Pathfinder K-8 - Special Education Assistant 1-1 (Extended Resource) - 1.0 FTE

Special Education Instructional Assistant

This position serves as a 1-on-1 Special Education Instructional Assistant to a male student in an Extended Resource classroom. Pathfinder is seeking a patient, calm, flexible, and creative para educator who can build a strong relationship with a student while supporting safety, engagement, and independence. The ideal candidate will be skilled at recognizing anxiety and dysregulation early, adapting expectations and learning activities, and using positive, collaborative strategies to help the student successfully navigate the school day.

The ideal candidate should be:

• Patient, calm, and relationship-oriented
• Flexible and creative in adapting tasks and expectations
• Skilled at recognizing and responding to anxiety or dysregulation early
• Comfortable using positive, low-demand, collaborative approaches
• Able to provide structure, choices, and engaging alternatives to support participation
• Consistent with safety expectations while building trust and independence
• Able to work collaboratively with the student's special education team

The job of Special Education Assistant/ISE-203 is done for the purpose of assisting in the supervision, care and instruction of special needs students in the regular classroom or in a self-contained classroom; assisting in implementing plans for instruction; monitoring student behavior during non-classroom time; providing information to appropriate school personnel; and attending IEP meetings.

Special Education Assistant job duties vary according to the school/program needs, i.e., generalist, severe/profound, behavior disorder, hearing impaired, autism, etc.

Essential functions include:

• Adapting classroom activities, assignments and/or materials for all special education students to participate in classroom activities.
• Administering a variety of materials and assignments to assist teacher in evaluating students' progress and/or organizing the individual needs of the student.
• Administering first aid and medical assistance as required for providing appropriate care for injured children.
• Assisting students requiring support in addressing personal care needs due to medical condition and/or physical limitations for allowing students to function in school environment.
• Attending meetings and in-service presentations to acquire and/or convey information relative to job functions.
• Conferring with teacher/s on a regular basis to assist in evaluating special education student progress and/or implementing IEP objectives.
• Conferring with teachers and/or parents to provide information related to the student's progress as established in their individual educational program.
• Directing and implementing behavioral plans for students with behavior disorders or other conditions to assist in meeting special education students needs, protecting the safety of the child and others, and providing a consistent environment.
• Instructing students in a variety of activities in individual and group settings to reinforce instructional objectives, implement plans for remediation of students deficiencies in accordance with students individual educational program goals and ensuring students success in school.
• Maintaining instructional materials and/or student files/records to ensure availability of items and/or providing reliable information.
• Monitoring students during assigned periods within a variety of school environments to aid students and provide a safe and positive learning environment.
• Performing other related duties as assigned to ensure the efficient and effective functioning of the work unit.

Reporting relationships include:

Reports to building Principal if assigned through staffing formulas. If based centrally, reports to assigned Special Education Supervisor.

Required knowledge, skills & abilities include:

• Perform basic math, read manuals, write documents, and understand complex instructions.
• Instructional procedures, age appropriate student activities, safety practices, conflict resolution, stages of child development/behavior.
• Perform multiple tasks, adhere to safety practices, operate office equipment, prepare and maintain records.
• Gather and collate data, use job-related…