Job Details

Special Education Classroom Instructional Assistant III

The Special Education Classroom Instructional Assistant III provides assistance and motivation to students with disabilities. This position will provide assistance with health, communication, and behavior supports needed to allow our students to effectively access instruction in a variety of settings in grades K-12. This position will support students primarily in a small group special education setting and will support students in opportunities to integrate with peers during parts of the school day.

Essential duties and responsibilities include the following:

• Work effectively with children having disabilities and special needs within a variety of settings. May work with one student or a small group of students in a general education or special education environment.
• Communicate and work effectively with special education and classroom teachers, co-workers.
• Practice professional, legal, and ethical conduct toward students, parents, and co-workers.
• Motivate and assist student(s) to build independence, develop interpersonal and social skills, learn actively, and self-advocate.
• Use assistive technology, computers, and adaptive equipment providing special care or physical assistance required for the student to function in school and learn effectively.
• Gather and maintain accurate data regarding the student, including academic, behavioral, and/or health information, as needed, and providing feedback to the teacher to improve instruction for the student.
• Understand and appreciate diversity in children's skill and abilities, cultural heritage, lifestyles, values systems, and human rights.
• Maintain confidentiality with student information and student records.
• Implement prevention, response, and safety intervention as outlined in multiple Behavior Intervention Plans.
• Implement supports and services as outlined in Individual Health Plans. This may include toileting, assisting with meals, and other self-care activities for multiple students.
• Utilize de-escalation strategies and appropriate restraint and seclusion strategies as trained in Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI).

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, education and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

Minimum education include a high school graduate and previous experience working with children. A paraeducator certification is preferred.

Communication Skills

Must possess the ability to communicate effectively with a variety of individuals and groups from all levels of the organization. Individual must have effective listening skills.

Analytical and Reasoning Skills

Ability to gather, collate, and/or classify data. Ability to work with a variety of data. Problem solving is required to identify issues and create action plans.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

May be required to lift up to 50 pounds frequently. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The employee may work inside or outside. The environment is usually fast paced with a great deal of movement throughout the day. Individuals must be able to engage in physical activity associated with active supervision of students. The employee will also be required to participate in CPI training and be able to effectively demonstrate competency in physical skill components.

Technology Skills

Must be able to use the computer, process electronic requests. Must be able to learn different communication devices from pictures/symbols to individual student augmentative communication devices. Able to retrieve and print information from various computer programs when needed.

Other duties as assigned

Will perform other duties as may be assigned by the superintendent or designee, necessary and appropriate to achievement of the program and/or District goals and objectives.