Instructional Assistant - Mild/Moderate

Summary

Salary: Range 80

Refer to salary schedule

Under the direction of the principal, assistant principal or designee, provides group and individual instructional and clerical support to teachers in classroom settings, assisting individuals or small groups of students to enhance learning. Assists teachers with instruction of students with mild to moderate disabilities, including emotionally disturbed.

The Instructional Assistant – Special Education, Mild/Moderate provides instructional assistance to classrooms where activities focus on assisting students with mild to moderate special needs, including students experiencing emotional or behavior disorders or difficulties. Duties and responsibilities can be carried out by an incumbent who meets District requirements, namely, the passing of a rigorous competency exam and who demonstrates advanced knowledge, skill, and ability to work with special student populations.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Assists one or more teachers with presentation of learning materials and instructional exercises. Assists in conducting lessons and with other classroom activities such as projects, small group exercises, and independent study.
• Prepares for, and assists with classroom or learning lab projects and special assignments. Organizes materials and supplies to facilitate use by students, assists students requiring help, offers positive feedback and alternatives, and cleans up work areas following projects.
• Reinforces instructions given by teachers in reading, spelling, math, occupational, and other subjects. Performs demonstrations and illustrations of subjects taught.
• Maintain a positive working environment for individuals or small groups of students, reinforcing behavior modification strategies as directed by the teaching staff and/or program specialist.
• Assists in maintaining order among students in the classroom and school grounds. Supervises student behavior in the classroom, school grounds and gathering areas, field trips, special events, and in the community (without the presence of a teacher) during Community Based Instruction (CBI).
• Accompanies students going from one location to another. Observes, monitors, and controls behavior of students within approved procedures.
• Reports student academic and behavior progress and performance to teachers. Documents student progress by correcting assignments, collecting data and recording and charting functional curriculum based measurements.
• Assists with preparation/modification of instructional and testing materials. Suggests and may prepare materials that offer alternative approach to facilitate student learning.
• Confers, as needed, with teachers concerning student needs. Alert teacher to any special problems or information concerning students. Assists teachers and resource staff, to develop and evaluate individual and group educational goals and objectives.
• Assists and guides students by appropriate role modeling, emotional support, patience, and friendly, engaging attitude.
• Develops and uses incentives as positive reinforcement. Exercises constant classroom supervision of students. Assesses the need for, and uses appropriate discipline in accordance with grade level and student's ability to understand discipline.
• Prepares display and bulletin board materials for beautification and decoration of the classroom environment. Assists in maintaining a neat, orderly, and attractive learning environment that supports learning.
• May operate audiovisual equipment, computers, and other equipment that serves to assist and enhance instructional programs.
• May assist with loading and unloading of students onto buses and public transportation.
• May assist students with hygiene, toileting and/or catheterization.
• Performs other duties as assigned that support the overall objective of the position.
  
  

Knowledge and Skills

• Basic knowledge of the principles and practices of age appropriate student development and guidance applicable for an educational setting, including those relating to special education dealing with severe emotional challenges.
• Working knowledge of the basic subjects taught in the District schools, including math, grammar, spelling, language, reading and/or functional curriculum with sufficient competency to assist students with individual or group studies.
• Behavior modification techniques and strategies.
• Basic knowledge of teaching and instruction and behavior management methods that enhance remedial learning.
• Basic clerical and record keeping processes.
• Special Education programs.
• Basic knowledge of personal computers and other equipment to support learning, record information, and send communications.
• Sufficient human relation skills to work productively and cooperatively with teachers, students, and parents in formal and informal settings, to exercise patience when conveying information, and demonstrate sensitivity to the special needs of students.
  
  

Abilities

• Assist teaching staff with implementation of instructional goals and activities.
• Assist teaching staff with assessing the needs of individual students and assist in developing programs to meet those needs.
• Effectively handle sudden emotional swings of students.
• Interact with teachers and specialists in order to carry out assigned duties.
• Oversee students and perform general clerical tasks.
• Respect the confidential nature of student records and reports. Refrain from discussing student's problems outside of the classroom.
• Make informal presentations to individual and small groups of students and assist with or reinforce demonstrations of assigned subject matter to classroom sized groups.
• Establish positive communication with students and maintain patience and tact in working with students with special physical and emotional needs.
• Recognize and respond to emergency and/or hazardous conditions.
• Read, write, and communicate in English.
  
  

Physical Abilities

• Perform indoors in an office and/or classroom/laboratory environment engaged in work of primarily a sedentary to a moderately active nature.
• Near visual acuity to read and write printed materials and computer screens.
• Hearing and speech ability for ordinary and telephonic conversation, to speak to groups, and to hear sound prompts from equipment.
• Ambulatory ability to move about office, classroom/laboratory, and school grounds, to tutor, assist with presentations, and reach work materials.
• Sufficient manual and finger dexterity to demonstrate teaching aids, to point out important words/figures to students, and to operate personal computers.
• Lift, carry, push, and move supplies, fixtures, etc., of light-to-medium weight (under 50 pounds) on a regular basis, and heavy weight (under 75 pounds) without labor saving equipment on an intermittent basis.
• Lift, carry, transfer and push students in wheelchairs or students with orthopedic impairment.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience

High school diploma or equivalent.

Licenses and Certificates

May require a valid California driver's license. May require and maintain valid first aid/CPR certification.

Working Conditions

Work is performed indoors and outdoors with some, yet infrequent exposure to health and safety considerations.