Special Education Teaching Assistant - Emerson Elementary School (.50 FTE)

About the role

Position: Special Education Teaching Assistant. Reports to: Classroom Teacher/ Building Principal. Summary of Position: The Special Education Aide assists teachers in meeting the needs of special education students. The primary focus is to assist and enhance the educational process of students with disabilities in both instructional and non‑instructional activities.

Responsibilities

• Assist with providing a variety of activities for a balanced program of instruction, giving students opportunity to observe, question and investigate.
• Reinforce information and instructions following a lesson.
• Works with students individually or in small groups in academic studies, basic life skills and other assigned instruction.
• Implements behavior modification plans and procedures designed for individual students when necessary.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding students.
• Maintain positive relationships with all students, school staff and parents.
• Observes and records student's progress.
• Assists individual or groups of students during activities including recess, lunch and getting children safely on and off bus.
• Assist with hygiene and toileting activities which might include transferring and lifting students.
• Sanitize classroom and equipment using approved materials.

Requirements

• Ability to work effectively with children.
• Ability to function within the framework of the school environment.
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills.
• Working knowledge of computers and basic programs.
• Working knowledge of child guidance principles and practices.
• Working knowledge of behavior management and positive reinforcement.
• Working knowledge of classroom procedures and appropriate conduct.
• Working knowledge of basic record keeping methods.
• Physical Ability: While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl and run. The employee will experience occasional lifting and/or moving up to 100 lbs, such as lifting a child from the floor. The employee must be able to push/pull items up to 80 lbs., such as children in wheelchairs.
• Work Environment: Hazards – potential exposure to communicable disease and contact with blood and other body fluids; potential exposure to physical injury from aggressive behavior.

Qualifications

Licensure: The State of Illinois requires Special Education Teaching Assistants to have one of the following:

• Current Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL)
• Current Illinois Substitute Teaching License
• Current Illinois Educator License with Stipulations Endorsed‑Paraprofessional Educator (if you do not already hold a Teaching/Substitute License):
• Associate degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution; OR
• 60 semester hours of coursework from a regionally accredited institution; OR
• High school diploma, or equivalent + 480 or higher on the ETS Parapro test; OR
• High school diploma, or equivalent + 4 or higher on the ACT WorkKeys Applied Math and Workplace Documents
• Current Illinois Short Term Approval (STA) – Paraprofessional: