EC Teacher Assistant @ Pleasant Ridge Gifted and Talented Academy

GASTON COUNTY SCHOOLS•Gastonia, NC

16h•Onsite

About The Position

The employee provides support to students who have health, behavioral, or instructional needs to meet Individual Education Plan (IEP) goals and have success in the general curriculum. This role may involve duties in behavior support, client-specific care, pre-kindergarten classes, visually impaired classes, as a job coach, or as a substitute bus driver, depending on the specific needs advertised for the vacancy. The position requires a high school diploma and either a minimum of 48 semester hours from a regionally accredited college/university or an Associate's degree to meet highly qualified (HQ) designation under federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB). Willingness to obtain a CDL may be required if advertised as part of the duties. The employee must also pass a health exam, criminal records check, and drug test, and may be subject to random drug testing as a safety-sensitive position. Additional background checks and fingerprints are required for positions working with preschool children.

Requirements

Has regular attendance
Is punctual
Demonstrates a positive, can-do attitude
Demonstrates a strong work ethic
Able to follow school policies and procedures
Has a positive rapport with students
Has positive rapport with employees
Exhibits excellent computer skills
Excellent record-keeping abilities
Has strong oral and written communication skills with all audiences
Impeccable ethical behaviors
Provides appropriate behavior management techniques
Maintains confidentiality
Serves as a positive role model for students and colleagues
Positively supports the school and its programs
Uses time wisely
Willingly participates in professional learning related to the whole school and assigned duties, as offered in alignment with Teacher Assistant Calendar
Seeks duties beyond the regular assignment
Accepts and acknowledges diversity
Clearly understands and implements role differences between the teacher and teacher assistant
Understands the growth and development of the school’s students
Provides a positive atmosphere
Successfully operates office equipment
Completes tasks on a timely basis
Eagerly accepts other duties as assigned
Demonstrates knowledge of the stages of child development.
Communicates effectively to develop positive relationships with school personnel and students.
Must be able to care for child(ren) with disabilities involving lifting and supporting the student; attending to physical, personal, and medical needs.
Will assist in moving students around the campus.
Will have the ability to perform student-specific health-related duties such as assisting students in the classroom, bathroom, and lunchroom on an as-needed basis.
Will meet the student when he/she arrives in the morning and remain with the student until the student’s school day ends on an as-needed basis.
Will ride the bus with the student as needed.
Will accompany and monitor students on field trips.
Will have knowledge of the developmental stages of child development.
Will monitor the behavior and work habits of the student and will keep consistent data.
Will have the ability to communicate and work with the assigned student.
Will have the ability to work in the classroom(s) of their assigned student or other disabled students.
Must meet Pre-K Teacher Assistant qualifications as defined by the NC Pre-K Program Requirements, State of North Carolina.
Accompanies one or more blind students throughout the school day, providing necessary assistance and ensuring safety.
Obtains Braille books and materials for students, and ensures that they have the materials needed for each class.
Reads information on the board to students; describes activities going on in the classroom or at assemblies.
Work with students with visual impairments to review skills introduced by the teacher for the visually impaired.
Work with small groups of students with visual impairments to assist with introducing new lessons and/or reinforcing skills.
Be willing to travel between schools to work with students or deliver materials.
Assist in preparing materials that are specific to students who are blind or visually impaired.
Assist the teachers for the visually impaired in conducting functional vision assessments and learning media assessments.
Under close supervision assist in the acquisition of job skills and job development, as well as monitor the on-the-job performance of students with disabilities.
Assist the classroom teacher in planning, organizing, and implementing the instructional program.
Provide support for clerical, technical, and general classroom functions.
Work to resolve obstacles to student work performance, e.g., social interaction conflicts, transportation issues, and changes in job expectations.
Participate in Transition Team Meetings for the purpose of providing information on student progress toward IEP transition goals.
Conduct data collection (evaluations, hours, etc.) as the student develops job skills, moves to indirect monitoring while role-modeling employee behaviors.
Work to resolve obstacles to student work performance, e.g., social interaction conflicts, transportation issues, and changes in job expectations.
Transport students during regular school hours, as required, via the school system transportation program.
Adheres to all components of the Bus Driver Agreement.
Follows all parts of the Bus Driver Handbook.
Eagerly accepts special driving assignments.
Completes all bus reports accurately as assigned.
Performs specific student duties related to health, behavior, and instruction, including but not limited to: assistance in the bathroom, cafeteria, and classroom.
Works with individuals or groups on any task assigned.
Actively participates in the teaching process, and modifies instruction/tasks when appropriate.
Prepares a variety of classroom materials, and operates the machines necessary for material preparation.
Reports collected data to appropriate individuals, including administrators, teachers, parents, and other related service providers.
Ensures appropriate interventions are monitored and maintained.
Participates in staff development and training to gain knowledge of health, behavioral, or instructional procedures specific to the assigned students.
Accompanies assigned students on all field trips.
Monitors assigned students during extracurricular events as assigned.
Accompanies assigned students on the bus as needed.
Participates in school functions.
Demonstrates knowledge of the stages of child development; communicates effectively; and develops positive relationships with assigned students.
Demonstrates an ability to organize assignments, and materials, and assist the professional(s) in the classroom as required.
Demonstrates ability to use sound judgment and confidentiality in approaching and working with sensitive and challenging students and situations, and the resulting information.
General knowledge of activities performed by the lead teacher.
General knowledge of daily routines of the classroom.
General knowledge of student handbook rules.
General knowledge of procedures to follow in the event of an emergency.
General knowledge of methods of adapting instruction, equipment, and tools for children with special needs.
General knowledge of the principles of organization and administration.
Some knowledge of the curriculum for the grade.
Ability to constantly monitor the safety and well-being of students, particularly when a student is participating in an inclusive activity.
Ability to motivate students.
Ability to maintain a clean and orderly environment.
Ability to perform general clerical duties.
Ability to maintain order and discipline in a classroom.
Ability to operate common office machines.
Ability to maintain basic files and records.
Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.
Must be able to use a variety of equipment and classroom tools such as computers, copiers, typewriters, calculators, pencils, scissors, and equipment for children with special needs, etc.
Must be able to exert a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.
Due to the amount of time spent standing and/or walking, physical requirements are consistent with those for Medium/Heavy Work. Must be able to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force to constantly move objects up to 10 pounds.
Must have the auditory, visual, and physical skills necessary to manage students and the classroom in a manner that assures reasonable safety to students under supervision.
High School diploma.
Minimum of 48 semester hours (earned at a Regionally Accredited College/University) or an Associate’s degree; meets highly qualified (HQ) designation under federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB).
Willingness to obtain the CDL, if advertised as part of the duties.

Nice To Haves

May be required to participate in bus driver training and become a licensed Bus Driver. However, depending on the needs of the individually assigned students, may or may not be required to drive a bus.
If your position requires you to work with preschool children, you must meet a federally mandated childcare background check and fingerprints that are in addition to and separate from the background check and fingerprints you completed as a new hire for GCS.

Responsibilities

Provides support to students who have health, behavioral, or instructional needs to meet Individual Education Plan (IEP) goals and have success in the general curriculum.
Participates in staff development and training to gain knowledge of procedures specific to students with behavioral challenges, including Non-Violent Crisis Intervention.
Prepares a variety of materials and operates office equipment necessary for material preparation.
Participates in regularly scheduled Behavior Support Team meetings.
Provides support to the teacher of students who have behavioral needs and require intensive intervention.
Communicates effectively to develop positive relationships with school personnel and students.
Assists teachers of exceptional children in the classroom and non-classroom settings to develop behavior management strategies and behavior intervention plans.
May be required to participate in bus driver training and become a licensed Bus Driver.
Performs specific student behavior-related duties to include, but not limited to, assistance in the bathroom, cafeteria, and classroom based on specific student needs.
Works individually on any task assigned.
Is an active participant in the teaching process.
Models for teachers how to modify instruction/tasks when appropriate.
Models for teachers how to implement strategies for positive behavior support to students with significant behavioral challenges.
Provides data collection on the fidelity of implementation of the behavior intervention plan and the student response to the plan.
Reports collected data to appropriate individuals including administrators, teachers, parents, and other related service providers to ensure appropriate interventions are monitored and maintained.
Must be able to care for child(ren) with disabilities involving lifting and supporting the student; attending to physical, personal, and medical needs.
Assists in moving students around the campus.
Performs student-specific health-related duties such as assisting students in the classroom, bathroom, and lunchroom on an as-needed basis.
Meets the student when he/she arrives in the morning and remains with the student until the student’s school day ends on an as-needed basis.
Rides the bus with the student as needed.
Accompanies and monitors students on field trips.
Monitors the behavior and work habits of the student and keeps consistent data.
Works in the classroom(s) of their assigned student or other disabled students.
Assists teacher with setting up the room for morning activities; greets students; assists students with the placement of belongings; may supervise morning free time.
Supplements the activities of the lead teacher; assists students with activities initiated by the teacher; reinforces learning in small groups; provides one on one individual assistance; supervises centers; participates in activities for children with special needs; assists students with independent projects; listens to students; reads stories.
Constantly monitors the behavior of students and employs strategies as necessary to protect students from injury; rewards good behavior; responds to inappropriate behavior as instructed by the teacher; supervises free time and situations where the classroom teacher is out of the room.
Prepares daily snacks; accompanies students at recess.
May work with special programs in the school, accompany classes on field trips, assist with physical education class, assist with the instruction of emergency procedures, perform lunch, bus, hall duty, etc.
Gives approved medications; assists sick or hurt children; contacts parents, if necessary.
Prepares letters for parents, informing them of classroom activities as directed by supervising teacher or assigned supervisor.
Accompanies students to and from the bus; guides students to their classrooms.
Accompanies students to mainstreamed classrooms and assists as necessary.
Assists students with toileting including diapering, if necessary.
Accompanies one or more blind students throughout the school day, providing necessary assistance and ensuring safety.
Obtains Braille books and materials for students, and ensures that they have the materials needed for each class.
Reads information on the board to students; describes activities going on in the classroom or at assemblies.
Works with students with visual impairments to review skills introduced by the teacher for the visually impaired.
Works with small groups of students with visual impairments to assist with introducing new lessons and/or reinforcing skills.
Be willing to travel between schools to work with students or deliver materials.
Assists in preparing materials that are specific to students who are blind or visually impaired.
Assists the teachers for the visually impaired in conducting functional vision assessments and learning media assessments.
Under close supervision, assists in the acquisition of job skills and job development, as well as monitors the on-the-job performance of students with disabilities.
Assists the classroom teacher in planning, organizing, and implementing the instructional program.
Provides support for clerical, technical, and general classroom functions.
Works to resolve obstacles to student work performance, e.g., social interaction conflicts, transportation issues, and changes in job expectations.
Participates in Transition Team Meetings for the purpose of providing information on student progress toward IEP transition goals.
Conducts data collection (evaluations, hours, etc.) as the student develops job skills, moves to indirect monitoring while role-modeling employee behaviors.
Transports students during regular school hours, as required, via the school system transportation program.
Adheres to all components of the Bus Driver Agreement.
Follows all parts of the Bus Driver Handbook.
Completes all bus reports accurately as assigned.
Works with individuals or groups on any task assigned.
Actively participates in the teaching process, and modifies instruction/tasks when appropriate.
Reports collected data to appropriate individuals, including administrators, teachers, parents, and other related service providers.
Ensures appropriate interventions are monitored and maintained.
Accompanies assigned students on all field trips.
Monitors assigned students during extracurricular events as assigned.
Accompanies assigned students on the bus as needed.
Participates in school functions.
Other duties as assigned.