity to assist students with writing, typing, and other fine motor skills
• •Ability to handle and manipulate instructional materials and adaptive equipment
• •Adequate vision to supervise students, read instructional materials, and observe student behavior
• •Sufficient hearing to monitor student needs, respond to verbal communication and detect auditory signals from students and equipment
• •Ability to speak clearly and effectively to communicate with students, staff, and parents
• •Capability to understand and interpret verbal and non-verbal cues from students, especially those with communication difficulties
• •Willingness to work indoors and outdoors in various weather conditions
• •Ability to tolerate exposure to cleaning materials, classroom allergens, and potential student-related incidents such as biting or hitting
• •Ability to maintain energy and stamina throughout the school day to engage actively with students and perform duties effectively
• •Capacity to manage stress and remain calm in challenging situations
• •Physical, mental, and emotional stability to work under stressful conditions
• •Ability to move around the classroom and school premises frequently
• •Capability to assist students with mobility challenges, including transferring in and out of wheelchairs and assisting with walkers and other mobility devices
• •Ability to perform testing and assessment
• •Ability to assist in administering medications or other medical assistance to students after extensive training
• •Ability to assist students on/off buses
• •Intervention with, and management of, students who may be aggressive, self-abusive, angry, emotional, have infectious diseases and/or have been subjected to personal physical abuse
• •Ability to solve a variety of complex situations relating to individual student needs and behaviors
• •Basic computer technology skills
• •Ability to learn to navigate school and student-specific programs
• •Self-motivation
• •Proactivity in completing tasks with minimal direction
• •Ability to interact with students, teachers, staff, administrators, and other professional staff
• •Must be willing to be trained in steps of de-escalation and emergency safety interventions and procedures
• •Ability to assist the teacher in adapting lesson plans to meet the needs of individual students
• •Ability to assist with the physical, emotional, and educational needs of students with disabilities in a self-contained setting
• •Ability to provide information to appropriate school personnel
• •Ability to attend some IEP meetings and training meetings
• •Ability to monitor student behavior during non-classroom time
• •Ability to assist in implementing plans for instruction
• •Ability to assist in the implementation of a Behavioral Intervention Plan with consistency and fidelity
• •Ability to assist students in the use of technology, including computers, braille notes, communication devices, adaptive devices, tablets or other devices
• •Ability to assist students with mobility and adaptive physical equipment
• •Ability to clean and disinfect classroom, equipment and other items as needed
• •Ability to teach life skills
• •Ability to assist classroom teacher by preparing materials/facilities for classroom instruction as directed
• •Ability to make copies, data collection, assembling materials, and/or assist the teacher with general clerical duties
• •Ability to ride a bus with students to or from school
• •Punctual and regular daily attendance at the work location
• •Cleared criminal background check
• •Ability to perform each essential duty satisfactorily

Desired Qualifications

• •One year of successful work experience working with individuals with disabilities
• •Knowledge of basic first aid
• •Ability to learn and assist students with complex medical needs