Ed Para,Intensive Disab,C (Ese)

Orange County Public Schools • Apopka, FL

1d

About The Position

Under direct supervision, this position assists 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 position includes supporting students’ learning and development, behavioral and medical needs, mobility, personal care, and participation in school activities. Related duties may be assigned as directed.

The employee may assist with lesson and behavior intervention plans, accommodations, instructional materials, and progress-monitoring data. Work may also include supervision in school areas and on buses, assisting teachers in labs, and helping students understand lesson plans and other information. Employees must keep job-related information accurate and current, stay up to date with relevant OCPS technology, and attend district-supported technology training as needed.

All new hires must complete ESE Training within 45 days of hire. The role requires the ability to meet the physical and dexterity requirements of the work and effectively attend to school-age children with special needs. Tasks may involve very heavy physical effort, lifting or moving objects up to 100 pounds and occasionally heavier items, and exposure to adverse conditions such as violence when working with severely disabled or emotionally disturbed children. Reasonable accommodations are available to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

Requirements

• Associate degree or higher, or at least 60 semester hours from an accredited institution of higher education; an official transcript is required to validate education.
• Passing the paraprofessional certification exam may substitute for the educational requirement for highly qualified status.
• Must meet highly qualified status 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 that provides broad familiarity with the physical and emotional behaviors and challenges of children with severe disabilities; additional education may substitute for experience year for year.
• Must complete ESE Training within 45 days of hire.
• Ability to fulfill the dexterity and physical requirements of the work and effectively attend to the needs of school-age children.
• Strong stress-management skills.
• Ability to assist with specialized therapeutic or physical care plans and procedures.
• Ability to operate, maneuver, or control special-needs equipment and devices.

Nice To Haves

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

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 help students develop problem-solving skills.
• Assist with behavior interventions, including monitoring and charting student behaviors.
• Apply crisis-intervention principles when students display aggressive behavior and may require physical restraint.
• Assist students arriving by bus, escort them to and from learning areas, help 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 learning-environment rules, encourage appropriate behavior, and identify inappropriate behavior using a positive-support approach.
• Provide one-on-one assistance during meals, restroom visits, and other activities throughout the school day.
• 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, job skills, and leisure skills, as appropriate to each student's 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.
• Help collect and report data for progress monitoring, progress reports, and IEP development and review.
• Perform assigned monitoring duties in areas such as hallways, lunchrooms, restrooms, and buses, and escort students to designated activities.
• When assigned to labs, assist teachers and provide instruction or information to students; translate lesson plans or other information when needed to support student understanding.
• Keep current with job-appropriate OCPS technology and attend district-supported training as needed.
• Maintain timely and accurate job-related information.
• Respond to internal and external customers in a timely, accurate, courteous, and empathetic manner, representing OCPS positively.
• Perform related duties as directed.

What This Job Offers

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