2026-27 SPED Instructional Assistant/Special Needs- Shadow Mountain HS

Purpose Statement

The job of Instructional Assistant- Special Education is done for the purpose/s of providing support to the instructional program with specific responsibility for assisting in the supervision, care and instruction of special needs students in the regular classroom, a self-contained classroom and/or with an individual student; assisting in implementing plans for instruction; monitoring student behavior during non-classroom time; and providing information to appropriate school personnel.

Essential Functions

• Adapts classroom activities, assignments and/or materials under the direction of the supervising teacher for the purpose of supporting and reinforcing classroom objectives.
• Administers tests, homework, make-up work, etc. for the purpose of supporting teachers in the classroom.
• Assists medically fragile, physically disabled, or developmentally delayed students (e.g. lifting, feeding, toilet training, diapering, tube feeding, colostomy bags, medication, etc.) for the purpose of maintaining students' personal hygiene and immediate healthcare needs.
• Attends meetings and in-service presentations (e.g. first aid, CPR, emergency procedures, etc.) for the purpose of acquiring and/or conveying information relative to job functions.
• Communicates with supervising instructional staff, professional support personnel, and parents for the purpose of assisting in evaluating progress and/or implementing IEP objectives.
• Escorts students (e.g. bathroom, office classroom, etc.) for the purpose of ensuring an efficient and safe arrival to and/or from destination.
• Implements under the supervision of assigned teachers, behavioral plans designed by the IEP team for students with behavior disorders or other special conditions for the purpose of presenting and/or reinforcing learning concepts.
• Intervenes in potential conflicts utilizing appropriate physical and/or therapeutic approaches for the purpose of diffusing confrontations and minimizing disruptions.
• Documents instructional materials and/or manual and electronic files/records for the purpose of ensuring availability of items; providing written reference; and/or meeting mandated requirements.
• Makes models of conversation, manners, clean up activities, listening, job skills, and everyday interactions for the purpose of demonstrating appropriate social behavior in a culturally sensitive manner.
• Maintains student's daily schedule and behavior plan (e.g. class schedule, work schedule, personal hygiene, etc.) for the purpose of maintaining a safe and positive learning environment.
• Maintains students during assigned periods within a variety of school environments (e.g. rest rooms, playgrounds, hallways, bus loading zones, cafeteria, parking lots, etc.) for the purpose of maintaining a safe and positive learning environment.
• Performs general clerical functions (e.g. copying, filing, data entry, etc.) for the purpose of supporting the instructional program.
• Provides, under the supervision of assigned teacher, instruction to students in a variety of individual and group activities (e.g. academic subjects, social skills, daily living skills, job skills, etc.) for the purpose of reinforcing instructional objectives; implementing IEP plans; assisting in adapting to mainstream classroom/s and/or work place; and ensuring students success in school.
• Remains with students at all times for the purpose of providing for the safety of students, removing students when necessary and de-escalating situations outside the classroom.
• Responds to emergency situations for the purpose of resolving immediate safety concerns.

Other Functions

Performs other related duties as assigned for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of the work unit.

Job Requirements

• Minimum Qualifications: Skills, Knowledge And Abilities
• Knowledge: Basic math, reading manuals, writing documents, presenting information to others, instructional procedures and practices, age appropriate student activities, safety practices and procedures, conflict resolution, stages of child development/behavior.
• Ability: Scheduling activities, gathering and/or collating data, using basic, job-related equipment, adapting to changing work priorities, communicating with diverse groups, maintaining confidentiality, working as part of a team, working with constant interruptions, maintaining a positive rapport with students, employees and community.
• Responsibilities: Working under direct supervision using standardized procedures, leading, guiding, and/or coordinating others, utilizing some resources from other work units may be required to perform the job's functions.
• Work Environment: Physical Demands: significant lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling, some climbing and balancing, frequent stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling, significant fine finger dexterity. Generally the job requires 10% sitting, 60% walking, and 30% standing. The job is performed under minimal temperature variations and under conditions with exposure to risk of injury and/or illness.