Special Education Assistant - EDP

About the role

Under direct supervision, incumbent(s) provides assistance to teachers in a diverse classroom environment by providing materials and handouts to special education students, working with special needs 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 special education students individually or in-groups on special projects or assignments such as academic, social, emotional, functional, language, and behavior skills and activities of daily living.
• 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.
• Aids in student behavior management that remediates severe academic, emotional, and behavioral difficulties into a positive environment.
• Assists with adaptive equipment.
• Maintains discipline by monitoring student behavior and enforces school and classroom standards and policies.
• Monitors and analyzes reading and/or mathematics instructional assessment data, utilizing disaggregated student achievement data to plan and deliver instruction.
• Prepares incident documents including disciplinary actions and documentation for unusual incidents.
• Makes sure students are safe on the playground and the cafeteria area before school, during breakfast and lunch, and during recess.
• Reports any unusual incidents or injury to school administration.
• Accompanies students from classrooms to other areas including the library, playground, and cafeteria and to buses to ensure orderly behavior.
• Prepares classrooms for activities including setting up tables and chairs and handing out materials.
• Performs clean up after activities including picking up toys and trash, washing tables and chairs and rearranging furniture.
• Communicates with parents regarding progress and concerns including improvements in specific academic areas, truancy and behavioral problems.
• Interprets communications between teachers and parents when necessary.
• Copies and prepares educational materials.
• Aids in planning and coordinating lesson plans by sharing ideas and providing feedback from the students.
• Performs other duties as required.

Requirements

• To be eligible for this position, an applicant must meet the following required qualifications.
• Verification of these required qualifications is necessary.
• A high school diploma or equivalent (G.E.D.) 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).
• All Title I Schools 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 a Arizona State approved paraprofessional test; offered by WESD at no cost and must pass prior to being hired, Please contact HR for more information.
• Must receive CPR certification within thirty days of hire date.

Preferred Qualifications

• Six months experience working with children in a learning environment.
• Knowledge of child development theories.
• Knowledge of basic mathematical concepts.
• Ability to use typical activities within a classroom environment.
• Ability to work with children.
• Knowledge of special needs of students.
• Ability to demonstrate appropriate techniques and procedures.
• Ability to facilitate group activities in a learning environment.
• Ability to review completed work assignments.
• Ability to prepare classroom for various activities.
• Ability to read and follow lesson plans.
• Ability to apply school rules, policies and procedures.
• Ability to engage and encourage communication skills while interacting with supervisors, staff, students, etc. to exchange information.

Physical Requirements

• Occasionally lifts and/or moves up to 50 pounds.
• Regularly exposed to outdoor weather conditions.
• Frequent exposure to moderate noise levels.

Working Conditions

• Occasionally exposed to outdoor weather conditions.
• Frequent exposure to moderate noise levels.