ED PARA,INTENSIVE DISAB,C (ESE)

Orange County Public Schools • Azalea Park, FL

2d

About The Position

Under direct supervision, this position provides assistance in the education, care, and development of students with severe disabilities. The employee performs instructional, clerical, and behavioral management duties according to the exceptional needs of assigned students and under the direction of a certified teacher, guidance counselor, or administrator. The role includes supporting students’ learning, behavior, development, medical and social-emotional needs, and daily living activities. Employees may also perform related duties as directed.

Requirements

• Associate’s degree or higher, or at least 60 semester hours from an accredited institution; an official transcript is required to validate education.
• Passing the paraprofessional certification exam may substitute for the education requirement to meet highly qualified status.
• Must be highly qualified before starting employment with Orange County Public Schools.
• At least two years of experience working with exceptional-needs school-age children (Pre-K through grade 12) in an educational environment; additional education may substitute for experience year for year.
• Strong stress-management skills and the ability to meet the dexterity and physical requirements of the work and effectively attend to students’ needs.
• Must successfully complete ESE Training within 45 days of hire.
• Ability to assist with specialized therapeutic or physical care plans and procedures.
• Ability to operate, maneuver, or control special-needs equipment and devices.
• Ability to evaluate information, exercise judgment, and develop approaches to resolve problems.

Nice To Haves

• Previous vocational training or work experience in a licensed child-care environment is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Respond to internal and external customers in a timely, accurate, courteous, and empathetic manner, representing OCPS positively.
• Provide instructional, behavioral, and developmental assistance to students with severe disabilities as directed by a supervising teacher or other certified professional.
• Apply positive behavioral support practices and assist students with problem-solving skills.
• Assist with behavior interventions, including monitoring and charting student behaviors.
• Apply crisis-intervention principles with students who display aggressive behavior and may require physical restraint.
• Assist students arriving by bus, escort them to and from learning areas, help transfer them from wheelchairs, and monitor their medical and social-emotional needs.
• Provide support and follow-up for students with severe disabilities assigned to in-school suspension.
• Reinforce school and classroom rules, encourage appropriate behavior, and identify inappropriate behavior using positive behavioral supports.
• Escort and provide one-on-one assistance during meals, restroom visits, and other school-day activities.
• Assist with gross motor activities, including grasping, holding objects, posture, crawling, walking, and running, as appropriate to each student’s development.
• Assist with fine motor activities, including use of assistive devices and participation in job and leisure skills activities.
• Assist students with daily living skills, including dressing, eating, toileting and diapering, grooming, and personal hygiene.
• Assist teachers with lesson plans, behavior intervention plans, accommodations, learning activities, and instructional materials.
• Assist with collecting and reporting data for progress monitoring, progress reports, and IEP development and review.
• Perform assigned monitoring duties, such as hallway, lunchroom, restroom, and bus duty; support appropriate conduct and escort students to designated activities.
• Assist teachers in various labs and provide instruction or information to students; translate lesson plans or other information when assigned.
• Keep current with technology used by OCPS and attend district-supported training as needed to maintain required skills.
• Maintain timely and accurate job-related information.
• Perform related duties as directed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: Associate degree