SUMMARY

Under supervision of the special education teacher, district behavior specialist, speech pathologist, physical therapist, nurse and/or other related service provider, to provide assistance to students aged 6-22 who are impacted by disabilities requiring highly specialized training (e.g., Braille, Applied Behavior Analysis, intensive communication interventions for non-verbal students, CPI, etc.) or support for personal care beyond that required by age peers (e.g., changing diapers, catheterizing, tube feeding, transfer to and from wheelchair, stander, changing table, etc.). 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTION STATEMENTS

The following tasks are typical for positions in this classification. Any single position may not perform all of these tasks and/or may perform similar related tasks not listed here:

1. Provide significant individual interventions or personal care beyond that required by same age-peers, such as, implementing intensive interventions that require specialized training, changing diapers for students age 6-22: transferring from wheelchair to stander, changing table, other equipment.
2. Participate in ongoing specialized training from special education teacher, district behavior specialist, speech pathologist, physical therapist, nurse and/or other related service provider to ensure student safety.
3. Provide medically related services such as catheterization, tube feeding, suctioning, seizure management requiring ongoing training from the school nurse.
4. Ensure student’s medical, hygiene and safety needs are met in school and school-sponsored community settings.
5. Provide assistance in the preparation of materials for special education instructors; set up demonstrations, materials, and equipment for classroom lectures; promote a positive learning environment.
6. Assist instructors and students in the development of an Individualized Education Program; monitor student activity and report on progress in the acquisition of functional and adaptive goals and objectives.
7. Oversee classroom activities in the absence of an instructor and during recess, lunch and other special events; assist in maintaining classroom and school disciplinary procedures.
8. Accompany students during school hours as required; contact appropriate staff and faculty to report emergency or unusual situations.
9. Implement and monitor any behavioral intervention plans assigned to individual students to safely manage challenging behavior. 
10. Develop, instruct and monitor daily living skills for assigned students including the use of personal hygiene items, eating utensils, proper ways to dress and other aspects of daily living encountered by a student with special needs.
11. Respond to various questions and inquiries from students and parents on routine issues; refer students to instructors or professional medical staff on complex questions and issues.
12. Perform custodial duties in the classroom to maintain a clean and safe environment; clean desks, tables and chairs; set up and assemble materials for projects.
13. Operate a variety of office equipment including a computer, copier, fax or other equipment.
14. Follow all safety rules and procedures established for work area.
15. Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

QUALIFICATIONS Knowledge of:

Operations, services and activities of a special education program. General goals and purpose of special education programs. Student instructional and tutorial methods and techniques. Methods and techniques used in assessing student progress. Basic behavioral and medical conditions and symptoms. Theories and concepts of early childhood development. Principles and concepts of assigned academic subject matter. Methods and techniques of providing physical and learning assistance to a variety of special education students. Modern office and classroom practices, procedures and equipment including computers and supporting word processing and spreadsheet applications. Behavior management strategies. Principles and procedures of record keeping. English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Pertinent federal, state and local codes, laws and regulations.

Ability to:

Apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instruction. Maintain composure and professional attitude during episodes of challenging behavior. Deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

Develop effective working relationships with students, staff and the school community.

Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Read, write and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence and memos. Assist children and adolescents in all aspects of their learning. Effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to students, staff and employers. Add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals, in order to compute rate, ratio and percent, and to draw and interpret bar graphs. Perform duties with awareness of all District requirements and Board of Education policies.

Education and Experience Guidelines

Any equivalent combination of education and/or experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education: Equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade.

Experience: Demonstrated ability to apply training.

License or Certificate: Possession of a valid New Mexico driver’s license. Possession of, or ability to obtain, mandated Educational Assistant license and Substitute Teacher license as may be required by the District or State of New Mexico.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

The physical demands herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential job functions.

Environment: Occasionally works near moving mechanical parts in some vocational settings. Noise level is usually moderate. May be directly responsible for the safety, well-being and/or work output of students.

Mobility: Regularly sit, walk, and stand. Flexibility and physical strength to perform a transfer of an adult student from wheelchair to stander, chair, table. Physical ability to operate transfer equipment. Must possess the strength, agility, and stamina to ensure the safety of students who may engage in challenging behaviors, such as, self-injury, aggression, climbing, and running away.

Vision: Close and distance vision.

$18.04 Hourly Rate

1.00 FTE, 7 hour day, 35 hour week

198 work contract- July 25, 2024 to May 30, 2025