Special Education Aide - Functional Life Skills (FLS)

Primary Purpose:

Provide instructional, behavioral, and personal care support to students with disabilities to promote access to learning and student well-being in educational settings. Assist teachers in implementing instructional activities, behavior supports, and individualized student needs in accordance with documented plans and campus procedures. Support a safe, structured, and inclusive learning environment by assisting with classroom operations, student supervision, and daily routines under the direction of certified instructional staff.

Qualifications:

Education

(Must meet one of the following requirements)

• High school graduate or hold a General Educational Development (GED) certificate, and the ability to pass a locally approved paraprofessional academic assessment; or
• Completion of 48 semester hours of college credit; or
• Associate degree or higher

Certification

• Current Texas Educational Aide certificate issued by the State Board for Educator Certification, or ability to obtain upon hire

Experience

• Must be 18 years of age or older
• Experience working with children

Knowledge and Skills

• Ability to work well with children with disabilities
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions
• Ability to exercise discretion and sound judgment when handling confidential and sensitive student information
• Proficient organizational, interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills

Key Responsibilities:

Instructional & Classroom Support

• Assist teachers in preparing instructional materials, learning resources, and classroom displays.
• Maintain a neat, orderly, and safe classroom environment.
• Assist with inventory, care, and routine maintenance of instructional equipment and materials.
• Support teachers with administrative recordkeeping and preparation of required documentation and reports.
• Provide orientation and assistance to substitute teachers.

Student Support & Care

• Assist students with physical disabilities according to individual needs, including transferring to and from wheelchairs, lifting, positioning, and mobility support.
• Assist students with physical needs and personal care, including feeding, toileting, and personal hygiene.
• Work with individual students or small groups to support development of motor skills and complete instructional exercises assigned by the teacher.
• Learn and adapt to each student’s medical, physical, communicative, behavioral, and emotional needs in accordance with documented plans and staff guidance.

Student Supervision & Behavior Support

• Assist with supervision of students throughout the school day, including in classrooms, hallways, lunchrooms, playgrounds, and during bus duty.
• Support behavior management by assisting with implementation of classroom and campus behavior expectations.
• Intervene in crisis situations and assist with managing disruptive or unsafe student behavior, including the use of approved physical intervention techniques when required and trained.
• Communicate observations regarding student needs, concerns, or progress to the teacher in a timely manner.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Adhere to all district policies, procedures, and expectations as outlined in the employee handbook and administrative regulations.
• Follow district safety protocols and emergency procedures.
• Participate in professional development, faculty/department meetings, and special events as assigned.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support the mission and goals of the district and campus.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None

Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors:

Tools and Equipment Used: Standard office equipment including computer and peripherals; standard instructional equipment; other specialized and adaptive equipment used by students, including wheelchair lift and ramp

Posture: Frequent standing; kneeling/squatting, bending/stooping, pushing/pulling, and twisting

Motion: Frequent walking and reaching

Lifting: Frequent light lifting and carrying (less than 15 pounds); Occasional heavy lifting (45 pounds or over) and positioning or students with physical disabilities, controlling behavior through physical restraint, assisting nonambulatory students, and lifting and moving adaptive and other classroom equipment

Environment: Work inside and outside (exposure to sun, heat, cold, and inclement weather); exposure to noise; exposure to biological hazards (bacteria, communicable diseases); may require occasional district-wide travel

Mental Demands: Work with frequent interruptions; maintain emotional control under stress

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.