Special Education Assistant

General Definition of Work:

Performs responsible paraprofessional work assisting classroom teachers by working with individual special needs students or small groups; does related work as required.  Work is performed under regular supervision.

Essential Functions/Typical Tasks:

Assisting teacher or other professional to achieve instructional objectives; assisting special population students with achieving established goals, with personal care and mobility; preparing and maintaining files and records.

(The following tasks are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.)

• Assists classroom teacher in performing specific duties as assigned or undertaking specialized tasks to achieve and enhance instructional objectives.
• Assists in the maintenance of various records and files.
• Works with individuals or small groups to reinforce material introduced by teacher.
• Provides programmed practice activities and repetitions as developed by teacher, therapist or pathologist.
• Assists with large group activities.
• Escorts students to special classes and therapy.
• Guides independent study and other work assigned by teacher.
• Reports student problems to the teacher and assists with student problems.
• Assists students with mobility needs, assists with loading and unloading buses.
• Assists with breakfast, lunch, snack, clean-up, lavatory, clothing, personal hygiene, and wash-up routines.
• Helps maintain individual records for each student.
• Takes all necessary and reasonable precautions to protect students, equipment, materials, and facilities.
• Assists in implementing all policies and rules governing student life and conduct.
• Helps maintain order in the classroom; monitors students to keep them on tasks.
• Performs a variety of office assistance tasks such as photocopying, filing, answering the telephone, etc. as required.
• Participates in in-service training programs as assigned.
• Performs related tasks as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

General knowledge of the practices, methods and techniques used in the teaching of special education population; ability to maintain files and information; ability to deal effectively with special students and teachers; skill in the use of classroom and instructional equipment; ability to operate audio visual, standard office, word and data processing equipment; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with teachers, parents, students and the general public.

Education and Experience:

All special education assistants must have a high school diploma or GED equivalent, and provide written documentation that the individual has: (1) Obtained an associate (or higher) degree; or (2) Completed at least two years of study at an institution of higher education; or, (3) successful completion of the Parapro Assessment with a score of 455 or higher.

Physical Requirements:

This is light work requiring the exertion of up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects, and some medium work requiring the exertion of 50 pounds of force occasionally, up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects; work requires stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, and repetitive motions; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; visual acuity is required for preparing and analyzing written or computer data, determining the accuracy and thoroughness of work, and observing general surroundings and activities; the worker is subject to inside and outside environmental conditions and noise.

Special Requirements:

None.