Para AUT-Severe Level I - Special Education

Gwinnett County Public Schools

Qualifications

• Paraprofessional Educator certificate issued by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC)
• High School Diploma or General Education Degree or equivalent
• Passed the Praxis Parapro Assessment (prior to March 1, 2007) or the GACE Parapro Assessment
• In lieu of assessments, 60 semester or 90 quarter hours from a PSC-approved college or university
• Experience in a licensed child care environment (preferred)

Skills

• Knowledge of child development
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite
• Effective interpersonal skills
• Knowledge of office and media equipment
• Ability to act as a representative of Gwinnett County Public Schools

Responsibilities

• Provide support to the instructional program within an assigned classroom, assisting in the supervision, care, and instruction of special needs students in regular education, special education, community settings, and implementing plans for instruction
• Monitor student behavior during non-classroom time and provide information to appropriate school personnel
• Attend Individual Education Program (IEP) meetings
• Adapt classroom activities, assignments, and materials under the direction of the supervising teacher to reinforce IEP goals and objectives, ensuring all special education students can participate in classroom activities
• Administer immediate first aid and medical assistance as instructed by a health care professional (e.g., diapering, tube feeding, colostomy bags, medication)
• Administer tests, homework, and make-up work to support teachers in the classroom
• Assist medically fragile or physically disabled students with personal hygiene (e.g., feeding, brushing teeth, toileting, diapering, transferring to bus from wheelchairs)
• Confer with teachers (special education and/or regular education) regularly to assist in evaluating special education student progress and implementing IEP objectives
• Implement and collect data under the supervision of the assigned teacher, following behavioral plans designed by IEP teams to reinforce learning
• Monitor special education students in various settings (classroom, field trips, community skills, lunchroom, playground, life enrichment activities) to ensure a safe and positive learning environment
• Perform record-keeping and support functions (e.g., data collection, student files, checking papers, attendance, daily logs)
• Provide instruction to students in individual and group activities (e.g., math groups, science experiments, reading, behavioral skills, daily living skills, writing, verbal skills) under the supervision of the assigned teacher to reinforce instructional objectives and implement IEP plans
• Respond to emergency situations (e.g., injured students, fights, behavior problems, abusive students) using physical de-escalation procedures with necessary training
• Apply effective principles and procedures of crisis intervention
• Assist with monitoring duties (hallways, lunchroom, restrooms, bus duty) and ensure appropriate student conduct during these periods
• Escort students to designated activity areas
• Perform other duties as assigned

Physical Demands

• Stand, walk, negotiate stairs, and climb ladders
• Reach with hands and arms, talk, and hear
• Manipulate tools and small items with hands
• Lift and transport up to 50 pounds over short distances
• Operate a motor vehicle in performance of duties
• Specific vision abilities required: close vision, distance vision, and color vision
• Work in a wide range of ambient temperature and humidity conditions, including overhead work and confined spaces
• Potential hazards include working with electricity, heat and noise-producing machinery, elevated equipment, chemicals, and solvents

Reasonable accommodations will be made for individuals with specific disabilities.