Special Educational Assistant

Salary per Salary Schedule from $25000 (Subject to verified Educations & Experience)

Classification: Non-Certified (Classified) Location: Assigned School Reports to: School Principal FLSA Status: Non-Exempt Bargaining Unit: Educational Assistant (177 days, 7.5 hours per day)

Position Summary: The Educational Assistant performs a variety of instructional and/or support duties to assist the school and teachers in instructions, supervision, and education of students with special needs in groups or one-on-one teacher to student situations. May work with students on an individual basis as well as small groups to complete assigned work.

Supervision and Controls over the Work: The Educational Assistants work with a high level of independence and professional discretion under the day-to-day direction of the Principal, Principal Designee, or District Designee. The EAs work is governed, controlled, and evaluated by acceptable professional practice, school and district policies and regulations, provisions of Taos Municipal Schools district policies and procedures, direction of the supervisor, and performance standards and expectations as set forth by the collective bargaining agreement. The EA provides specific directions and oversight for supervision and/or instructional support to students. Educational Assistants are responsible for being familiar with the school/district policies and procedures which govern their work, and for acquiring and applying the knowledge of IDEA and Section 504 requirements.

Duties and Responsibilities: Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Works collaboratively by assisting teachers in assessment, curriculum implementation, student interactions, enforcing safe behaviors, and enhancing social growth of students in the classroom. Such assistance may be provided in special education classrooms, in regular education classrooms for special needs students, and in one-on-one or small group situations.
• Assist students with common daily tasks such as eating, dressing, toileting, including diapering.
• May provide health services and assistance to include changing, dressings, assisting with oxygen, assisting with walkers, wheelchairs, canes, crutches, etc.
• Teach independent living skills such as cooking, laundry, general personal hygiene, and cleanliness.
• Act, or assists in taking actions, to restrain students who are at risk of harming themselves or others by following school/district approved restraint procedures.
• Assist in implementing physical and occupational therapy plans by working with students to increase range of motion, mobility, and positioning.
• May escort students in one-on-one or small groups to and from recess and playground, to and from bus location, and may be required to ride the bus with student(s).
• Communicates with students, parents, and community members with respect and confidentiality and consistent with the direction and guidance of staff, administrators, and school/district policies and procedures.
• May oversee student safety by such activities as recess and playground supervision, bus duty, hallway supervision, etc.
• Take steps to intervene when students are not in control or may be in dangerous or unsafe situations.
• Provides instructional support and tutoring to students in large groups, small groups, and one-on-one situations.
• Documents behavior of students to assist teacher in assessing progress with education plans.
• Maintains, or assists in maintaining student weekly progress reports.
• Required to follow Board policies and stay abreast of updates and changes.
• Shall perform all other duties assigned.

Minimum Qualification:

• High school graduate or equivalent.
• Either an associate degree or successfully passing the Para-Pro exam.
• First Aid/CPR certification.
• Successful recent work experience in a field related to the position.
• Valid New Mexico State Drivers License.
• EA License issue by the NM Public Education Department.

Physical and Environmental Requirements: The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function.

While performing the duties of this job, the educational assistant is frequently required to sit, lift, carry, move about, hear, and speak. An educational assistant may be required to perform extensive work at a computer display terminal, and the ability to adjust focus.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes, or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals. It may be expected that an individual could be exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials during their duties. The employee must lift and/or move 25 to 50 pounds, and may assist, move, or restrain students with greater weight when required to intervene in student safety issues. May be required to break up fights.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The employee may be exposed to infectious disease as carried by students, exposed to student noise, and learning resource noise levels. The employee may be exposed to aggressive student behaviors to include biting, hitting, kicking, and throwing objects. May be required to wear and utilize safety equipment designed to minimize the risk of injury to the employee and to the student. The employee may be required to travel in school owned or leased vehicles while supervising and assisting students.

The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.