Teacher Assistant - EC

Job Description - EC Teacher Assistant

Qualifications: An associate degree or 48 semester hours from an accredited college or university or Community College TA course (at least 96 contact hours) and a passing WorkKeys score; Bus license required within first year of employment

Reports to: Principal and Teacher

Purpose: The special education teacher assistant will be working with individual and/or small groups of students under the supervision of a certified teacher to support the needs of a students with individualized education plans. An employee in this class will assist students by modeling the necessary skills to perform assignments, follow specific educational/behavioral plans, model appropriate behavior/interactions with students and staff, and assist students with providing for specialized health care needs.

Nature of Work: An employee in this class provides support to the teacher in the instruction of students. A wide variety of tasks are performed to support the teacher in the teaching-learning process for students. The work is directed by specific instructions, precedents and established policy. Problems are solved through the exercise of judgment in selecting the best course of action to be taken. Errors are expected to be recognized promptly by the supervisor and corrected with little negative consequence. The work is performed under the limited supervision of the teacher and/or principal.

Essential Functions:

• Provide one-to-one or small group tutoring to reinforce lessons under the direction of the classroom teacher.
• Modify or adapt classroom materials, activities, and assignments under the direction of the classroom teacher.
• Implement, under the direction of the classroom teacher, instructional programs and lesson plans for the purpose of reinforcing learning concepts.
• Maintains classroom equipment and work area for the purpose of ensuring availability of a safe learning environment.
• Monitors individual or groups of students in a variety of settings (i.e. bathrooms, playgrounds, hallways, cafeteria, assemblies, field trips, bus loading areas, etc.) for the purpose of maintaining safety.
• Supports classroom teacher in monitoring students unique daily schedule need (i.e. toileting/changing, medication, feeding needs, etc.) for the purpose of maintaining a safe and positive learning environment.
• Responds to emergency situations (i.e. injured students, students that engage in elopement, medical emergencies, fights, etc.).
• Assists students with daily living tasks, such as mobility, eating, and personal hygiene.
• Supports students with physical transfers, medical needs, or restroom routines.
• Assists with loading students on the bus, as well as, loads/unloads wheelchair bound students on the bus.
• Maintains confidentiality regarding all aspects of his/her work with special education children.
• Participates in all meetings, training programs, and in-service offerings as assigned by the building level or district administrator.
• Drives a bus as needed.

Physical Requirements:

The ability to use a variety of equipment and classroom tools such as computers, copiers, calculators, pencils, scissors, and equipment for children is required. Must be able to exert a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Due to amount of time spent standing and/or walking, physical requirements are consistent with those for Light Work.

Illustrative Examples of Work:

• Instructional Assistance
• Provides individualized instruction
• Demonstrates various instructional activities
• Monitors work assigned by teacher
• Checks and corrects students' work while in progress
• Keeps students on task
• Praises and reinforces achievement of students
• Reports student progress to teacher
• Serves as substitute teacher
• Gives small group and one-to-one instruction as prescribed by teacher
• Assists students with utilizing instructional programs as prescribed by teacher
• Supports teacher with providing for needs of students with challenging behaviors

Clerical/Technical Assistance

• Prepares visual aids
• Duplicates materials
• Reorganizes materials at the end of day
• Distributes and collects instructional materials
• Files data according to regulatory requirements
• Prepares bulletin boards/displays

General Classroom Assistance

• Attends workshops
• Serves as proctor during testing
• Monitors students (playground, cafeteria, hallway, restroom, classroom)
• Arranges classroom furnishings and equipment
• Addresses/records student behavior
• Assists with supervision of students during field trips
• Assisting with toileting needs of students, which may include changing of diapers or pullups
• Assisting with transfers of students that are wheelchair bound
• Assist with supervising/monitoring student behavior and possess the physical capability to assist with containment of a student that is prone to bolting, wandering, or eloping