Special Education Assistant - Adult Transition

Starting wage: $21.85 per hour

About the role

The Sun Prairie Area School District is hiring a special education assistant staff to work in our adult transition program, supporting adult learners with disabilities beyond their senior year who require intensive support and instruction in vocational, life, and recreation/leisure skills.

Candidates must hold a valid driving license and be able to transport students in district-owned vehicles. The role involves serving as a job coach, teaching life skills, collaborating with colleagues, and following IEP-driven plans. Candidates must be comfortable working independently at a training site, supporting small groups of students with needs such as bathroom assistance and clothing changes. Additionally, candidates should understand various disabilities, including support for g-tube feedings, eating assistance, hoyer lifting, bathrooming, physical therapy needs, communication devices, and more.

Responsibilities

• Maintains a safe learning atmosphere for students to enable them to meet or surpass their capabilities.
• Supports and facilitates all IEP/504 goals/plans set by IEP/504 Teams and collects related behavioral and academic data.
• Facilitates the inclusion of students in classrooms and the community while promoting acceptance of differences.
• Leads small groups and one-on-one instruction under teacher guidance.
• Facilitates student accommodations on assignments and tests.
• Provides student supervision across all educational environments.
• Follows directives and instructions from special education teachers while making independent decisions to meet student needs.
• Prepares detailed notes, plans, and materials for substitutes when absent.
• Provides basic first aid to students; maintains injury/attendant care logs and keeps certifications current (e.g., bloodborne pathogens, medication administration, CPR, first aid, non-violent crisis intervention, tube feeding, transfers, and lifts).
• Assists with self-care tasks such as feeding, diapering, and toileting; may come in contact with bodily fluids.
• Performs or assists with health procedures like catheterization, tube feedings, diaper changes, and glucose monitoring after training.
• Follows all relevant district policies and procedures, including the District Technology Use Policy.

Requirements

• High school graduate with technical training in special education, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• CPR, non-violent crisis intervention, and first aid certification.
• Must meet one of the following NCLB standards:
  • Completed two years of study at an institution of higher education,
  • Obtained an associate's degree (or higher), or
  • Demonstrated ability to assist in instructing reading, writing, and mathematics through a formal assessment.
• Must possess a valid driver's license.
• Current physical exam on file with the district certifying ability to meet all job qualifications.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit or stand for prolonged periods (up to 90% of an eight-hour day) without back support.
• Ability to perform light to moderate physical work, frequently lifting up to 10–15 pounds without assistance, and up to 50–80 pounds with assistance.
• Ability to freely move throughout the building to keep pace with assigned students in both crisis and non-crisis situations.
• Ability to reach in all directions with full range of motion, bend/stoop, and use hand/eye coordination to assist students as needed.
• Ability to work in an environment with background noise and frequent interruptions while maintaining concentration.
• Ability to assist students with disabilities through lifts, transfers, positioning, and restraint while ensuring personal and student safety.

Skills

• Mathematical ability to add, subtract, multiply, divide, calculate decimals and percentages, and perform basic algebra and geometry.
• Ability to comprehend, interpret, and prepare a variety of documents (e.g., attendance reports, disciplinary reports, test materials, confidential files, health cards, purchase orders) using proper punctuation, grammar, and style.
• Ability to record and deliver information, explain procedures, and follow instructions.
• Effective verbal and written communication with teachers, students, parents, administrators, and the public.
• Ability to use and interpret special education terminology.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize tasks requiring timelines and accuracy.
• Ability to work collaboratively and confidentially as part of a team.
• Ability to learn to use assistive technology devices or software with training.
• Ability to work with physically and verbally aggressive students.