Intensive Special Education Aide

Intensive Special Education Aide

General job description:
Under the direct supervision of the building principal, assistant principal and special education teacher, the intensive special education aide's primary responsibility shall be to assist the teacher in meeting the educational, social, physical and emotional needs of special education students including providing personal care assistance. Must have a valid Illinois paraprofessional approval letter or a valid Illinois teaching certificate. A valid Illinois teacher certificate is preferred, but not required.

Demonstrates the ability to interact effectively with students, staff and parents, individually or in small groups. Able to lift and carry an elementary or middle school aged child. Demonstrates organizational skills, efficiency, cooperation and self-direction. Demonstrates the ability to maintain confidentiality regarding all aspects of work with staff and students. Any combination of experience and education will be considered.

Essential functions and responsibilities:

• Assists students with personal care needs including but not limited to: bathroom functions, feeding and grooming.
• Assists the classroom teacher in working with special education students to reinforce instructional material initially introduced by the teacher.
• Assists the teacher with instructional and non-instructional classroom duties as appropriate, such as, assistance in the laboratories, washrooms, playgrounds, gymnasiums, lunchrooms, libraries, field trips and all other settings as determined by the classroom teacher.
• Participates in collaborative planning for instruction with the classroom teacher.
• Assists the teacher in preparing the classroom for school, storing materials and getting the classroom ready for the closing of school.
• Coordinates and maintains individual help and assistance to an individual special education student.
• Accompanies special education students to special area classes or to and from buses as needed.
• Attends school district and team meetings, when necessary or appropriate.
• Responsible for guiding any independent study, enrichment work and remedial work set up by the classroom teacher.
• Performs clerical, administrative and safety tasks for the classroom teacher, including making copies, preparing bulletin boards, filing, cleaning equipment and toys, setting up audio-visual equipment, etc.
• Maintains or modifies a student's curriculum to the needs of the student as required and directed by the classroom teacher.
• Assists special education students in any testing and observes and records student progress as needed.
• Keeps the classroom neat and orderly.
• Assists with preparing and maintaining student records when requested.
• As needed, communicates with adaptive PE, social worker, parents, vision specialist, occupational therapist, speech therapist and physical therapist, or any other specialists to assure smooth transition of student.
• Assists the classroom teacher in maintaining behavioral charts as needed.
• Supervises students in the playground, lunchroom, buses and other non-instructional areas as required and requested by the classroom teacher, principal and assistant principal.
• Facilitates the interactions of a student cooperative learning group.
• Serves as a substitute teacher for absent teachers when assigned, and if appropriately certified.
• Interfaces with all levels of staff within the school building.
• Performs other related duties as may be necessary and assigned by the building principal, assistant principal and classroom teacher.

Salary and benefits:
Per KESPA contract.