Special Education Assistant CCA - Paraprofessional

About the Role

Under direct supervision, the incumbent provides assistance to teachers in a diverse classroom environment. This includes supporting special education students with materials, handouts, and individual or group projects, demonstrating skills and techniques, communicating with parents, and assisting with lesson plans and daily activities. Additionally, the role involves monitoring students on the playground and in the cafeteria.

Responsibilities

• Works with special education students individually or in groups on projects or assignments focused on academic, social, emotional, functional, language, and behavior skills, as well as activities of daily living.
• Demonstrates skills and techniques to aid in student learning.
• Monitors student behavior and enforces school and classroom standards and policies.
• Assists special needs students with feeding, toileting/diapering, physical activities, instructions, and behavior management to create a positive environment.
• Assists with adaptive equipment.
• Maintains discipline by monitoring behavior, issuing warnings, and documenting incidents.
• Prepares incident documents, including disciplinary actions and reports for unusual incidents.
• Monitors students and ensures safety on the playground and in the cafeteria before school, during breakfast and lunch, and during recess; reports incidents or injuries to administration.
• Accompanies students to various areas (library, playground, cafeteria, buses) to ensure orderly behavior.
• Prepares classrooms for activities, including setting up tables and chairs, distributing materials, and cleaning up afterward.
• Communicates with parents regarding student progress, concerns, and behavioral or academic improvements; interprets communications between teachers and parents when necessary.
• Copies and prepares educational materials.
• Assists teachers in planning and coordinating lesson plans by providing student feedback and sharing ideas.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• 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; must pass prior to being hired).
• Must receive CPR certification within thirty days of hire date.
• Obtain and maintain a valid Arizona Identity Verified Prints (IVP) Fingerprint Clearance Card (AZ IVP FPCC).

Preferred Qualifications

• Six months of experience working with children in a learning environment.

Skills

• Demonstrating child development theories.
• Knowledge of basic mathematical concepts.
• Familiarity with typical classroom activities.
• Experience working with children and understanding their special needs.
• Demonstrating appropriate techniques and procedures for student support.
• Facilitating group activities in a learning environment.
• Reviewing completed work assignments.
• Preparing classrooms for various activities.
• Reading and following lesson plans.
• Applying school rules, policies, and procedures.
• Engaging and encouraging communication with supervisors, staff, students, and parents.

Physical Requirements

• Regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.
• Frequently required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Occasionally required to climb or balance.
• Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Working Conditions

• Occasionally exposed to outdoor weather conditions.
• Moderate noise level in the work environment.