Paraeducator - Non-Mainstream Special Education ILC

Instructional Para educator

This position's responsibilities are to assist certificated staff with instructional and non-instructional activities for non-mainstreamed special education students, generally in a self-contained classroom, and including instructing students individually or in small groups, assisting students with basic life skills, and supervising student behavior activities.

Essential functions depending upon individual assignment, the Para educator - Non-Mainstream Special Education may perform all or a combination of several of the following duties:

• Instructs moderately to severely handicapped students individually or in small groups in a variety of learning activities to promote student understanding of materials presented.
• Communicates with certificated staff concerning individual student progress; adjusts methods to meet the needs of a wide variety of students; consults with certificated staff concerning remediation or enrichment activities.
• Assists certificated staff in maintaining records, logs, charts, assignments and other records for assessment of student progress.
• Attends to student physical and safety needs; monitors students for medical risks such as seizures and behaviors that may result in harm to themselves or others. Corrects behaviors and maintains discipline according to established policies and procedures.
• Assists students with toileting, which may include catheterization and diapering; attends to the personal hygiene needs of students. Assists students in washing hands and face, brushing teeth and hair, and taking showers.
• Assists students with interpersonal and personal skills mastery; helps feed students and teaches social aspects of eating with others.
• Assists students with basic living skills and pre-vocational activities. Works with students to develop communication skills; facilitates integration of students with age-group peers to the extent possible.
• Establishes and maintains effective communication with students, staff and parents for student progress and safety, and community relations.
• Provides physical assistance to students, such as lifting or positioning. Uses adaptive equipment to communicate with students; follows and documents procedures established by physical therapist.
• Monitors need for first aid for students and refers for treatment as appropriate.
• Maintains cleanliness and hygiene of classroom, implements and equipment. Washes dishes; cleans and disinfects tables and counters; washes and dries clothes, towels, washcloths and bibs.

Other functions may include alerting qualified district staff to student problems, locating, preparing and/or modifying materials for student use, enrichment activities and special projects under the direction of certificated staff, preparing, duplicating, collating and distributing materials; operating a variety of office equipment, maintaining physical appearance of classroom and other assigned areas; maintaining, assembling and storing therapeutic and other equipment as assigned;

maintaining supplies as assigned. May serve on various district committees and/or departmental work teams. Models appropriate and cooperative behavior, including protecting confidential information, consistent with district ethical guidelines.

Reporting relationships include reporting to the school principal or assigned administrator; receiving guidance from certificated staff.

Mental demands may include frequent interruptions; required to deal with a wide range of student behaviors and academic abilities; required to deal with a wide range of physical or emotional disabilities; may occasionally deal with distraught or difficult students. Physical demands potentially include exposure to ordinary infectious diseases carried by students; exposed to student noise levels; required to lift and position students and their special equipment such as wheelchairs;

required to work in non-routine positions for extended periods; may be required to attend to students' personal hygiene; may be exposed to biting behavior; may need to take precautions to avoid exposure to student bodily fluids; playground supervision requires working outdoors in inclement weather.

Minimum qualifications include education and experience necessary to carry out the assignment, with experience working with school age children and special needs students preferred. For Title One and Title One School-wide Special Education positions there is an associate degree, or proof of completion of the Washington State Para educator Assessment, or two years of higher education requirement per the Federal "No Child Left Behind" Act.

Required knowledge, skills and abilities include demonstrated skill in reading, writing and communicating. Knowledge of basic subject areas, such as reading and math. Ability to deal with students in a warm and confident manner. Ability to remain flexible in changes in assignments. Ability to organize activities. Ability to follow and give instructions. Ability to be fair and consistent…