Special Education - Life Skills Paraprofessional

BRENHAM INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

Position Title: Life Skills Paraprofessional

Reports To: Campus Principal

Date Revised: March 2022

Primary Purpose: Under the direction of the classroom teacher, support and implement an appropriate instructional program to meet the individual needs of students with disabilities as identified through the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Process.

Qualifications

Education/Certification:

• High School Diploma or General Education Diploma (GED)
• Valid Texas Educational Aide Certificate
  
  

Any applicant for paraprofessional jobs who is recommended for hire in Brenham ISD and hasn't obtained a minimum of 48 college hours will have to pass a paraprofessional assessment exam which consists of reading, writing, and mathematics.

Special Knowledge/Skills

• Demonstrated aptitude for work to be performed, such as but not limited to: positive work ethic, well organized, strong communication skills, basic technology skills, and flexibility to work with diverse students and staff.
• Ability to provide positive behavior support to students in a group or in an individual setting.
• Ability to organize and coordinate work.
• Ability to communicate effectively with students, teachers, and parents.
• Ability to engage in self-evaluation with regard to performance and professional growth.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others contacted in the course of work.
• Adhere to a high level of professional and ethical standards.
• Effective work skills - conscientious, persistent, resourceful, productive, and active.
• Willing to be trained in Crisis Prevention Intervention Strategies.
• Knowledge of general office equipment.
  
  

Major Responsibilities And Duties

• Under the direction of the classroom teacher, assist with planning, development, and implementation of instructional, behavioral, and therapeutic activities.
• Participate as a member of staff addressing the education process of students with disabilities.
• Maintain a professional relationship with all school personnel who are involved in the educational process of students with disabilities.
• Maintain a physical classroom environment that is conducive to the learning process.
• Promptly complete and forward all records requested by the administration.
• Attend all required meetings.
• Be consistent in program content and expectations of students and other classroom staff.
• Keep appropriate student and classroom records.
• Make effective use of instructional materials and demonstrate effective methods of instruction to ensure that the individual student performance levels, needs, and abilities are addressed.
• Exercise behavior management and maintain control of students assigned to his/her care.
• Participate and occasionally assist in the organization of meetings, committees, and special functions.
• Provide personal care including diapering and other essential needs, medical care, and feeding of students as stated in the IEP.
• Assist students with physical disabilities according to their needs, including transferring to and from wheelchairs, lifting, or positioning students.
• Conduct oneself in a professional manner and maintain a positive image during the workday and at all work-related activities.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Abide by all district policies and procedures and demonstrate competencies specified in the Special Education rules and regulations.
  
  

Supervisory Responsibilities

• None.
  
  

Working Conditions

Mental Demands

Reading, ability to communicate effectively (verbal and written); maintain emotional control under stress; coordinate district-wide curriculum functions; interpret policy, procedures, and data; follow behavior intervention plans and procedures.

Physical Demands

Frequent standing, stooping, bending, pulling, pushing; reaching; moving small stacks of textbooks, media equipment, desks, and other classroom or adaptive equipment; repetitive hand motions; prolonged use of computer terminal possible; occasional district-wide travel; frequent prolonged and irregular hours; possible biological exposure to bacteria and communicable diseases; specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus; frequent light lifting and carrying (less than 15 pounds); occasional heavy lifting and carrying (45 pounds or over) and positioning of students with physical disabilities; controlling behavior through physical restraint; assisting non-ambulatory students and lifting and moving adaptive and other classroom equipment; exposure to the sun, heat, cold and inclement weather; exposure to noise.

This document describes the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required.