Special Education Complex Support Needs - Postsecondary Transition [ESP3610]

Classification Title: Staff Assistant II

Title: Special Education Complex Support Needs -  Postsecondary Transition

Calendar: A1, School Days

ESP Salary Schedule: Range 30 Step 1
Hours: 5.5/Day 27.5/Week

Location: Special Education

2026 -2027 School Year

General Purpose 

Under the direction of a licensed educator, the postsecondary transition staff assistant supports students with complex support needs in achieving their postsecondary goals. This role focuses on implementing Individualized Education Program (IEP) transition services, including independent living skills and increasing autonomy in natural community settings.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

Coaching & Student Assistance

• Coach and assist students with basic life skills (hygiene, meal prep), personal management (money management, scheduling), and academic subjects (reading, math, spelling) through prompting, correcting, and reinforcing.
• Assist students with community-based transportation needs, coaching them on how to use bus tickets, determine routes, and transfer. This may require riding with the student, taking them out into the community, and occasionally driving them to activities or home.
• Assist students in traveling to job sites, help them learn required job tasks, coach the student on-site, and observe performance to ensure employer standards are met.
• Schedule and assist with student leisure and recreational programs, such as shopping and cooking.
• Provide hand-over-hand assistance as needed and assist students with physical needs (e.g., feeding, diapering, toileting, pushing wheelchairs, and lifting on and off the bus).
• Administer medication and monitor life support equipment (such as suctioning and ventilation). The assistant may be trained on life support equipment and catheterization as needed.

Behavioral & Therapeutic Support

• Implement teacher-prescribed behavior programs and apply behavior modification techniques to assist students at community-based job sites and in other learning environments.
• Assist with the educational plans outlined by Speech Therapists, which includes coaching individual students or small groups on words, phrases, and specific sounds, conducting exercises to reinforce speech training, and preparing supplemental materials.
• Provide reinforcement as prescribed by the Special Education Teacher or Speech Therapist.

Communication, Data Tracking & Coordination

• Communicate and coordinate with the teacher regarding work assignments, working conditions, student challenges, and provide input on student job responsibilities.
• Maintain detailed records and utilize data sheets/computer inputs to track individual student performance, engaged time, answers to assignments, attendance, and progress on classroom simulations (banking, shopping, etc.).
• Occasionally participate in IEP meetings and attend recommended conferences and training.

Classroom & Environmental Maintenance

• Assist in the preparation of materials (cutting, laminating, copying, die-cutting, coloring, gluing) and help maintain classroom calendars, bulletin boards, room decorations, and snack preparation.
• Assist with the sanitation of classrooms and bathrooms.
• Rotate groups periodically during the school day with teachers and other staff assistants.
• Maintain a consistent atmosphere for students and teachers by being in attendance daily.

Education and Experience

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• One (1) year of related experience is preferred.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

• The job requires light to moderate physical exertion (handling materials 11-50 pounds), including walking, extensive standing, crawling, bending, stooping, climbing, motor vehicle operation, or assisting students with physical needs.
• Work is carried out in environments ranging from normal office conditions to mildly disagreeable conditions (e.g., noise, poor ventilation, crowded spaces, outside weather exposure, and pressures related to sensitive situations).
• Typically involves contact with students, parents, teachers, principals, assistant principals, and other staff members.