Diversion - Special Education Assistant - CCBSC Paraprofessional -

About the Role

Under direct supervision, the incumbent provides assistance to teachers in a diverse classroom environment by supporting special education students with materials, handouts, and individual or group projects. This role involves demonstrating skills and techniques, communicating with parents, contributing to lesson plans, and ensuring student safety in various school settings.

Responsibilities

• Works with special education students individually or in groups on projects or assignments focused on academic, social, emotional, functional, language, and behavior skills, as well as activities of daily living.
• Demonstrates skills and techniques to aid in student learning.
• Monitors student behavior and enforces school and classroom standards and policies.
• Assists special needs students with feeding, toileting/diapering, physical activities, instructions, and behavior management to create a positive learning environment.
• Assists with adaptive equipment.
• Monitors and analyzes reading and/or mathematics instructional assessment data, using disaggregated student achievement data to plan and deliver instruction.
• Maintains discipline by monitoring student behavior, issuing warnings, and documenting formal notices or unusual incidents.
• Ensures student safety on the playground and in the cafeteria before school, during breakfast and lunch, and during recess; reports incidents or injuries to administration.
• Accompanies students to various areas (library, playground, cafeteria, buses) to ensure orderly behavior.
• Prepares classrooms for activities, including setting up tables and chairs, distributing materials, and cleaning up afterward.
• Communicates with parents regarding student progress, concerns, and behavioral or academic improvements; interprets communications between teachers and parents when necessary.
• Copies and prepares educational materials.
• Assists teachers in planning and coordinating lesson plans by providing student feedback and sharing ideas.
• Performs other duties as required.

Requirements

• High School diploma or equivalent (G.E.D.) prior to being hired.
• Must receive CPR certification within thirty days of hire date.
• For Title I Schools: Completion of 60 College Credit Hours, Associate's Degree from an accredited college or university, or successfully passed an Arizona State-approved paraprofessional test (offered by WESD at no cost).

Preferred Qualifications

• Six months of experience working with children in a learning environment.

Skills

• Demonstrating child development theories.
• Knowledge of basic mathematical concepts.
• Familiarity with typical classroom activities.
• Experience working with children, including those with special needs.
• Knowledge of appropriate techniques and procedures for special education support.
• Facilitating group activities in a learning environment.
• Reviewing completed work assignments.
• Preparing classrooms for various activities.
• Reading and following lesson plans.
• Applying school rules, policies, and procedures.
• Strong communication skills for interacting with supervisors, staff, students, and parents.

Physical Requirements

• Regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.
• Frequently required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Occasionally required to climb or balance.
• Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Working Conditions

• Occasionally exposed to outdoor weather conditions.
• Moderate noise level in the work environment.