Instructional Aide/Trainee - Blind School

About the Role

The Ohio State School for the Blind is seeking dynamic applicants with a passion for supporting students who are diverse learners. This role involves assisting teachers in academic instruction, vocational and daily living skills, and ensuring the safety and well-being of students who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, and/or have multiple disabilities.

Responsibilities

• Assist teachers in academic instruction (e.g., math, science, reading, history, expanded core curriculum), vocational, and/or daily living skills.
• Tutor and conduct group or individual lessons in conjunction with the teacher.
• Ensure the safety and well-being of students, providing counseling for educational, emotional, physical, or personal needs.
• Monitor students to maintain discipline and ensure compliance with established rules (e.g., school code of conduct, individual education plan).
• Support students in the proper utilization of various adaptive technologies.
• Provide language enrichment and mediating for language deprivation support as needed.
• Accompany and assist students during meals and facilitate transportation needs (e.g., before and after-school coordination, field trips).
• Operate motor vehicles for escorting or transporting students (e.g., medical trips, field trips, educational or occupational activities).
• Carry out teacher-provided lesson plans in the teacher’s absence to continue regularly scheduled instruction.
• Assist in the preparation and creation of lesson plans, including assembling instructional materials, setting up classrooms, taking attendance, grading, and setting up accessible equipment.
• Prepare and create instructional media for classroom use and operate equipment (e.g., smart devices, braille notes, audio/visual equipment) and software (e.g., Duxbury, Tactile View).
• Edit audio/video materials and assist in the development of visual lessons and maintenance of equipment.
• Under the guidance of the classroom teacher, assist in preparation for IEP meetings by compiling data and feedback (e.g., completing detailed documentation, logs, and assessments).
• Participate in conferences, student evaluation sessions, and interdisciplinary meetings.
• Perform clerical tasks associated with educational duties (e.g., translating, typing, duplicating lesson plans, maintaining student records, distributing classroom materials).

Trainee Responsibilities

• Receive training and mentoring from teachers to assist in academic instruction and daily living skills for students who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, and/or have multiple disabilities.
• Tutor and conduct group or individual lessons using prescribed information by the teacher.
• Counsel students to provide for educational, emotional, physical, or personal needs.
• Monitor students for discipline and compliance with established rules.
• Escort students to and from classes, field trips, meals, and transportation.
• Perform clerical tasks (e.g., keeping attendance, student records, typing correspondence, distributing supplies).
• Prepare and create instructional media and operate classroom equipment and software.
• Attend in-service training sessions, meetings, case conferences, and student evaluations.

Requirements

• Must possess a current Educational Aide Permit as issued by the State Board of Education.
• 12 months of experience in teaching assistance (for Instructional Aide).
• Intermediate level on the Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI) required upon hire for positions at the Ohio School for the Deaf.

Training and Development

• Renewal of Educational Aide Permit in accordance with State Board of Education rules and regulations.
• Certification in CPR and first aid to be obtained within 1 year from the date of hire.
• If transporting students, appropriate van certification is required.
• For positions assigned to the Ohio School for the Deaf, must demonstrate Advanced level on the Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI) within 1 year from the date of hire.
• Instructional Aide Trainees who successfully obtain required training and certifications within the probationary period will automatically be reassigned to Instructional Aide.

Unusual Working Conditions

• May work evenings and/or weekends.
• May work outside exposed to weather.
• May be exposed to aggressive and/or unpredictable behavior, human waste, and infectious diseases.

Pay

Instructional Aide: $21.83 per hour
Instructional Aide Trainee: $21.02 per hour

Schedule

Full-time