Paraprofessional - Autism Assistant

About the role

Under direct supervision, incumbent(s) provides assistance to teachers in a classroom environment by providing materials and handouts to students, working with students individually or in groups on special projects or assignments, demonstrating skills and techniques, communicating with parents regarding specific concerns, providing input to lesson plans and daily activities, photocopying materials and preparing classrooms for various activities. In addition, incumbent(s) monitors students on the playground and in the cafeteria.

Responsibilities

• Works with students individually or in groups on special projects or assignments including spelling, reading, mathematics, comprehension levels and memorization of emergency information.
• Demonstrates skills and techniques in order to aid in student learning.
• Maintains discipline by monitoring student behavior and enforces school and classroom standards and policies.
• Makes sure students are safe on the playground and in the cafeteria area before school, during breakfast and lunch, and during recess.
• Reports any unusual incidents or injuries to school administration.
• Accompanies students from classrooms to other areas including the library, playground, and cafeteria and to buses to ensure orderly behavior.
• Determines when to give a warning and when a formal notice should be written.
• Prepares incident documents including disciplinary actions and documentation for unusual incidents.
• Maintains discipline by monitoring student behavior and taking the appropriate action.
• Monitors student progress in reading and/or mathematics.
• Copies and prepares educational materials as needed.
• Prepares classrooms for activities including setting up tables and chairs and handing out materials.
• Picks up toys and trash, washes tables and chairs, and rearranges furniture after activities.
• Communicates with parents regarding progress and concerns including improvements in specific academic areas, truancy and behavioral problems.
• Aids in planning and coordinating lesson plans by sharing ideas and providing feedback from the students.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• To be eligible for this position, an applicant must meet the following required qualifications.
• Verification of these required qualifications is necessary.
• High School diploma or equivalent (G.E.D.) prior to being hired, Completion of 60 College Credit Hours, Associate’s Degree from an accredited college or university, or successfully passed an Arizona State approved paraprofessional test (offered by WESD at no cost and must pass prior to being hired, Please contact HR for more information)
• Six months of working with children in a learning environment or related experience;
• Obtain and maintain a valid Arizona Identity Verified Prints (IVP) Fingerprint Clearance Card (AZ IVP FPCC).
• Non-Title 1 Schools (LM and AL)High School diploma or equivalent (G.E.D.) prior to being hired;
• Must receive CPR certification within thirty days of hire date.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficiency in English and target language.
• Valid cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certificate.

Physical Requirements

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear and taste or smell.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Working Conditions

• The working environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.