Teaching Assistant - Department of Special Education - Ellen Myers Primary School

A Special Education Teaching Assistant (Educational Assistant or Paraprofessional) in a Tennessee public elementary school works under the direct supervision of a licensed Special Education Teacher. This role supports students with physical, emotional, learning, or behavioral disabilities. Assistants help implement Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) in both general education classrooms and specialized resource or Comprehensive Development Classrooms (CDC).

• Instructional & Academic Support: Provide one-on-one or small-group tutoring to reinforce reading, writing, math, and STEM lessons taught by the lead teacher.
• IEP & Accommodations Tracking: Help implement accommodations, adapt classroom materials, and collect daily behavior and academic data toward IEP goals.
• Personal Care Assistance: Assist students with significant physical or medical needs, including eating, toileting/diapering, personal hygiene, and utilizing braces or orthopedic appliances.
• Mobility & Transit Support: Safely lift and position students, assist with wheelchairs, and manage bus arrival, dismissal, and hallway transitions.
• Behavior Management: De-escalate challenging behavior, implement positive reinforcement plans, and maintain a calm learning environment.
• Student Supervision: Actively monitor students across multiple environments, including regular classrooms, playgrounds, cafeterias, and field trips.

• Education: Minimum of a High School Diploma or GED.
• Highly Qualified Status: In accordance with federal and state regulations, candidates must either hold an Associate's Degree, have completed at least 2 years of college, or pass a district-administered Paraprofessional Assessment (with a minimum score of 70%).
• Physical Health: Must be able to perform physically demanding tasks, including walking or standing for long periods, bending, crouching, and lifting up to 50 pounds.