Personal Care Assistant; PCA)– Exceptional Children

Title

Personal Care Assistant (PCA) – Exceptional Children

• Job
• Position Type:
  Support Staff / Special Education Assistant
• Date Posted: 4/3/2024
• Location:
  
  District Wide

To assist the teacher by monitoring and assisting special needs students in the classroom and during other activities to ensure the provision of quality instruction in a safe environment.

• Position may be in-district or out-of-district.
• Follow all rules, policies, and procedures of Garfield Public Schools, along with state and federal regulations pertaining to special education.
• Administer scores and record achievement and diagnostic tests as recommended by the teacher.
• Work with individual students or small groups to reinforce learning of material or skills; create and modify materials to match student abilities.
• Assist the teacher in devising special strategies for reinforcing material or skills based on an understanding of individual students, their needs, interests, and abilities.
• Operate and care for instructional equipment.
• Help students master equipment used for instruction.
• Monitor student behavior, assist with discipline, record time-outs and in-class suspensions, assist with crisis prevention, de-escalation techniques as needed.
• Assist with delivery of special services; offer daily living skills support, feeding and toileting assistance if necessary, and any other tasks students cannot perform themselves.
• Assist students with mobility needs, including transferring students to and from wheelchairs/toilets and handling any individual equipment.
• Constantly monitor safety and well-being, employing strategies to protect students and others from injury and encouraging self-esteem.
• Collaborate with teachers to incorporate information from parents, doctors, nurses, therapists, and others to understand and meet student needs.
• Perform various clerical duties as needed: maintain records of student progress, develop incident reports, grade papers, check attendance, make copies, distribute materials, develop classroom displays, maintain and operate audiovisual equipment, and maintain class files.
• Maintain high ethical behavior and confidentiality of student information.
• Strive to maintain and improve professional competence, and participate in development and support of special education programs.
• Assist with supervision during emergency drills, assemblies, play periods, and field trips.
• Alert the regular teacher to any problem or special information about a student.
• Perform related duties and responsibilities as requested by the teacher and/or principal.

The above statements provide a general overview of the work performed. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required of personnel in this position.

• Maintain confidentiality of student information.
• Follow detailed written and oral instructions.
• Read various correspondence, reports, handbooks, forms, and lists.
• Work effectively with children, using appropriate methods.
• Adapt instruction, equipment, and tools for students with special needs.
• Maintain effective working relationships as required.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing, complying with confidentiality requirements.
• Constantly monitor safety and well-being of students.
• Physical ability to lift, carry, push, toilet, diaper, and feed assigned students up to 80 pounds.
• Physical ability to perform walking, lifting, stooping, standing, grasping, kneeling, crouching, repetitive motions.
• Physical ability to lift students of various weights independently and share responsibilities.

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• NJ Driver’s License.
• Experience working with physically and/or behaviorally disabled children.

Successful prior experience working with children is a plus.

• Part-time position: 29.5 hours per week.
• Hourly rate: $20.
• No benefits offered.

Ten-month year, at-will, FLSA non-exempt.

Garfield Board of Education is an equal opportunity employer.