Special Education Assistant

General Responsibilities

Perform responsible human support and paraprofessional work assisting classroom teachers or other professionals to achieve instructional objectives; assisting students with disabilities with achieving established goals and with personal care and mobility.

• Assist classroom teacher in performing specific duties as assigned or undertaking specialized tasks to achieve and enhance instructional and behavioral objectives.
• Work with individuals, small groups, or large groups as assigned teacher.
• Assist with behavior modification as assigned by teacher.
• Lift, move, and operate adaptive equipment.
• Assist students with personal care tasks, including but not limited to lavatory, clothing, hygiene, diapering, toileting, and wash‑up routines.
• Escort students as assigned by teacher or administrator.
• Assist students with mobility needs such as lifting and positioning students, lifting in and out of wheelchairs; loading and unloading on the bus; transporting students in and around the school and on field trips.
• Monitor students during assigned periods within a variety of school environments to maintain a safe and positive learning environment.
• Provide programmed practice activities and repetitions as developed by teacher, therapist or pathologist.
• Report student concerns directly and expeditiously to teacher and assist with student resolution.
• Assist with breakfast, lunch, snack, including clean‑up.
• Maintain various records and files.
• Perform related work as required.

General knowledge of the practices, methods and techniques used in the teaching of the special education population; ability to maintain files and information; skill in the use of classroom and instructional equipment; ability to operate audio‑visual, standard office, word and data processing equipment; ability to operate adaptive equipment; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with teachers, parents, students, and administrators.

Required: High School Diploma or GED.
Title I Assistants Only: Must have a minimum of 48 college credits or provide documentation of passing the Paraprofessional Assessment test, or have an Associate's Degree. Some experience working with students with disabilities is preferred.

Must have the use of sensory skills to effectively communicate and interact with other employees and the public using the telephone and personal contact. Frequent sitting, walking, bending, stooping, crouching, kneeling, grasping, and repetitive motion. Occasional standing, crawling, and physical management including supporting individuals with impaired weight‑bearing or unsteady gait, repositioning individuals in therapeutic equipment, including use of hydraulic lifts to a maximum of 100 pounds with assistance.

Ability to lift over 50 pounds occasionally. Requires timely and regular adherence to established work schedules. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential tasks.

Possession of a valid driver’s license. Regular and reliable attendance is an essential function of this position.

Salary Range: $18.72 - $27.30 hourly.
FTE: 0.500.

Start Date:

School Year.
Benefits include health insurance, paid life insurance, paid sick/annual leave, tuition reimbursement, professional development, and membership in the Virginia Retirement System.
Unified Experience Based Step Pay Scale: U10.
Position:
Part Time.