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Eastern Illinois Area of Special Education
5837 Park Drive
Charleston, IL 61920
217-348-7700
www.eiase.com
POSITION DESCRIPTION: Classroom Paraprofessional
PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT: Treatment and Learning Center
HOURLY/SALARY: Hourly
JOB CLASSIFICATION: Confidential Employee
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Supervises students during recess, lunch, before/ after
school and anytime the teacher is temporarily out of
the room
REPORTS TO: Program Principal
TERM OF EMPLOYMENT: 180 days - plus additional days of training as required
JOB SUMMARY:
The paraprofessional is responsible for carrying out programming as arranged by the special education
teacher and/or itinerant service staff. The paraprofessional works to carry out goals and objectives
according to the Individual Education Plan, and monitors student behavior and academic performance
with high expectations. Paraprofessionals provide assistance in developing and producing materials,
charts, graphs, and other materials as directed.
ESSENTIAL OUALIFICATIONS:
The classroom paraprofessional shall:
- Be able to read, write, and speak effectively to students, parents, co-workers, and supervisors, and
also students and others from diverse cultural backgrounds and those with varying degrees of
abilities including those with disabilities.
- Be able to make involved and varied mathematical computations rapidly and accurately involving
addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division in all units of measure, using whole numbers,
common fractions, and decimals. This employee must be able to calculate figures and amounts such
as rates, ratios, and percentages and be able to draw and interpret graphs.
- Be able to use reasoning ability to solve practical problems and carry out detailed written or oral
instructions.
- Be able to relate, understand, and communicate with others in a way that contributes to
harmonious relationships and mission accomplishment.
- Be emotionally, mentally, and physically capable of performing the essential functions of all
positions within the same job category.
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- Be dependable, honest, and trustworthy; has never been convicted of a felony or other crime
involving dishonesty, alcohol, drugs, or sexual misconduct. This employee must be committed to
the services of others an always act in students' and the district's best interest.
- Have 30 semester hours of college and a Teacher's Aide Certificate issued by the Illinois State Board
of Education.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must satisfactorily perform each of the essential job
requirements listed below. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable a qualified individual
with a disability to perform his or her job functions. A qualified individual is a person who, with or
without reasonable accommodations of his or her disability, meets the essential qualifications and can
perform the essential job functions of his or her position of employment.
The regular classroom aide shall:
1.a. Be able to read, understand, and apply short correspondence and memos, IEP goals and
activities, behavioral contracts, safety rules, work rules, operating and maintenance instructions,
procedure manuals, student records and files, and instructional materials.
l.b. Be able to talk, listen, and understand conversations and effectively present information orally
in one-on-one situations such as conducting a private conference with a student, or teacher to
discuss a behavior problem; assist and instruct a student in personal hygiene; help a student to
become better organized, to acquire study skills, and to attend to lessons; and, help a student
become more responsible.
1.c. Be able to effectively present information in small group situations such as multidisciplinary
conferences, reading groups, student learning groups, etc.
1.d. Be able to effectively present information in writing such as documenting student behavior,
writing notes to teachers and students, and providing written comments to students about their
academic performance, under the direct supervision of a certified teacher.
2.a. Be able to tutor a student in mathematics under the direction of the classroom teacher.
2.b. Be able to chart baseline behavioral data, tally points, calculate percentage of time on- and
off-task, and draw and interpret simple bar graphs.
3.a. Be responsible for the safety and welfare of students. This person closely supervises groups of
students and must be especially alert and responsible in unstructured situations such as recess,
transitions between classes, lunch period, field trips, temporary absence of the teacher, etc.
This person may escort children to and from various rooms.
3.b. Implement low-profile strategies for mediating minor or major instances of misbehavior in a
variety of situations.
3.c. Oversee and manage the social interactions, behavior, and productivity of students.
3.d. Be prompt and thorough in completing assignments and attend to details accurately and
efficiently. This employee must be flexible; able to tolerate frequent interruptions and changing
demands in an active work environment.
3.e. Make reasonable and prudent judgements in regard to reporting child abuse to DCFS.
3.f. Make reasonable and prudent decisions in the absence of the teacher regarding student injuries
or illness.
3.g. Anticipate problems and apply knowledge in predictable and unpredictable situations.
4.a. Demonstrate warmth, patience, and understanding with students and others including those
with severe social, emotional, physical, or behavioral disabilities.
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4.b Assist and instruct in a professional manner a student in the development of social skills.
4.c. Implement in a professional manner an effective behavioral management system that ensures
that the student will function in harmony with others.
4.d. Demonstrate a positive attitude toward rules and regulations, notice and comment on desirable
aspects of student behavior, and demonstrate good humor and a reasonable sense of control
over situations that helps convey the attitude that school can be fun and rewarding.
4.e. Work in a courteous, cooperative, and professional manner with co-workers and other
employees, parents, and the public, continuously meeting multiple demands from several
people.
4.f. Report for work dressed in clean clothing appropriate to the position and is clean and well
groomed.
5.a. Participates in physical activities that are a part of the educational program.
5.b. Use eyes, hearing and other senses to instantly size-up situations in regard to student's safety,
observe student perform academically, grade papers, etc. This person must be able to visually
monitor activities planned by the professional staff.
5.c. Be able to hear and understand conversations with students in a classroom setting.
5.d. Be able to reach with hands and arms and finger, handle, or feel objects, instructional materials,
tools, adaptive equipment, or controls such as math manipulatives, pencils & pens, workbooks,
lab equipment, computers, audio-visual equipment, etc.
5.e. Be physically capable of independently lifting students, instructional materials and equipment
weighing up to 25 lbs. repeatedly throughout the work day, and occasionally, pushing, pulling or
otherwise moving and lifting as much as 50 lbs. such as a table, audiovisual cart, or box of
instructional materials or supplies. This employee must also be able to perform other physical
movements such as standing, walking, bending and kneeling when necessary to deliver services
to students.
5.f. Engage in the following teacher aide tasks in an appropriate manner:
Assist instructional personnel with the development and presentation of learning materials
and Instructional activities such as listening to students read, drilling vocabulary with
students, discussing content with students, and assisting students understand any academic
work assigned to the student.
Review instructional activities previously introduced by the classroom teacher.
Assist and instruct students in personal hygiene, if necessary; help students become better
organized, acquire study skills, and attend to lessons; and help students become more
responsible.
Assist and instruct students in the development of social skills.
Implement low-profile strategies for correcting minor or major instances of misconduct in a
variety of situations.
Provide clerical support. For example this person must be able to operate standard school
equipment such as typewriter, or computer, laminator, copier, audiovisual equipment, etc.;
and, type correspondence, record student data, grade student work, file documents, handle
attendance, reports, etc.
Assist with the setup of the classroom and prepare materials for specialized instructional
units.
Assist in assembling and hanging materials on bulletin boards and keep displays.
Supervise groups of students in unstructured situations such as recess, lunch period, before
or after school, etc.
Submit records in a timely manner
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6.a. Safeguard EIASE and district equipment, materials, and facilities; use time and resources
effectively; and respect confidentiality and restricted information such as found in student records.
6.b. Be regular and punctual in job attendance.
6.c. Be free from any serious infectious or communicable disease that is likely to be transmitted to
children or others in the course of employment.
6.d. Perform other job-related duties as assigned by the supervising teacher.
ADDITIONAL DUTIES:
In addition to the essential job functions as listed above, this employee shall perform such additional
duties as requested by the supervisor or administrator including, but not limited to the following:
Perform routine housekeeping chores within the classroom such as sweeping, cleaning,
picking up, etc.
Perform tasks unrelated to the job that are necessary to ensure the optimum delivery of
educational services to students, a more effective school operation, or necessary in order to
insure full- time employment such as:
Assisting a student with physical disabilities access information in the absence of the
necessary worker.
Providing clerical support for teachers.
Working in the school office during a brief absence of the school secretary
Supervising students on the playground, cafeteria, etc.
Assist in an emergency with whatever tasks are necessary to ensure the safety and welfare
of students; to safeguard and protect facilities, equipment, and materials; or to help prevent
a disruption in educational services
Be able to supervise groups of students in unstructured situations such as recess, lunch
period, before or after school activities
Notify the principal of all unpaid personnel who assist with instructional or supervisory
responsibilities.
Be able to participate in restraint of students
Be able to participate in restraint training and pass all assessments
Be able to come to the aid of staff in jeopardy of harm
Must know and be able to implement strategies for de-escalation
Be able to empathize and understand the medical needs of students with multiple
disabilities
Must be available to work early morning and evening hours
Must have a valid driver's license and be able to transport students in EIASE vans
Must be physically capable of performing physical restraint training, techniques according to
program guidelines
Must understand and participate in the leveled documentation system for behavior charting
Must be physically capable of lifting students repeatedly throughout the workday-up to 50
lbs. independently and able to assist other staff when lifting over 50 lbs.
Must be able to perform other physical movements such as bending and kneeling when
necessary to deliver services to students
Be able to supervise students in the quiet room
Be willing to consistently enforce the program guidelines outlined in the student handbook.