Temporary Instructional Support Specialist III-Special Education

Instructional Support Specialist III

Performs a variety of activities in support of special instructional programs including special education, interagency, and district-wide subject matter. Assists teachers and staff in development and implementation of programs, materials, and tests to enhance the student learning experience. This class covers SDC and other comparable programs.

Distinguishing Career Features:
The Instructional Support Specialist III is the third in a four level career path for instructional support to teachers. The Instructional Support Assistant I provides instructional assistance to general education classrooms where activities can be carried out by an incumbent who meets minimum NCLB requirements, namely the passing of a competency exam. Advancement to levels II-IV requires additional units, advanced knowledge, skill, and ability to work with special student populations, projects, or in specially recognized skill areas.

Salary grade advancement is as follows: 12 semester units = grade 11; 24 semester units = grade 12; 48 semester units = grade 13.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Works on an in-depth basis with small groups and/or individual students on special subjects and exercises, and/or with special needs (e.g., severely disabled) to execute individual lesson plans and strategies for maximizing learning experiences. Prepares and may develop age-grade appropriate instructional aids and exercises to support the curriculum being taught. May assist special program administrators and/or teaching staff with preparation and presentation of in-service training sessions.

Assist in organizing meetings, participate in meetings to share information about program to which assigned. Confers with teachers, specialists and parents to develop and evaluate individual and group educational goals and objectives. Assist with implementation of special programs. Administers assessment instruments (spelling tests, etc.), scores objective tests and written papers, and keeps appropriate records for teachers, including those on computerized student information and grading systems.

Assists in training other instructional support specialists and other school personnel to administer, score and record achievement and diagnostic tests required by the program. Assists in reclassifying students according to proficiency. Monitors classroom activities when a teacher is absent from the classroom. Accompanies students going from one location to another. Observes, monitors, and controls behavior of students within approved procedures.

Develops and uses incentives as positive reinforcement. Exercises constant supervision of children. Assesses the need for, and uses appropriate discipline in accordance with grade level and student's ability to understand discipline. Reports student academic and behavior progress and performance to teachers. Documents student progress by correcting assignments, administering and scoring criterion referenced tests, recording and charting test scores and curriculum based measurements in reading.

Confers, as needed, with teachers, resource staff, and other school personnel concerning programs and materials to meet student needs. Alerts teacher to any special problems or information concerning students in assigned program. Arranges and participates in parent conferences. Assists special program administrative staff with the preparation and presentation of in service training sessions. Assist in organizing meetings, participate in meetings to share information about program to which assigned.

Prepare and maintain a variety of files and records for classroom or assigned program. Provides clerical and technical assistance to teachers such as researching and ordering books and school supplies, maintaining a workroom inventory. Reviews teachers' schedules and initiates requests for equipment and resource materials to support curriculum. Sets up and operates audiovisual equipment, computers, and other equipment that serves to assist and enhance instructional programs.

Assists with loading and unloading of students onto buses. Supervises lunches and snacks. Assures safety of students following health and safety rules. May translate learning and related materials to a second language for students, parents, and teachers, in both classroom and conference environments. When working with severely disabled, may be required assist students with certain medical and hygiene functions. Performs other duties as assigned that support the overall objective of the position.

Qualifications:

The position requires working knowledge of the principles and practices of age appropriate child development and guidance applicable for an educational setting. Requires working knowledge of the subjects taught in the District schools, including arithmetic, grammar, spelling, language and reading, with sufficient competency to assist students with individual or group studies. Requires a basic knowledge of teaching and…