Special Education Assistant - SEA Cadre

Special Education Assistant - SEA Cadre )

Under general supervision, Special Education Assistants (SEA) provide a variety of services to assist students with special needs in a learning environment; assist Minneapolis Public School (MPS) staff to develop and implement appropriate individualized lessons and activities for students with disabilities; and help students to meet their therapy and education goals. CADRE team members have a unique opportunity to provide city-wide assistance to special needs students, ranging from Birth to 21 years of age, at schools throughout the entire District.

SEAs on the CADRE team specifically support the sick days and paid leaves for over 750 MPS Special Education Assistants. While CADRE positions can be likened to being 'substitute SEAs', CADRE team members are permanent employees who work daily and are fully eligible for benefits!

Principal responsibilities of SEAs include:

• Providing support services to children with moderate to severe disabilities and assisting MPS staff to facilitate educational functions and other services that maintain a safe and productive learning environment, sensitive to the needs and legal rights of special education students.
• Working with students to improve personal skills and reinforcing classroom learning.
• Assisting students in learning processes through reinforcement of positive behavior, individual instruction, socialization, and good communications.
• Monitoring student activities, promoting respect, explaining social norms and disciplinary consequences, and de-escalating personal confrontations.
• Maintaining behavior documentation, written observations and anecdotal information files for Support and Advocacy for Independent Living Program (SAIL), Individualized Education Program (IEP), and Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBA).
• Monitoring work, correcting papers, and transitioning students for medications, meals, buses, and classes.
• Attending to and providing for students' daily hygiene, personal and health related cares, as directed by licensed staff. Assisting students in community, recreational, school, and vocational training. Providing assistance to students in classrooms and after-school programs.
• Serving as a reserve/substitute Special Education Assistant. Employees in this unique group will be assigned on an emergency basis to support schools/programs in high need situations across disability areas. Personal transportation is required as position may move from site to site.

Minimum qualifications required:

• Sixty (60) semester or Ninety (90) quarter college credits. OR A high school diploma/GED and a passing score of at least 460 on the Para Pro Assessment.
• Two (2) years of experience working with children or young adults. Additional education or training may substitute for experience, at the discretion of Human Resources. Related experience may also be considered, at the discretion of Human Resources.
• Ability to secure personal transportation for travel.

Preferred qualifications:

• Associate's degree or higher in Child Development or a related field.
• Experience in working with individuals with disabilities.
• Bilingual in Somali, Spanish, or Hmong.

Additional license and certification requirements:

• First Aid/CPR/AED, Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) training, and Special Education Orientation is required within one year.

Physical demands and working environment:

A job in this category may require walking or standing to a significant degree, and working with special needs children. Must be able to frequently lift up to 50 pounds.