Qualifications:
High School diploma or equivalent.
Qualifications required under the provisions of "No Child Left Behind"
Associate's Degree, or
Completion of 48 semester hours of college credits, or
Successful completion of a series of Work Keys Tests plus 96 contact hours of appropriate staff development
Valid Driver's License with a good driving record
CDL License with passenger school bus endorsement and current Bus Drivers Pocket Card
Nature of Work
An Instructional Assistant/Bus Driver 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. The employee operates small, medium-sized, or large capacity vehicles transporting children on established or special routes. The work is performed under the limited supervision of the teacher and/or principal.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Working knowledge of effective methods of dealing with children.
- Working knowledge of the core subjects at the grade level to which employment assignment is made.
- Some knowledge of the school organization and its community.
- Some knowledge of expected behavior of children, that is, basic characteristics of ages and stages.
- Skill necessary to operate audiovisual equipment and common office machines.
- Skill to make learning aids which will strengthen lesson plans.
- Ability to comprehend the purpose of teacher designed strategies as a fulfillment of the instructional objective.
- Ability to discern significant student behavior and refer this to the supervisor.
- Ability to impart information to the child's level of comprehension.
- Ability to apply impartially and consistently proper methods of recognition, reward and punishment.
- Ability to solve independently most minor problems.
- Ability to follow minimally detailed written and oral instructions without constant supervision.
- Ability to record and store data accurately.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality of student information.
- Considerable knowledge of safe and efficient practices and procedures used in the operation of a school bus.
- Considerable knowledge of traffic laws and school bus regulations.
- Considerable knowledge of safety regulations and standards for school buses.
- General knowledge of Transportation Department Operating Instructions.
- Ability to physically inspect the bus according to Transportation Department Operating Instructions.
- Ability to detect and report observable mechanical defects or failures on the school bus.
- Ability to maintain discipline of students assigned to ride the school bus.
- Ability to maintain a clean school bus.
- Ability to complete required reports.
- Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
- Ability to exercise independent judgment and initiative in applying standards to a variety of work situations.
- Ability to exercise tact and courtesy in contact with parents/guardians or students and with school personnel.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.
Essential Job Functions:
- Gives group instruction as prescribed by teacher.
- 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.
- Arranges classroom furnishing and equipment.
- Prepares visual aids.
- Duplicates materials.
- Reorganizes materials at the end of day.
- Scores students' papers as instructed by teacher.
- Distributes and collects instructional materials.
- Attends workshops
- Checks and reports attendance
- Enters data in health record.
- Records student behavior.
- Files data according to regulatory requirements
- Supervises students in the classroom and other locations
- Creates and distributes awards for positive behavior
- Promotes student self esteem.
- Teaches citizenship, social skills and respect for others.
- Reconciles minor student conflicts.
- Participates in development of discipline policy.
- Disciplines misbehavior through approved methods.
- Reports discipline problems to teacher or principal.
- Reports to supervisor significant changes or lack of change in student behavior.
- Administers routine first aid and request assistance for non-routine injury or illness.
- Observes all safety regulations and standards for school buses. This includes clearing the school bus and evacuating students quickly in the event of an emergency.
- Has a copy of the current Handbook for the School Bus Driver and the Safety Assistant; refers to it periodically for guidance and to answer questions.
- Maintains discipline of students assigned to ride the school bus. Establishes a discipline plan that is consistent with school disciplinary objectives, as stated by the principal, and which provides a clear, progressive plan of consequences for students who cause disciplinary problems and rewards for those who maintain proper school bus safety standards.
- Reports undisciplined students to the responsible school principal.
- Discharges students only at the authorized school or bus stop locations.
- Transports only authorized students.
- Keeps the school bus clean and free of papers, bottles, cans food wrappers and other items which may present a safety problem.
- Reports all accidents as required by Transportation Operating Instructions and remains at the scene of the accident until released by the on-scene transportation supervisor.
- Completes personal time card and required reports, including reports required in the event of an accident or incident aboard the school bus.
- Remains in charge of all students aboard the bus at the time of an accident, determining the existence and extent of any injuries and maintaining the safety of all passengers.
- Secures the assigned bus before leaving the vehicle at the conclusion of a run or route. This includes parking the vehicle properly, making a visual inspection of the bus to check for damage and the possibility of remaining passengers (replace All-Out Flag or turn off child minder alarm), and securing all windows and doors to protect the interior of the vehicle.
- Maintains acceptable relationships with parents/guardians of students transported and with school personnel.
- Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned by supervisor.