Classroom Assistant Primary

Florence School District 1•Florence, SC

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Under regular supervision, performs specialized work by assisting teachers in instructing and directing the activities of students to provide a well-organized, smoothly functioning classroom environment. This role involves assisting students with exercises, preparing materials, reinforcing learned skills, and supporting teachers in various administrative and instructional tasks. The specific duties can vary depending on the educational level, from assisting kindergarteners with reading and basic health needs to providing instructional support in vocational or computer lab settings. The assistant also serves as a liaison between the school and parents, may translate, and helps maintain student records and classroom order.

Requirements

A minimum of 60 college hours from an accredited college or university.
A minimum of two years of consistent training and experience working with children in an education-oriented institution.
Ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable functional, structural or compositional characteristics of data, people or things.
Ability to speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information.
Ability to give assignments and/or directions to subordinates and receive assignments and/or direction from supervisors.
Ability to read a variety of policies and procedures, professional journals, reference materials, etc.
Ability to enter data into the computer and prepare correspondence, narrative and numerical reports, purchase orders, etc., with proper format, punctuation, spelling and grammar, using all parts of speech.
Ability to speak with and before others with poise, voice control and confidence.
Ability to apply principles of logical thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
Ability to deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
Ability to apply influence systems in managing a supervisory/management staff.
Ability to learn and understand relatively complex principles and techniques.
Ability to make independent judgments in absence of supervision.
Ability to acquire knowledge of topics related to primary occupation.
Ability to comprehend and interpret received information.
Ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow and give verbal and written instructions.
Ability to communicate effectively and efficiently with persons of varying educational backgrounds and in a variety of technical and/or professional languages.
Ability to add and subtract totals, to multiply and divide, to determine percentages and decimals, and to determine time.
Ability to use practical applications of fractions, percentages, ratio and proportion.
Ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape, and visually read various information.
Ability to coordinate hands and eyes using office machinery.
Ability to handle a variety of items, keyboards, office equipment, control knobs, buttons, switches, catches, etc.
Minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.
Ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions.
Ability to perform under stress when confronted with emergency situations or tight deadlines.
Ability to talk and hear.
Thorough knowledge of the methods, procedures and policies of the District as they pertain to the performance of duties of the Classroom Assistant.
Knowledge of the laws, ordinances, standards and Florence 1 Schools.
Knowledge of the characteristics of the age group assigned.
Knowledge of basic computer operation if relevant.
Ability to establish and maintain positive relationships and work effectively with adults and children.
Ability to supervise, guide and support students.
Ability to reinforce skills taught by the teacher.
Ability to follow lesson plans provided by the teacher.
Ability to motivate students to participate in educational activities and to want to learn.
Ability to offer guidance and assistance to students, co-workers and employees of other departments as required.
Ability to use independent judgment as needed in performing routine and non-routine tasks.
Ability to take the initiative to complete the duties of the position without the need of direct supervision.
Ability to read and interpret lesson plans, instructions, student records and other materials pertaining to the responsibilities of the job.
Knowledge of how to prepare graded papers, display materials, hand-outs, etc.
Comprehensive knowledge of the terminology and various professional languages used within the department.
Knowledge of how to maintain effective relationships with personnel of other departments, professionals and members of the public through contact and cooperation.
Ability to perform job tasks professionally in an environment where discrimination and other public issues are constant concerns.
Ability to make sound, educated decisions.
Knowledge of how to react calmly and quickly in emergency situations.
Mathematical ability to handle required calculations.
Ability to plan, organize and prioritize daily assignments and work activities.
Good organizational, technical and human relations skills.
Ability to learn and utilize new skills and information to improve job performance and efficiency.
Maintains high standards of accuracy in exercising duties and responsibilities.
Exercises immediate remedial action to correct any quality deficiencies that occur in areas of responsibility.
Maintains high quality communication and interaction with all District departments and divisions, co-workers and the public.
Performs described duties and related assignments efficiently and effectively in order to produce a quantity of work which consistently meets standards and expectations of the District.
Assumes responsibility for completing assigned work.
Completes assigned work within deadlines in accordance with directives, District policy, standards and prescribed procedures.
Remains accountable to assigned responsibilities in the technical, human and conceptual areas.
Attends and remains at work regularly and adheres to District policies and procedures regarding absences and tardiness.
Provides adequate notice to higher management with respect to vacation time and time-off requests.
Maintains an enthusiastic, self-reliant and self-starting approach to meet job responsibilities and accountability.
Strives to anticipate work to be done, and initiates proper and acceptable direction for the completion of work with a minimum of supervision and instruction.
Exercises analytical judgment in areas of responsibility.
Identifies problems or situations as they occur, and specifies decision objectives.
Identifies or assists in identifying alternative solutions to problems or situations.
Implements decisions in accordance with prescribed and effective policies and procedures and with a minimum of errors.
Seeks expert or experienced advice where appropriate and researches problems, situations and alternatives before exercising judgment.
Monitors the activities/behavior of the student body to ensure student safety and well-being.
Accepts supervisory instruction and direction, and strives to meet the goals and objectives of the same.
Questions such as instruction and direction when clarification of results or consequences are justified (i.e., poor communications, variance with District policy or procedures, etc.).
Offers suggestions and recommendations to encourage and improve cooperation between all staff persons and departments within the District.
Shares knowledge with managers, supervisors and staff for mutual and district benefit.
Contributes to maintaining high morale among all District employees.
Develops and maintains cooperative and courteous relationships with department employees, staff and managers in other departments, representatives from organizations, and the public so as to maintain good will toward the District and to project a good district image.
Tactfully and effectively handles requests, suggestions and complaints from other departments and persons in order to maintain good will within the District.
Emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive image within the District.
Interacts effectively with higher management, professionals and the public.
Plans and organizes daily work routine.
Establishes priorities for the completion of work in accordance with sound time-management methodology.
Avoids duplication of effort.
Estimates expected time of completion of elements of work and establishes a personal schedule accordingly.
Attends required meetings, planning sessions and discussions on time.
Implements work activity in accordance with priorities and estimated schedules.
Adheres to all safety and housekeeping standards established by the District and various regulatory agencies.
Sees that standards are not violated.
Maintains a clean and orderly workplace.

Nice To Haves

May require specialized training in conflict resolution and behavior modification.

Responsibilities

Assists students with exercises and the preparation of materials for class activities.
Concentrates efforts with small groups of students and individuals as necessary.
Reinforces all knowledge and skills taught by the classroom teacher.
Administers and grades tests, records grades, substitutes as needed, escorts children to other areas of the school, and monitors student behavior.
Listens to individuals and small groups in reading exercises.
Participates in free play time.
Assists with basic health needs and may accompany individuals to lavatories.
Instructs students in the use of computer programs related to their respective subjects (at high school level).
Provides specific instructional support to CTE teachers and is responsible for assisting groups of students in various curriculum clusters (at vocational level).
Performs the full range of instructional assistant duties and responsibilities combined with applying vocationally specific experience and training to support student learning.
May assist in teaching, correcting and transcribing Braille.
Serves as a liaison between school and parents; translates to parents and students.
May operate computers and provide basic computer instructional assistance to students.
May manage a computer lab, performing duties including enrolling students, maintaining records, operating and ensuring the proper maintenance of computers, troubleshooting computer problems, supervising students, and maintaining a clean and orderly facility.
Creates bulletin board displays in the classroom or department.
Assists in maintaining student records and files, including performing computer data entry.
Prepares transparencies, charts, graphs and duplicated materials for classroom use; operates and cares for audio-visual equipment.
Assists in cleaning and storing of materials after completion of activities.
Supervises students when unloading and loading buses, in the halls, on field trips, during lunch and on school grounds.
Interacts and communicates with various groups and individuals such as the immediate supervisor, teachers, students, parents, co-workers, school administrators, other school/District personnel, etc.
Assists in maintaining a clean and orderly classroom.
Performs related duties as required.