Special Ed Support Aide-Cherokee

POSITION SUMMARY

Supports the teacher and student to ensure the best possible learning experience for the special education children in a safe and secure environment while maintaining confidentiality.

(These duties and responsibilities are judged to be essential functions in terms of the Americans With Disabilities Act or ADA)

• Assist an individual student one-on-one, in small groups, or in the classroom with students under the supervision of the teachers as directed.
• Assist students with completing academic tasks.
• Assist in engaging students with instructional activities developed by the teacher, e.g., reading, writing, math, spelling, and life skills, etc.
• Assist in managing student behavior by properly implementing behavior management plans, including using Crisis Intervention and Prevention (CPI) training.
• Provide support in monitoring, intervening, and redirecting student behaviors. Act to prevent and deescalate student behavior.
• Assist students with personal needs, including but not limited to hygiene, diapering, toileting and clothing.
• Familiarize yourself with individual student requirements and/or behavior plan.
• Assist in data collection related to behavior, academics, instruction, etc.
• Participate in professional development.
• Communicate with community, staff, and students to answer questions, disseminate or explain information.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by a person in this position. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties that may be performed by such a person.

(To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)

This position requires high school diploma or equivalent.

May be required to take additional classes to address student’s specific needs.

• Experience working with children, required
• Experience working with special education students, preferred.

• Knowledge of school policies and safety regulations, required.
• Working knowledge of computers, preferred.

• Good communication skills, required.
• Adaptability to learn, required.

• Patience, required

• Ability to adapt to a variety of teaching skills, required.
• Ability to handle and relate to emotional and physical challenges, required.
• Ability to be caring, understanding, patient and friendly towards students, required.
• Ability to apply common sense to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form, required.
• Ability to communicate effectively with students, staff and community, required.
• Ability to read and interpret school policies and handbook, required.
• Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one, small group, and classroom situations, required.
• Ability to physically manage student behaviors and equipment, required.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists, required.
• Ability and willingness to work in a high demanding, potentially stressful environment while maintaining composure, required.
• Ability and willingness to complete any necessary training required to successfully perform job responsibilities, required.
• Ability to follow through with outlined behavioral management plan or instruction programs, required.
• Ability to read, write, and communicate effectively in English to perform essential job duties, including understanding and following safety instructions, responding appropriately to emergency situations, completing documentation, and interacting with English-speaking staff, students, community and supervisors, required.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee is frequently required to sit, walk, or stand for long periods. The employee may need to run after students.

The employee must be able to stoop and bend to assist with all aspects of student toileting, which may include diapering and lifting on and off the toilet, changing tables and mats, and other specific hygiene needs. The employee must have physical strength, agility, dexterity, acuity, reflexes, grasping, pushing, pulling, lifting, and mobility to perform job responsibilities. Assists with movement of students with special needs as required (positioning, lifting, transferring and physical intervention).

May obtain food from the cafeteria, serve food, and feed students or help them feed themselves. The employee…