What are the responsibilities and job description for the EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM ASSISTANT TEACHER position at Michigan Association of School Boards?
Deadline: July 31, 2026
District/Organization: St. Joseph County ISD
Position/Type: Other, full time
Salary: $18.04 – $19.53
Position Details
POSITION GOAL:
Under general supervision, to provide students with appropriate classroom services while assisting teacher in maintaining a learning environment that enables students to master life skills appropriate to age, functional level and individual capacity; Student IEP goals and objectives; to perform a variety of clerical and supportive tasks for instructional personnel; and to perform related work as required.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Able to meet one of the following Michigan Department of Education requirements for approval as an instructional assistant employed in programs for students with disabilities:
- Be a high school graduate, or equivalent, with an associate degree or have completed two years of college (60 college credits) from a community college or degree-granting institution.
- Be a high school graduate, or equivalent, that has passed a rigorous standard of quality and demonstration, through a formal state or local academic assessment, that has been approved by the Michigan Department of Education for instructional paraprofessionals to meet the No Child Left Behind act.
- Be a high school graduate, or equivalent, which has a portfolio assessment that has met the Michigan Department of Education guidelines for instructional paraprofessionals as outlined to meet the No Child Left Behind act.
- Ability to pass additional LARA background check
- Responsibility of employee to obtain and maintain all training(s), certificate(s), approval(s), etc. and provide documentation to the business office before expiration date of said document(s).
PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:
INSTRUCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- Assist the teacher with the implementation of individual instructional and/or behavioral plans.
- Assist the teacher with instruction in the cognitive domain (i.e. communication, functional academic skills, etc.).
- Assist the teacher with self-help skills development (i.e. toileting, dressing/undressing, eating, etc.).
- Assist the teacher with community based instruction (i.e. functional academics, communication, mobility training, social skills/behavior training, recreation/leisure, pre-vocational/vocational training, etc.).
- Assist the teacher with group activities (i.e. group music, special programs, Christmas program, Talent Show, etc.).
- Assist the support/ancillary staff (i.e. PT, OT, etc.) with gross and fine motor skills (i.e. grasping items, mobility, directionality, etc.).
- Assist physical education teacher with gym and swim programs.
- Assist with creative arts program (i.e. music, art, crafts, etc.).
- Assist the Sub-Teacher in following teacher’s lessons plans, completing student correspondence books, daily attendance and lunch counts.
- Assist in committees for special events and programs during school hours (i.e. parties, plays, etc.).
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Supervise the students during classroom activities, students’ lunchtime and during recess periods on the playground.
- Assist in maintaining student discipline.
- Assist in supervising emergency situations (i.e. tornado drills, fire drills, etc.).
- Instruct, assist and supervise loading/unloading of students, including wheelchairs/adaptive equipment from buses.
- Assist the teacher in management of students during arrival and departure activities.
- Assist the teacher with supervision of students out of the classroom and/or school building (i.e. community based instruction/leisure, field trips, etc.).
PHYSICAL ASSISTANCE RESPONSIBILITIES
- Assist the students to and from bus, and other activities outside of classroom.
- Assist building staff in proper safety of lifting, handling and transferring of students.
- Assist the physical therapist and/or occupational therapist with the student’s therapy objectives.
- Assist the students with swim class objectives (i.e. dressing, undressing, showering, etc.).
- Assist school nurse with first aid and student safety measures, tube feeding and medication distribution as needed.
- Assist the teacher with physically aggressive students.
- Must be able to lift 30 pounds.
NON-INSTRUCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- Assist the teacher with classroom clerical and record keeping duties (i.e. attendance, lunch count, base lining, task analysis sheets, filing, duplicating, etc.).
- Assist the teacher in operating a variety of school equipment (i.e. TV-VCR, computer, copy machine, etc.).
- Complete accident and/or incident reports as needed.
- Use universal precautions at all times for personal health and safety.
- Participate in yearly CPI, CPR/AED and first-aid training biyearly.
- Assist the teacher in developing and constructing bulletin boards visuals and room preparation.
- Assist the teacher in classroom maintenance and room clean-up (i.e. kitchen area, laundry, storage, etc.).
- Assist the teacher with the preparation of instructional materials and teaching aids.
- Attend and provide input at student/staff/team meetings and in-service when required.
- Assist with communication to bus drivers, as directed by teacher.
- Actively seeks advice and information relating to job.
- Adhere to the rules of confidentiality.
REPORTS TO: Early Childhood/Special Education Supervisor
PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS: Early Childhood/Special Education Supervisor in collaboration with Special Education Principal
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: Salary for this position is based on the MEAA Master Agreement. Position will be in the ECSE program Monday-Thursday and Friday floating in Special Education classrooms, as needed. On the job travel required; mileage reimbursed per IRS guidelines.
E-mail: phagelgans@sjcisd.org
Salary : $18 - $20