Instructional Assistant

About the role

Under the direct supervision of a certified staff member, this position assists certified professional staff with students in the classroom to meet instructional goals and objectives, and to free certified professional employees from non-professional duties such as proctoring study halls.

Responsibilities

• Assists and guides students to reinforce reading, language arts, mathematics, computer instruction, and other skills.
• Works with students individually and in small groups to reinforce basic learning and implement assigned programs.
• Affixes with professional staff in the administration and correction of classroom exercises, tests and assessments.
• Affixes with classroom preparations and strategies for reinforcing instructional materials and skills according to individual student needs.
• Affixes with record-keeping procedures to document student learning and performance.
• Affixes with classroom behavioral management to minimize disruptions, ensure a safe and orderly classroom, and ensure students are on task.
• Affixes with students in non-instructional areas, such as supervising the student lunch programs, bus duty, playground duty, corridor, study hall, and other related non-instructional areas.
• Accompanies students on field trips for the purpose of assisting with supervision.
• Constructs, copies and distributes and uses educational materials as needed.
• Affixes with parents as requested to foster effective and participatory parent involvement in student education.
• Affixes with students with special needs in all aspects of classroom instruction to maximize inclusion, learning, achievement if IEP objectives, etc.
• Participates in IEP process and serves as resource for the student personnel evaluation team as needed.
• Affixes with students with physical or mental disabilities with activities of daily living for the purpose of maximizing their ability to participate in school or learning activities.
• Follows all applicable safety rules, procedures and regulations governing the proper manner of assistance for all students, including those with disabilities or other special needs.
• May occasionally be required to support student behavior by engaging in appropriate restraint or seclusion techniques - for student safety only.

Additional Duties

• Assist guidance, pupil services staff or building administration, as needed.
• Perform any other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Ability to carry out instructions furnished in written or oral form.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide, and perform arithmetic operations as needed to assist students.
• Ability to understand, apply and use personal computers and software applications (e.g., Word, Excel).
• Ability to work with a diverse group of individuals.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of information regarding students, employees and others.
• Ability to establish a supportive and compassionate relationship with students with special needs.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with students, staff and others contacted in the course of work.
• Ability to report work orally or in writing to supervisor as required.
• Effective writing and verbal communication skills.

Physical and Mental Demands, Work Hazards

• Works in a public school environment.
• Must be capable of safely traversing all assigned areas of the school facility.
• Must be capable of safely lifting up to 30 pounds.
• Ability to work outdoors during outdoor student activities.
• Ability to physically assist students complying with emergency evacuation or lockdown procedures.
• May occasionally be required to support student behavior by engaging in appropriate restraint or seclusion techniques - for student safety only.