POSITION PURPOSE The Personal Care Assistant is assigned specifically to a student or group of Students who regularly need one on one assistance to maintain appropriate and equitable participation in the school setting.

The PCA directly supports the students at the direction of the teacher and is under the general supervision of the program supervisor of special education.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS – (May include)

1. Help prepare, collect and set-up materials for student participation, following teacher direction.

2. Provide instructional, behavioral, or physical assistance to students individually or in small groups at the direction of the teacher to reinforce and follow up instruction.

3. Guide independent study, enrichment work, and remedial work set up and assigned by the teacher. Check notebooks, correct papers, supervise testing and make-up work, as assigned by the teacher.

4. Assist with such large group activities as drill work, reading aloud, and story telling.

5. Maintain daily activity logs for your assigned student(s).

6. Alert regular teacher to any problem or special information about your individual student (s).

7. Serve as the chief source of information for your assigned students to help to any substitute teacher assigned in the absence of the regular teacher.

8. Maintain the same high level of ethical behavior and confidentiality of information about students as is expected of fully licensed teachers.

9.Operate and or assist in the use of student mobility devices such as, but not limited to, walker, wheelchair, braces, canes, etc.

10. Implement and maintain student specific behavior, medical, emergency, or crisis plans.

11. Assist in the maintenance of classroom discipline in accordance with established policy and procedures.

12. Adapt to the student’s mode of communication as necessary for instructional purposes.

13. Assist students in self-care as assigned by teacher.

14. Assist in the implementation of therapy programs developed by speech and language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and other support staff.

15. Participate in staff development training programs as assigned.

16. Perform other duties that may be assigned by Special Education Teacher (i.e. conduct informal observation of student in mainstream classroom, etc.).

KNOWLEDGE & SKILL REQUIREMENT

Education: High School Diploma in addition to any pre-requisite requirements as defined by state of national regulations.

Language Skills: Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short (simple) correspondence, memos, and routine reports. Ability to follow directions.

Mathematical Skills: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

Reasoning Skills: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. Ability to use sound judgment and make decisions in the absence of supervisor and work independently

Other Skills & Abilities: Ability to deal courteously and tactfully with all District personnel, students, and the public. Ability to develop effective working relationships with students, staff, and the school community. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and the Board of Education policies.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, it is regularly required to stand and talk or hear.

Occasionally required to sit, walk, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Frequently bends or twists at the neck and trunk. Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds, reach forward and above the head. Must be able to push items of 20 pounds, such as pushing children on a bike or moving/ rearranging furniture. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and peripheral vision.