Special Education Assistant

Special Education Aide

Primary

Purpose:

Help special education teacher provide for physical and instructional needs of students with disabilities in special education setting. Assist in implementation of classroom programs, including self-help, behavior management, and instruction programs. Work under general supervision of principal and immediate direction of certified teacher.

Qualifications:

• Education/Certification:
  
  High school diploma or GED
• Valid Texas educational aide certificate
• Special Knowledge/
  
  Skills:
  
  Ability to work with children with disabilities Ability to follow verbal and written instructions Ability to communicate effectively Knowledge of general office equipment
• Experience:
  
  Some experience working with children preferred

Major

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Instructional Support
• Help teacher prepare instructional materials and classroom displays.
• Help maintain a neat and orderly classroom.
• Help with inventory, care, and maintenance of equipment.
• Help teacher keep administrative records and prepare required reports.
• Provide orientation and assistance to substitute teachers.
• Work with individual students or small groups to develop motor skills and conduct instructional exercises assigned by teacher
• Support assigned students in all settings including general education classrooms.
• Assist with administration and scoring of objective testing instruments or work assignments.
• Student Management
• Assist students with physical disabilities according to their needs, including transferring to and from wheelchairs, lifting, or positioning.
• Assist students with physical needs and personal care, including feeding, bathroom needs, and personal hygiene.
• Help manage behavior of students. This includes intervening in crisis situations and restraining disruptive or dangerous student behavior as needed.
• Assume responsibility for learning and adapting to each student's special medical, physical, communicative, and emotional needs.
• Help supervise students throughout the school day, inside and outside the classroom. This includes lunchroom, bus, and playground duty.
• Keep teacher informed of special needs or problems of individual students.
• Other
• Ride with the students on the buses as assigned.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Participate in staff development training programs, faculty meetings, and special events as assigned.
• Punctuality in all areas.
• Maintains a positive attitude.
• Reliability in all areas of work.
• Upholds and enforces school rules, administrative regulations, and state and local board policies.
• Exemplify high standards of ethical conduct as described in board policy.
• All other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

None

Equipment Used:
Wheelchair lift, ramp, personal computer, copier, and audiovisual equipment, assisted technology equipment or additional technology as needed by a student from his IEP.

Working Conditions:

Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors:
Maintain emotional control under stress. Frequent standing, stooping, bending, kneeling, pushing, and pulling; regular heavy lifting of students. Biological exposure to bacteria and communicable diseases.