Ed Para,Ex Ed,C

Orange County Public Schools•Orlando, FL

About The Position

Under direct supervision, the purpose of the position is to provide staff support in an educational or child care environment, performing paraprofessional work in assisting teachers and students. Employees in this classification work with certified teachers, occupational therapists, and other certified specialists in the education, care, and development of mentally, physically, emotionally disabled, and other special needs students. Employees at this level provide instructional, vocational, and developmental assistance to trainable and educable exceptional students. Work is performed under the direction of a certified teacher or other school official. Essential functions as outlined herein are performed according to the exceptional needs of assigned students. Performs related work as directed.

Requirements

Associate’s degree or higher; or at least sixty (60) semester hours from an accredited institution of higher education (official transcript required to validate education).
Passing the paraprofessional certification exam can substitute for the educational requirement to meet the highly qualified status.
All applicants for this position must be highly qualified prior to the start of their employment with Orange County Public Schools.
Ability to fulfill the dexterity and physical requirements of the work, and effectively attend to the needs of school age children
Minimum two (2) years working with school age children in an educational environment that provides broad familiarity and understanding of the physical and emotional behaviors and challenges of exceptional needs children; with demonstrated stress management skills.

Nice To Haves

previous vocational training or work experience in a licensed childcare environment preferred.

Responsibilities

Responds to internal and external customers in a timely, accurate, courteous and empathetic manner representing OCPS in a positive light.
Provides instructional, vocational and developmental assistance to mentally, physically, emotionally disabled, and other special needs students, as prescribed by the supervising teacher.
Assists students as they arrive on buses taking them to and from learning areas, to include physically transferring students from wheelchairs to school desks or floor mats for participation in school activities.
Assists students with gross motor activities, such as grasping, holding objects, posture, crawling, walking, and running, as appropriate to individual development.
Assists students with fine motor activities, such as playing with toys, cutting materials, and coloring, as appropriate to individual development.
Assists students with daily living skills, such as dressing, eating, lavatory needs, grooming, and personal hygiene as appropriate to individual development.
Monitors, observes, and charts behavior of students in their exploratory classes and documents behavioral changes, outbursts, and other actions specific to the student.
Applies effective principles and procedures of crisis intervention to students with aggressive behavior or other social difficulties; provides physical restraint as necessary, such as in violent circumstances.
Reinforces rules of the school and learning environment; acknowledges and encourages appropriate behavior and distinguishes inappropriate behavior for the students' understanding.
Assists in the preparation of lesson plans, behavior modification plans, and teacher's pre-planning sessions; provides input and assistance in the development of learning activities; prepares or assists in the preparation of instructional and vocational materials.
Maintains accurate and complete records of student activities and behavior which may require the use of a computer terminal to enter student information and data; completes applicable forms, schedules, and instructional reports, as directed.
Assists teachers in the supervision of learning activities, circulating within the classroom, and providing assistance and learning support to students.
May be assigned monitoring duties, i.e., hallways, lunchroom, restrooms, and bus duty; ensures appropriate student conduct during these periods; escorts students to designated activity areas, i.e., music room, computer room, art classes, assemblies, etc.
May be assigned to various labs provide assistance to teachers and instruction/information to students; may translate lesson plan and other information to students for better understanding and comprehension.
Responsible for keeping up to date on current technology, as job appropriate, being used by OCPS.
With the support of the district, attends training to ensure skill level in various technologies is at the level required to perform in current position.
Responsible for timely and accurate information they maintain as part of their job responsibilities.