Teacher Assistant-Rhode Island School for the Deaf

Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30 – 3:30 Participate as an active a member of the school community charged with improving student achievement and serve as an advocate for children with challenging behaviors and their families. Collaborate effectively with team members regarding strategies for supporting students whose learning needs and behaviors interfere with learning and/or social relations. Assist teachers in promoting an orderly and safe learning environment. Support standards-based education in the classroom, particularly as it applies to students with diverse academic needs. Understand and comply with school, district and state rules, safety and procedural safeguards regarding the management of student behavior. Demonstrate a basic awareness of applicable federal and state laws related to a teacher assistant’s job assignment (ex: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act {IDEA}, No Child Left Behind, Title I, Title III, Section 504). Assist teacher in preparation of instructional materials and classroom visuals for student and instructor use. Communicate respectfully with students, using fluent American Sign Language. Conduct instructional exercises assigned by the teacher; Works with individuals or small groups, adapting to students’ individual, medical, physical, communicative, instructional, behavioral and emotional needs. Participate in direct service planning and lesson planning with classroom teacher, when requested, or as part of a team. Participate with student data collection, documentation, and interpretation. Help with inventory, care and maintenance of equipment. Assume responsibility for the supervision of students in the absence of the classroom teacher. Assist students with physical disabilities according to their physical/medical, IEP needs. Assist students, as needed, with personal needs that may include but not limited to feeding, toileting, and personal hygiene. May be delegated certain health care monitoring responsibilities by the school nurse. Escorts and monitors student safely to and from classroom and various activities such as lunch and therapies. Participate in functional behavior assessment, observing and recording student behavior utilizing various appropriate assessment instruments and tools related to behavior rate, frequency, intensity, duration and under what condition. Assist students in using self-control, self-management strategies and model these interactions with all students and staff. Able to implement appropriate behavior intervention strategies that include approved and accepted restraint procedures as directed.