SCHOOL DISTRICT
#30
Job Description
Job Title: SPECIAL NEEDS
PARAPROFESSIONAL
Reports To: Administrator and Supervising
Special Education Teacher
Evaluated By: Administrator and Supervising Special
Education Teacher
JOB GOAL: Under
the supervision of a licensed special education teacher and administrator, the
Special Needs Paraprofessional performs a variety of tasks: assisting the
teacher in the development of an instructional program by working with students
individually or in small/large groups; preparing instructional materials; assisting
in implementation of classroom discipline; and conducting planned activities
using teacher- designated methods and materials. In addition, given appropriate
training, the Special Needs Paraprofessional may also be asked to perform
medical support activities as documented in specific health protocols and/or
provided behavior support to students with disruptive/aggressive behaviors. Some
positions may require aptitude and skill in working with the particular
disabilities or learning needs of students. Special Need Paraprofessional provide support services
to special needs student(s) in general education classrooms, Learning Resource
Centers, Structured Learning Programs, Basic Skills Classes, and one-to-one
learning environments.
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully an individual must be
able to execute each requirement satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are
representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability needed for the position.
1.
High School Diploma or equivalent;
2. Must meet Federal Requirements of being "Highly Qualified," (AA degree
or 2 years
of college, or pass the district test for academic knowledge
and pedagogy);
3. 18
years of age or older;
4.
Ability to work harmoniously with others and to communicate effectively
(both orally and
in writing)
with students and staff;
5. Ability to understand and follow oral and
written instructions;
6.
Ability to maintain confidentiality of students and their records;
7.
Ability to supervise individual or groups of students in an
instructional setting without
constant
teacher oversight; work in a team situation;
8.
Ability to deliver instructional programs to students who have learning
and physical
disabilities and/or
social behavior problems;
9.
Ability to work effectively in an environment which can be both
physically and emotionally
fatiguing; perform physically demanding requirements of the
job;
10. Possess knowledge of English usage,
mathematics, and a basic understanding of the
subjects in
which this position is to provide assistance;
11. Ability to demonstrate standards of moral
role model for
students;
12. Demonstrate a positive attitude in working
with children with special needs;
13. Ability to possess and maintain a valid First
Aid card including HIV training;
14. Ability to type accurately; operate standard
office equipment such as computer, copier, and
word processor;
and operate audio-visual equipment;
15.
Understand basic provisions of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA);
16.
Understand basic elements of an Individualized Education Plan (IEP);
17. Ability to direct and respond appropriately
to students;
18. Ability to
maintain student records, special education records, and accounting records;
19. Ability to
develop contacts in the business community to promote the district's transitional services;
20. Ability to be
self-directed to organize, plan and initiate community contacts and program;
21. Ability to work with students who may exhibit
aggressive behavior, as required of
specific job
assignment;
22. Ability to work with students who require
attention to basic feeding and personal
hygiene, as required
by specific job assignment;
23. Ability to support students with medical or
health needs;
24. Ability to perform physical activities which
may include: moving and/or lifting of students
with physical
disabilities; moving, lifting, and/or physically restraining of students
with
emotional
and/or behavioral disabilities;
25. Ability to perform physical activities which
may include frequent standing, walking,
bending, and/or
lifting;
26. Ability to assist students with personal
hygiene tasks, assist students with injury and/or
illness that
could result and possible exposure to bodily fluids;
27. Such alternatives to the above requirements as
the School Board or Administration may
deem
appropriate and acceptable.
ESSENTIAL
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: include
the following. Other duties
may also be assigned.
1. Assist teachers in the planning and
implementation of learning experiences of students
enrolled in programs;
confer with teacher to provide feedback on student performance,
progress, and testing activities;
2. Assist the teacher in devising special
strategies for reinforcing material or skills based on a
sympathetic understanding of individual students, their
needs, interests, and abilities;
3. Assist in monitoring classroom management in
accordance with the district's discipline
procedures, which may include the physical restraint,
physical movement, lifting and
carrying of students;
4. Supervise students in and outside of the
classroom with an understanding of and provision
for a safe environment;
5. Perform various clerical functions in student
record keeping, monitor assignments, IEP
development, maintain accurate files, and other related
functions;
6. Assist with the supervision of students
during emergency drills, assemblies, and play periods;
7. Assist with large group activities as drill
work, reading aloud, and story telling;
8. Read to students, listen to students read,
and participate in other forms of oral communication
with students;
9. Check notebooks, corrects papers, and
supervises testing and make up work as assigned by
the teacher;
10. Handle
discipline problems in accordance with the district's discipline procedures;
11. Alert the
teacher to any problem or special information about an individual student;
12. Serve as a
source of information and support to any substitute teacher assigned in the
absence
of the regular teacher;
13. Assist with
record keeping to monitor students' daily and monthly data on instructional and
behavioral progress;
14. Assist
classroom teacher in diagnostic testing and reporting;
15. Provide
remedial instruction as requested;
16. Prepare and
teach a unit of instruction under the supervision of a teacher;
17. Perform clerical duties such as typing, computer
entry, duplicating and record keeping;
18. Provide supervision of student in buildings or other
school areas and school related activities
(i.e., hall
duty, at assemblies, in lunch and playground areas, or with school buses as
required);
19. Assist the
classroom teacher in maintaining class and student records;
20. Maintain a
high level of ethical behavior and confidentiality of information about
students
and staff;
21. Act as a
friendly ambassador for the School District #30;
22. Perform such
other tasks (which may require knowledge of other job descriptions) as may
seem to be appropriate to the Board or Administration;
23. Participate
in in-service programs as assigned;
24. Maintains satisfactory attendance, as defined
in District policy and regulations;
25. Arrange for
Special Education students to be tested, file test results, and maintain IEP
records as requested;
26. Provide job
coaching and on-site support to individual students as needed;
27. Monitor work
sites and evaluate student performance;
28. Communicate
on a regular basis with community employers or work-site supervisors
regarding student performance;
29. Support and,
as appropriate, participate in classroom-based instruction regarding safety,
work related skills, problem solving/conflict resolution, effective
communication and
social skills;
30. Assist special education teaching staff with
implementing individualized education plan
(IEP). Participate as
a member of the multi-disciplinary team as requested and attend
IEP
meetings as a member of the team when required
31. Assist
special education teaching staff responsible for preparation, implementation,
and
evaluation of individual and group behavioral programs;
32. Assist
special education teaching staff in communicating with teachers and parents on
student's
progress;
33. Assist
special education teaching staff responsible for writing, reviewing, updating,
implementing,
and evaluating instructional programs;
34. Assist
students who may
exhibit aggressive behavior, which may include physical restraint,
as required by
specific job assignment;
35. Assist with physical management of student,
including lifting, moving, and positioning
of disabled
students, as required by specific job assignment; and
36. Assist students with medical issues by
completing medical and/or health procedures, as required by
specific job
assignment.
CERTIFICATES,
LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS, BONDING, AND/OR TESTING REQUIRED:
1. Possess a valid First Aid card as required;
2. Criminal Justice Fingerprint Clearance; and
3. Blood borne Pathogens Training/Hepatitis B
Shot Series/Training as designated by the
District.
PHYSICAL
DEMANDS: The
physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by
an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
WORK
ENVIRONMENT: The
work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an
employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
TERMS
OF EMPLOYMENT: Days
and hours to be arranged, with wage according to current schedule.
EVALUATION: Performance of this job will
be evaluated annually in accordance with provisions of the Board's policy on
evaluation of classified personnel.
I have
read and understand the responsibilities and qualifications of this job
description.
_________________________________________________ __________________
Signature
date
__________
Printed name