Special Education Aide (Paraprofessional)

Job Summary

The Special Education Para-Professional performs responsible Para-professional, clerical and human support work assisting in the management and instruction of students with disabilities and has an IEP. The Special Education Para-Professional reports to the Principal and classroom teacher.

Essential Functions

• Affords assistance to teachers with instructional activities including group reading and training, use of materials, library use and testing.
• Assists teachers in devising special strategies for reinforcing learning materials and skills based on a sympathetic understanding of individual students, their needs, interests, and abilities.
• Maintains work, corrects papers, supervises curriculum-based testing and make-up work as assigned by certified staff.
• Performs clerical, classroom maintenance, and instructional duties as assigned by the teacher or Administrator.
• Serves as a resource person to the General Education Teachers.
• Participates in special activities, fire drills and field trips.
• Engages in in-service training programs as assigned.
• Supervises student management and records duties as assigned.
• Provides broad range of assistance and instruction to students with disabilities.
• Sets up and operates audio-visual equipment.
• Performs lunchroom, hall and bus duty as assigned.

Job Specifications (Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities Required)

• Possesses an understanding of empathy for students with disabilities.
• Possesses the ability to assist non-ambulatory students who require wheelchairs and related equipment and to assist other persons in transferring, moving, positioning, and securing students as required or assigned.
• Possesses the ability to communicate with children with special disabilities (deaf, blind, nonverbal, etc.) as required or assigned.
• Possesses physical strength, agility, and dexterity required to restrain students whose behavior is disruptive or dangerous to self or other students.
• Supervises playground activities (for Elementary/Early Childhood).
• Provides special instructions in survival skills and leisure activities.
• Assists with maintaining teaching area and with securing and preparing materials.
• Possesses the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, parents and staff.
• Demonstrates ethical behavior and confidentiality of information about students in school environment and community.
• Must have some knowledge of the instructional goals and the policies of public schools.
• Considerable patience and the ability to work effectively with children and faculty members are essential.
• Must be able to follow written and oral instructions and to perform all required tasks.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Associate's Degree or completion of 60 hours of college credit from an accredited college or university recognized by the Virginia Department of Education or demonstrated knowledge of and the ability to assist in reading, writing and mathematics instruction by achieving a passing score of 455 on the ParaPro Assessment.
• Experience: Minimum of one year working experience as a teacher aide preferred.