Teacher Assistant Special Education Elementary

About This Role

This role involves providing support and assistance with the instructional program in a special education setting at an elementary school. The Teacher Assistant works under the direction of the classroom teacher or service provider, focusing on supervising and instructing students with disabilities, documenting their progress, implementing instructional plans, and assisting with special health care, behavioral, and social/emotional needs. Extensive data collection and documentation are essential duties of this position.

Responsibilities

• Adapt classroom activities, assignments, and materials under the direction of the classroom teacher to support and reinforce classroom objectives
• Assist in implementing instructional programs and lesson plans, and provide instruction to students in individual and group activities
• Participate in the implementation of Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals and behavioral plans for students with behavioral needs or other special conditions
• Perform clerical tasks to assist in the preparation of instructional materials
• Maintain data collection and documentation of activities, assignments, and assistance provided to students
• Attend meetings, professional development, and medical and behavioral trainings
• Assist with administering immediate first aid and medical assistance as instructed by a health care professional (e.g., diapering, tube feeding, colostomy bags, medication)
• Assist students with personal care tasks, including bathroom, clothing, hygiene, and toileting
• Apply and remove physical therapy appliances as instructed by the service provider according to the IEP plan
• Assist students with mobility needs such as lifting and positioning, in and out of wheelchairs; loading and unloading on the bus; transporting students in their wheelchairs in and around school and on field trips
• Assist students with accessing their electronic communicators, switches, pointers, feeder, etc.
• Assist with pre-lunch and lunch activities and monitor students during assigned periods within a variety of school environments
• Perform other related duties as assigned within the same classification or lower

Requirements

• High School Diploma or Equivalency Certificate
• To work in a Title I-funded school, 48 college credit hours or a passing score on a paraprofessional assessment issued by ETS or NES
• Previous experience working with students with disabilities preferred
• Considerable patience and the ability to work with students who have physical, cognitive, and behavior challenges
• Willingness to learn and implement instructional methods, strategies, and techniques to assist teachers
• Ability to employ a variety of teaching styles to respond to the needs of diverse learners