Primary Purpose:
Help special education teacher provide for physical and instructional needs of students with disabilities in special education setting. Assist in implementation of classroom programs, including self-help, behavior management, and instruction programs. Work under general supervision of principal and immediate direction of certified teacher.
Qualifications:
Education/Certification:
Associate's degree, two years of study at an institute of higher learning with a minimum of 48 semester hours, or have met formal academic assessment required by No Child Left Behind Act.
Valid Texas educational aide certificate
Special Knowledge/Skills:
Ability to work with children with disabilities
Ability to follow verbal and written instructions
Ability to communicate effectively
Knowledge of general office equipment
Experience:
Some experience working with children
Major Responsibilities and Duties:
Instructional Support
- Help teacher prepare instructional materials and classroom displays.
- Help maintain a neat and orderly classroom.
- Help with inventory, care, and maintenance of equipment.
- Help teacher keep administrative records and prepare required reports.
- Provide orientation and assistance to substitute teachers.
Student Management
- Assist students with physical disabilities according to their needs, including transferring to and from wheelchairs, lifting, or positioning.
- Assist students with physical needs and personal care, including feeding, bathroom needs, and personal hygiene.
- Help manage behavior of students. This includes intervening in crisis situations and restraining disruptive or dangerous student behavior as needed.
- Assume responsibility for learning and adapting to each student's special medical, physical, communicative, and emotional needs.
- Work with individual students or small groups to develop motor skills and conduct instructional exercises assigned by teacher.
- Help supervise students throughout the school day, inside and outside the classroom. This includes lunchroom, bus, and playground duty.
- Keep teacher informed of special needs or problems of individual students.
- Work with assigned students or small groups to develop motor skills and conduct instructional exercises assigned by teacher.
- Assist assigned students throughout school day, inside and outside classroom. This includes lunchroom, bus, and playground duty.
- Keep teacher informed of special needs or problems of assigned students.
Other
- Maintain confidentiality.
- Participate in staff development training programs, faculty meetings, and special events as assigned.
- Follow established safety procedures and techniques.
- Report promptly to the principal any accident or illness of staff or students.
- Other duties as assigned by administration.
- Promote, participate, and facilitate in a teamwork center manner.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
None.
Equipment Used:
Wheelchair lift, ramp, personal computer, copier, and audiovisual equipment.
Working Conditions:
Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors:
Maintain emotional control under stress. Frequent standing, stooping, bending, kneeling, pushing, and pulling; regular heavy lifting of students. Biological exposure to bacteria and communicable diseases.