Ed Para,Intensive Disab,Nc,Nt I (Ese)

Orange County Public Schools • Apopka, FL

5d

About The Position

Under direct supervision, provides assistance in the education, care, and development of students with severe disabilities. The position includes instructional, clerical, and behavioral management duties, performed under the direction of a certified teacher, guidance counselor, or administrator and according to the exceptional needs of assigned students. Related work may be assigned as directed.

The role provides instructional, behavioral, developmental, therapeutic, and physical-care support; assists with student transportation within school areas, personal care, daily living and motor skills, learning activities, and behavior interventions; and supports teachers with lesson materials, behavior plans, accommodations, progress monitoring, and IEP-related data. Assignments may also include student monitoring in school spaces and at activities, and assistance in labs or with lesson comprehension.

Employees are expected to keep current with job-related technology and attend district-supported training as needed. New hires must successfully complete ESE Training within 45 days of hire. The work may involve very heavy physical effort, including lifting or moving heavy items, and regular exposure to adverse conditions such as violence when working with severely disabled or emotionally disturbed children. The district will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• At least two years of experience working with exceptional-needs school-age children (Pre-K through grade 12) in an educational environment, providing broad familiarity with and understanding of the physical and emotional behaviors and challenges of severely disabled children; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Stress management skills.
• Ability to meet the dexterity and physical requirements of the work and effectively attend to special needs.
• New hires must successfully complete ESE Training within 45 days of hire.
• Ability to assist individuals in carrying out specialized therapeutic or physical-care plans and procedures.
• Ability to operate, maneuver, or control special-needs equipment and devices.
• Ability to exercise judgment and discretion, assess information, and develop approaches to problem resolution.
• Ability to perform very heavy physical work, including lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling heavy objects and materials up to 100 pounds and occasionally more.

Nice To Haves

• A passing score on the Para Assessment, an associate degree, or 60 completed semester credits may qualify candidates for a higher hourly rate in a certified position; evidence must be provided.

Responsibilities

• 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 for students displaying aggressive behavior, including physical restraint when required.
• Assist students arriving on buses, transfer students 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.
• Support gross motor activities such as grasping, posture, crawling, walking, and running, as appropriate to individual development.
• Support fine motor activities, including use of assistive devices, job skills, and leisure skills, as appropriate to individual development.
• Assist with daily living skills, including dressing, eating, lavatory needs and diapering, grooming, and personal hygiene.
• Assist teachers with lesson plans, behavior intervention plans, accommodations, learning activities, and preparation of instructional materials.
• Assist teachers with collecting and reporting data for progress monitoring, progress reports, and IEP development and review.
• Perform assigned monitoring duties in hallways, lunchrooms, restrooms, and on buses; support student conduct and escort students to designated activities.
• Assist teachers and provide instruction or information to students in assigned labs; translate lesson plans or other information when assigned to improve student understanding.
• Keep up to date on job-appropriate technology and attend district-supported training to maintain required technology skills.
• Maintain timely and accurate information as part of job responsibilities.
• Perform related duties as directed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED