Assistant Teacher-Special Education

Job Goal

Under direct supervision, performs duties that are instructional in nature or may deliver direct services to students or parents. Serves in a position for which a teacher or another professional has ultimate responsibility for the design and implementation of educational programs and services. Assists with test administration. Will provide specialized assistance for students with special needs.

• High School Diploma or G.E.D.
• Minimum of 48 college hours is preferred.
• Experience working with children in an educational setting is preferred.
• Texas Educational Aide Certification is preferred or the ability to acquire it.

• Assists teacher(s) with student academic goals, by working with small groups of children or an individual child.
• Assists teacher(s) in the enforcement of classroom management and behavioral plans, creating an environment that is appropriate for learning.
• Assists with supervising students during breakfast, recess, lunch, dismissal, special events, and programs.
• Assists teacher(s) in the preparation of paperwork for the ARD/IEP process. Collects and enters data for completion of special education reports and documents.
• Assists teacher(s) with the planning, preparation and implementation of differentiated instruction for individual students and groups.
• May be assigned to one or more of the following special education settings:
  • Life
    
    Skills:
    
    assist in providing specialized instruction and services to students with significant cognitive disabilities; there may be special requirements including lifting and positioning students, controlling behavior through physical restraint, assisting non-ambulatory students, assisting students with toileting, and biological exposure to bacteria and communicable diseases.
  • Behavior: assist in teaching appropriate behavioral skills; there may be special requirements to control behavior through physical restraint.
  • Resource: provide academic and/or behavioral support to a small group of students or to an individual student.
  • In-Class Support: provide academic and/or behavioral support to a small group of students or to an individual student.
• Assignment may be changed throughout the year without notice based upon the needs of the campus and students.
• May be required to take CPI certification class or approved equivalent in order to implement de-escalation techniques and legal restraint procedures during crisis situations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Ability to work well under pressure.
• Ability to take direction from teachers and administrators.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both written and oral forms with all levels of management, both internal and external to the district.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships both internal and external to the district.
• Ability to use computer including software, database used by the district, spreadsheet and word processing software, calculator, copy machine and telephone.
• Ability to analyze data.
• Ability to use effective interview techniques, effective public speaking skills, and problem-solving skills.

• Assist with special requirements for working with assigned students (see Duties and Responsibilities, above).
• Nights and weekend activities will be occasionally required.
• Position is in the classroom setting and requires intermittent speaking, standing, walking and writing.
• Moderate travel may be required.