Special Education Aide Specialized Support Alternate Level 3 (SSALT3)

About the role

Help meet the physical and instructional needs of individual students with disabilities inside and outside the classroom, assist with implementation of Individual Education Plans (IEPs), and work under the supervision of a principal and certified teacher while adhering to federal and state laws and district policies.

Responsibilities

• Supervise students throughout the school day, including lunchroom, bus, and playground duty.
• Assist teacher with instructional material preparation, behavioral interventions, and physical needs of student(s).
• Participate in staff development training and implement learned strategies into the curriculum.
• Work with individual students, small groups, and whole class as assigned by teacher.
• Assist students with severe developmental and communication delays, lack of social interaction, and behavioral concerns to implement modifications and master individual instructional goals.
• Reinforce skills and units of instruction taught by the teacher.
• Adhere to guidelines established in the student's IEP under teacher supervision, including documentation of services provided.
• Help manage behavior of assigned student(s), including intervening in crisis situations and restraining disruptive and dangerous students as needed.
• Assist with testing measurement instruments and technology integration into the curriculum.
• Incorporate social and emotional learning, behavioral strategies, and social skills development daily.
• Assist teacher with filing, copying, inventory, maintenance of equipment, and maintain responsibility for billing for Student Health and Related Services (SHARS) as required.
• Assist students and teacher in the use of augmentative communication and/or adaptive/assistive devices as appropriate.
• Help meet individual needs of student(s) including transferring to/from wheelchairs, lifting and positioning, interpreting instructions, and assisting with physical needs and personal care (feeding, bathroom needs, diaper changing, personal hygiene).
• Provide orientation and assistance to substitutes.
• Meet with teachers, administrators, and SPED support staff to evaluate and assist with student progress.
• Attendance at the work site is required to meet essential functions of the job.
• Virtual and online duties (as assigned): assist in creation and participation in a virtual classroom environment conducive to learning; be available by phone, email, or video conferencing during regular school business hours to confer with district stakeholders.
• Participate in professional development activities as required by the district.
• Follow established safety procedures to perform job duties; support district/department goals.
• Maintain a professional code of ethics and perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• High school diploma/GED or higher; forty‑eight (48) semester hours from an accredited college or university.
• Experience working with students and parents.
• Must possess or be eligible to obtain a paraprofessional certificate issued by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC).
• Acquire certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and Heimlich maneuver, and Non‑Violent Crisis Intervention (NCI) within the district’s training calendar.
• Familiarity with and ability to use Occupational Therapy/Physical Therapy (OT/PT) apparatus.
• Ability to communicate, listen, read, write, and comprehend English sufficiently for daily communication.

Requirements

• Ability to assist in lifting/carrying students with disabilities in excess of 50 to 175 lbs., depending on age level; pushing/pulling wheelchair/walker; assisting with personal hygiene.
• Possess ability, skill, patience, and understanding to work with students who have disabilities.
• Frequent bending, reaching, standing, kneeling, squatting.
• Subject to the district's drug and alcohol screening policy and regulation.
• Paraprofessional Level 205; length of assignment – 187 days.