Instructional Assistant

About the role

To assist 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 professional staff in the administration and correction of classroom exercises, tests and assessments.
• 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 teacher with parent contact as requested to foster effective and participatory parent involvement in student education.
• Assists students in a virtual lab setting to support online learning platforms.

Requirements

• 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.

Additional Duties

• Affixes guidance, pupil services staff or building administration, as needed.
• Performs 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 standard office and school building environments.
• Ability to work outdoors during outdoor student activities.

Minimum Requirements

• Education equivalent to graduation from an accredited high school or General Education Development Certificate (GED).
• Teaching Assistants providing instructional support in programs must meet one of the following:
• Complete at least two years of study at an institution of higher education (60 hours of college credits)
• Possess an Associate’s Degree or higher
• Provide documentation of passing the Paraprofessional Exam

Terms Of Employment

• 185 days per year, 7 hours per day, Monday-Friday, Non-Exempt
• Salary: S6 FMSD Salary Schedule, Salary commensurate with education and experience based on district formula.

Evaluation

• Performance will be evaluated annually in accordance with provisions of the board’s policy on evaluation of non-certificated personnel.