Functional Academic Aide

Primary Purpose

Help meet physical and instructional needs of students with disabilities. Assist in implementation of classroom programs, including self‑help, behavior management, and instruction programs. Work under general supervision of the principal and immediate direction of a certified teacher.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certificate
• Valid Texas educational aide certificate
• Ability to work with children with disabilities
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions
• Effective communication skills
• Knowledge of general office equipment
• Some experience working with children
• Formal academic assessment, associate’s degree, or two years of study at an institution of higher learning (as required)

Major Responsibilities and Duties

• Instructional Support
  • Help teacher prepare instructional materials and classroom displays.
  • Maintain a neat and orderly classroom.
  • Assist with inventory, care, and maintenance of equipment.
  • Help teacher keep administrative records and prepare required reports.
  • Provide orientation and assistance to substitute teachers.
• Student Management
  • Assist students with physical disabilities according to their needs, including transferring to and from wheelchairs, lifting, positioning, and personal care (feeding, bathroom needs, personal hygiene).
  • Keep teacher informed of special needs or problems of individual students.
  • Manage student behavior, including intervening in crisis situations and restraining disruptive or dangerous students as needed.
  • Recognize differences in each student’s medical, physical, communicative, and emotional needs and adapt methods and interaction accordingly.
  • Work with individual students or small groups to develop motor skills and conduct instructional exercises assigned by the teacher.
  • Supervise students throughout the school day, inside and outside the classroom (lunchroom, bus, playground duty).
• Other Duties
  • Maintain confidentiality.
  • Participate in staff development training programs, faculty meetings, and special events as assigned.
  • Follow district safety protocols and emergency procedures.
  • Perform alternative methods of duties as needed.

Physical Demands and Environmental Factors

• Tools/Equipment: Standard office equipment (computer and peripherals), standard instructional equipment, specialized and adaptive equipment used by students.
• Posture: Frequent standing; kneeling/squatting, bending/stooping, pushing/pulling, and twisting.
• Motion: Frequent walking and reaching.
• Lifting: Frequent light lifting and carrying (less than 15 lb); occasional heavy lifting (45 lb or over) and positioning or moving students with physical disabilities, controlling behavior through physical restraint, assisting non‑ambulatory students, and moving adaptive classroom equipment.
• Environment: Work inside and outside (exposure to sun, heat, cold, inclement weather); exposure to noise; exposure to biological hazards (bacteria, communicable diseases).
• Mental Demands: Frequent interruptions; maintain emotional control under stress.

Required by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) for aides providing instructional support in Title I, Part A programs.