Emotional Support Aide

Emotional Support Aide (FT) (Para-Educator)

Full-Time, 7 hours per day, 180 days per year

Purpose:

To support students with IEPs in the special education and general education environments. To monitor and implement behavior support plans.

Training and

Experience:

Graduation from high school. Experience working with school-age children preferred. Minimum competencies in academic standards.

Receipt of current, favorable clearances including:
Pennsylvania State Criminal History (Act 34), Federal Criminal History (FBI – Fingerprinting - Act 114), Pennsylvania Child Abuse (Act 151), and Sexual Misconduct and Abuse Disclosures (Act 168).

Possess the ability to work cooperatively with others. Maturity and the ability to deal effectively with students and staff. Self-motivated with the ability to work independently within the limits of assigned responsibilities. Understands the importance of and can practice confidentiality. Comfortable with following specific rules and regulations as they apply to the discipline procedures of the building. Demonstration of sensitivity to the individual needs of students.

Reportable to the building principals, classroom teacher, and special education supervisor and director of pupil services.

Completed by the building principals / special education supervisor.

1. Assist with planning and implementing individual and group strategies for individual student success in academic and behavioral areas.

2. Assist in maintaining up-to-date records on each child, describing strategies for each child's program.

3. Participate in the development and implementation of Individual Education Plans (IEPs) as appropriate.

4. Assist in working closely with the teachers to continually modify the program to meet individual student needs.

5. Assist in classroom activities such as listening to students read, monitoring work sessions, collecting and returning assignments from other classes, etc.

6. Assist teachers in the evaluation of student performance.

7. Act as liaison between the general and special education teacher to provide immediate feedback relative to student performance.

8. To work with student assigned to a general education class and assist the general education teacher with adaptations as assigned by the special education teacher.

9. Monitor student Behavioral Support Plans and provide appropriate reinforcement when needed.

10. Assist in supervising students with special needs in less structured environments such as hallways, cafeteria, bus loading area, etc.

11. Perform such other duties as assigned by the teacher, special education supervisor, and/or building administrator.

12. Maintain Highly Qualified status, including 20 hours of professional development annually, as determined by Pennsylvania regulations for para-professionals working with students with an identified disability.

Physical Demands:
Occasional driving to school district offices, classrooms, and regional offices. Frequent walking throughout various buildings, including climbing up and down stairs. Often sitting at desk for extended periods. Standing for limited periods of time. Moderate lifting from 15 to 30 pounds. Some carrying – up to 30 pounds. Manual dexterity to use office equipment. Repetitive movement of fingers and hands for keyboarding.

Sensory Abilities:
Visual acuity to read correspondences, computer screen. Auditory acuity to be able to use telephones. Ability to speak clearly and distinctly.

Work Environment:
Generally, classroom/office setting.

Temperament:
Ability to work as a member of a team. Must be courteous and able to effectively communicate with students and staff. Must be cooperative, congenial and service-oriented, and promote these qualities in the department. Ability to work in an environment with frequent interruptions.

Cognitive Ability:
Ability to follow written and verbal directions. Ability to complete assigned tasks with minimal supervision. Ability to read, write and do complex computations. Ability to use correct grammar, sentence structure and spelling. Ability to compose clear, concise sentences and…