Instructional Associate

Qualifications

Education/Experience: Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree. One year experience in Human Services or Education, preferred. Obtainment of 06 Substitute Teacher Permit after hire, preferred.

Skills/Knowledge

• Demonstrates the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment with internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrates the ability to maintain complete confidentiality.
• Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills, demonstrated by patience, understanding, and congeniality to effectively work with exceptional learning needs students and staff.
• Demonstrates excellent oral and written communication skills to effectively instruct and work with students.
• Demonstrates the ability to organize, plan, and manage job responsibilities in order to complete assignments with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrates the ability to comply with PA Individual Education Plan implementation.
• Demonstrates the ability to understand basic educational terminology regarding students, programs, roles, and instructional activities.
• Demonstrates the ability to prioritize and complete assigned tasks with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Demonstrates the ability to make professional decisions.
• Proficient in the use of technology to communicate with students, parents, staff, and administrators.
• Attends work regularly at assigned work hours subject to lawful leave rights and responsibilities.
• Physical Ability to stand, bend, stoop, sit, lift, reach, and communicate (vision, hearing, and speech) to effectively carry out functions, duties, and responsibilities.
• Ability to independently ambulate in and around work areas.
• Ability to travel to and from assigned work locations without employer support.
• Ability to exhibit appropriate manual dexterity to effectively carry out functions, duties, and responsibilities.
• Ability to conduct a safety restraint protocol which requires: a normal degree of flexibility; the ability to stand, walk, run, and shuffle for at least several minutes; the ability to kneel on one and two knees and then stand up; the ability to bend the trunk at 45 degrees and twist to either side; the ability to grasp firmly and raise hands above the head; the ability to learn and correctly demonstrate multi-step physical skills.

Functions/Duties/Responsibilities

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function/duty/responsibility at acceptable standards. In accordance with both state and/or federal law, reasonable accommodations will be considered upon employee request.
• Essential Assists in teaching responsibilities including but not limited to preparation of instructional & classroom materials, daily attendance recording, and assisting with parent communication systems.
• Works with students individually and in small groups on academic/developmentally-appropriate activities, social interactions, communication, practical life skills, and behavior management to accomplish instructional objectives as assigned by the teacher.
• Aid in the development and implementation of a behavior plan for individual students which focuses on appropriate behaviors necessary for successful adjustment to the daily school routine.
• Provide instruction for students on study skills, behavior management, conflict resolution, anger management, and peer interaction.
• Work with student and educational staff to provide stabilization of the student in the school community and increase student independence.
• Serve as teacher under an emergency permit when needed and if properly certified.
• Maintain classroom activities if teacher is interrupted and/or involved in other program activities.
• Collaborate with teacher and educational staff in regard to student programming and classroom instruction.
• Collects data for Medical Assistance logs and IEP/BIP progress reporting.
• Performs appropriate lifting, positioning, and transferring techniques in accommodating students’ needs.
• Maintains/assists students with all self-help skills such as personal hygiene/toileting/diapering/ changing of clothes/feeding activities.
• Operates computer, assistive technology devices, and other technology and equipment, implements online curriculum resources, and participates in virtual learning platforms with students.
• Aids in keeping inventory and ordering materials from warehousing.
• Escorts and assists students as needed to nurse, therapies, general education classes, and special activities and programs/projects when necessary.
• Aids in making contacts for community-based activities.
• Maintains/assists with outdoor and physical activities and assists bus/van loading and unloading.
• Aids in the implementation of emergency evacuation drills and procedures.
• Contributes to the development and maintenance of an environment that is non-threatening, safe, nurturing, and where students feel respected, accepted, and welcome.