Assist students with disabilities who are receiving special education services by performing instructional assistant duties including modality-based academic instruction, physical education instruction, social skills instruction, behavioral modification and management, preparation of instructional materials, clerical tasks, supervision, feeding, toileting, specialized health care and related duties as assigned. The position serves in a more intensive special day class (SDC), classes for the emotionally disturbed, and/or as a special circumstances one-to-one paraprofessional that may involve significant behavioral challenges.
Applicants who do not possess a college degree are required to take our written examination, date(s) to be determined.
MINIMUM REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
1. High school graduation or its equivalent.
2. Passing basic high school competency test (in the event college degrees or enough credit hours aren't held).
3. Ability to relate effectively with students who have special needs including developmental delays, specific learning disabilities, and various emotional and physical disabilities/health needs.
4. Ability to work independently, take initiative, establish and maintain cooperative relationships, work calmly under pressure, work with frequent interruptions, understand and follow oral and written directions, and speak and write effectively.
5. Valid California driver license.
DESIRABLE:
1. Experience in youth activities.
2. Knowledge and understanding of developmental stages of special needs students.
3. Ability to communicate in Spanish.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Use and adapt teacher-prepared lesson plans, instruct students, individually or in groups, in prescribed subject matter.
2. Assist students with the use of adaptive devices and equipment.
3. Assist student in changing clothing, putting on garments.
4. Set up meal trays and assist students with feeding.
5. Monitor school-related student activities as assigned under the guidance and direction of an administrative staff member.
6. Support teacher(s) in clerical duties such as photocopying and recordkeeping, as assigned. Operate audiovisual equipment and computers to support student learning and communication.
7. Implement academic instruction under the direct and indirect supervision of the special education classroom teacher to individual or small groups of students in reading, written language, mathematics, science and social sciences. Assist instruction in social/emotional, fine and gross motor and language and communication skills.
8. Assist with the implementation of communication and social skills programs.
9. Under the guidance of the case manager or other certificated staff member, provide curriculum modification for students with special needs, including support with special projects.
10. Implement physical education instruction under the direct and indirect supervision of the physical education teacher.
11. Assist in carrying out behavior programs and assist teacher with classroom management. Implement differential reinforcement programs. Routinely partner in de-escalating potentially violent situations involving students who demonstrate aggressive, defiant behaviors.
12. Collect and record data in order to monitor student’s progress. Maintain confidentiality of student information.
13. Attend and participate in staff, professional development and team planning meetings as required. Attend non-violent crisis intervention training and behavior intervention training as required.
14. After training, participate in specialized health care procedures including, but not limited to, gastronomy tube feeding, tracheostomy suctioning, blood glucose monitoring, nebulizer treatment, catheterization, ostomy procedures, oxygen administration, diapering and toileting.
15. Assignments may require constant attention to protecting physical safety in a classroom where students, because of the nature and severity of their disabilities are accident prone or, because of assaultive or self-abusive tendencies, could cause serious injury to themselves or others. There may be incidents of exposure to bodily fluids.
16. Perform other duties as reasonably related to classification.
HAZARDS:
1. Potential for contact with blood and other body fluids, which may contain bloodborne pathogens and communicable infectious diseases.
2. Potential exposure to verbal abuse and aggressive student behaviors (hitting, biting, scratching, kicking, etc.)
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
PHYSICAL: Employee in this position must have the ability to:
1. Ability to sit for extended periods of time.
2. Ability to stand and circulate for extended periods of time
3. Ability to see and read, with or without vision aids.
4. Ability to hear and understand speech at normal and abnormal levels.
5. Ability to communicate so others will clearly understand normal conversation.
6. Ability to bend, twist, kneel and stoop.
7. Physical ability to pull 75 pounds.
8. Physical ability to position a student who may weigh 150 pounds or more, to conduct two-person lifts, and to manipulate wheelchairs and orthopedic devices such as lifts, slings, etc.
MENTAL: Employee in this position must have the ability to:
1. Able to concentrate on a single task for up to two (2) hours at a time.
2. Able to learn quickly and adapt to a variety of machinery, instructions, and task methods.
3. Able to meet deadlines in terms of work assignment schedules.
SOCIAL: Employee in this position must have the ability to:
1. Interact daily in person with other members of the school staff and possess comfortable interpersonal skills and positive cooperative attitudes.
2. Because of the time urgent nature of duties and because work product of position is interdependent with that of other staff, consistent attendance is required.
3. Convey an understanding, patient attitude toward students, parents, staff and community.
4. Maintain the privacy of confidential information.
NOTE: This list of essential functions and of physical requirements is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary in accordance with the requirements of the job.
SUPERVISION
Under the supervision of the Director of Special Education, the Coordinator of Special Education and/or Designee.
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Mandatory Child Abuse Reporter: This position is designated as a Mandated Reporter. The Special Education
Paraprofessional shall report in accordance with California state regulations who observe, have actual knowledge,
or reasonably suspect child or elder/dependent abuse or neglect to appropriate agencies.
CANDIDATE SELECTION: The candidate selected for this position will be required to present prior to the first date
of employment: 1) a social security card; 2) proof of tuberculin test; 3) pass state and federal fingerprint clearances;
and 4) complete all pre-employment training including but not limited to Child Abuse Reporting and Sexual
Harassment/Abusive Conduct.
