Instructional Assistant

About the role

The Instructional Assistant supports teachers, students, staff, and administration to ensure all students meet academic learning gains. The primary responsibility is providing direct instructional assistance to students of limited English proficiency while maintaining all company policies and procedures regarding English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).

Responsibilities

• Enroll students in the regular school program or in the ESOL Program based on which Home Language Survey questions are answered "Yes".
• Ensure Language Proficiency Tests are administered and scores are documented at specified times.
• Notify student's teacher(s) of ESOL status, provide proficiency test results, and share helpful educational background information.
• Ensure parents are notified and invited to participate at specified times.
• Ensure students are enrolled with eligible teachers and parents are informed of placement.
• Collect required data for each student's plan and perform data entry into the computer.
• Access prior school records to assist in developing the English Language Learner Plan.
• Ensure an ELL Plan is developed for each student determined to be an English Language Learner.
• Review student progress and identify students who may be ready to exit the ESOL Program.
• Assess and properly document limited English Proficiency if not exited within three years to ensure funding eligibility for fourth, fifth, and/or sixth years.
• Review progress of former English Language Learner students and refer those consistently under-performing to the ELL Committee.
• Assist with communication between school and parents of ELL students.
• Observe confidentiality of students and student records at all times.
• Maintain documentation, records, files, and reports of ELLs in compliance with district/state guidelines.
• Provide home language tutorial assistance in basic subject areas under teacher's or Assistant Principal's direction.
• Collaborate with teachers, staff, and building administrators to fulfill the school's mission and ensure orderly daily operations inside and outside of classrooms.
• Perform clerical duties including copying, filing, displaying student work, and answering telephones during instructional sessions.
• Assist with arrival and dismissal procedures during each session.
• Assist with attendance procedures including collection of student signatures, verification of attendance data, and making attendance calls.
• Assist in all initiatives to ensure school meets defined FTE enrollment and attendance goals.
• Assist in delivery of the orientation process as needed.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree required.
• Previous experience working with over-age and adult learners, or ability to do so.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Written and oral proficiency in a language other than English.
• Sensitivity to the special needs of language-minority students.
• Interest in and respect for a variety of cultures.
• Experience in customer service preferred.
• Ability to foster positive behavioral models to young adults.
• Ability to work independently as well as a member of a team.
• In schools with 15 or more students who speak the same language, the paraprofessional must be a speaker of that language.