Espanola Public Schools Visa Sponsorship USA

Title:

Educational Assistant – Special Education

Work Unit/Location:

District

Reports to:

Teacher and Principal

Supervises:

N/A

Contract Length:

184 days

Pay Schedule:

Educational Assistant

Overtime Status:

N/A

Hours:

7:45 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Union Status:

Union

Licensure:

Level III Educational Assistant

General Job Function:

To work closely with one or a few disabled pupils regularly in an effort to provide them with the physical help and emotional support they need to gain as full benefits from the district’s special education program as possible.

Education/Training/Experience:

- High school graduate minimum or GED
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- AA degree or Para Pro Exam

Knowledge/Skills and Abilities:

- Prefer prior work with special education children
- Bilingual skills in English and Spanish preferred

Resources Used in Performing Job Include (but are not limited to):

Standard office equipment and vehicle for district travel. A district car may be used or if the employee uses his/her own vehicle mileage reimbursement is available.

Physical/Cognitive Requirements:

Regularly required to walk, talk and listen. Frequently is required to stand and sit. Required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and depth perception. Light lifting at times.

Environmental Conditions:

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Essential Job Functions:

- Assists the student(s) to whom assigned in such physical tasks as moving from room to room and using the restroom.
- Assists the student(s) to whom assigned with eating.
- Under supervision of the special education teacher works with the student(s) to whom assigned to complete any school work.
- Accompanies the student(s) to whom assigned any time the student leaves the special education classroom.
- Establishes as fully as possible a supportive and sympathetic relationship with the student(s) without fostering or encouraging intense emotional involvement.
- Hears the student(s) in recitation, reading, and other curriculum tasks, guiding and helping them but not teaching them.
- Greets the student(s) daily upon the student’s arrival to school and accompanies the student(s) without fostering or encouraging intense emotional involvement.
- Accompanies and assists student(s) in recreation and leisure activities and instruction (i.e., swimming, bowling, field trips, etc).
- Any other duties as assigned by Supervisor.

Educational:

- Works with individual, small and large groups of students to reinforce learning and enhance skills.
- Checks notebooks, corrects papers, and assists with administration of assignments and make up work as assigned by the teacher.
- Reads to students, listens to students read, and participates in other positive forms of oral communication with students.
- Assists with the supervision of students during emergency drills, assemblies, play periods and field trips.
- Alerts the teacher to any concerns specific to student(s).
- Assists students in the library or media center.
- Helps students with their clothing.
- Maintains a high level of ethical behavior and confidentiality of information about student.

General:

- Serves as the chief source of information and assistance to any substitute teacher assigned in the absence of the teacher.
- Operates instructional equipment used in the classroom.
- Helps the teacher create bulletin boards and other classroom learning displays.
- Collects and records collection of money as assigned by the teacher.
- Assists with snack, lunch and bathroom procedures.
- Participates with in-service training programs, as assigned.
- Performs any and all duties assigned and deemed necessary by the teacher or principal.

Specific Job Requirements:

- Must possess and utilize excellent team building skills.
- Must accept delegated responsibilities willingly.
- Must be able to work under occasional stress.
- Must be familiar with child restraining methods, first aid and CPR and capable of utilizing child restraint, if necessary.

Personal Accountability:

- Demonstrates reliability as evidenced by attendance records and punctuality.
- Properly notifies supervisor and/or designee of absences or tardiness.
- Begins and completes work within the allotted time.
- Consistently appears in attire appropriate to the work environment.
- Demonstrates skill in the use of equipment including its capabilities, limitations and appropriate/special application.
- Protects the District’s resources through appropriate and careful use of supplies and equipment.
- Utilizes appropriate body mechanics to aid in the prevention of muscle strain/injury.

EMPLOYMENT:

Upon an offer of employment, pass a pre-employment drug test and comply with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1968, pass a background check and provide necessary documentation qualifications.

Terms of Employment:

Determined by student needs.

Evaluation:

Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of the Board’s policy on Evaluation of Support Services Personnel.

Basic Qualifications:

- Passing Score on ParaPro (457); or
- Passing Score on Para Educator (70% in each of the sections); or
- Passing Score and completion of the Core Academic Skills for Educators: Reading, Writing, and Mathematics; or
- Minimum of 48 semester hours of college credit from a regionally accredited college or university with 15 of those credits being in language arts (3 hours), mathematics (3 hours), writing (3 hours), and reading, writing, math readiness, or professional education (6 hours); or
- Associates degree from a regionally accredited college or university with 15 of those credits being in language arts (3 hours), mathematics (3 hours), writing (3 hours), and reading, writing, math readiness, or professional education (6 hours).