Ex Ed Educational Assistant - IDS

Hamilton County Schools•Chattanooga, TN

12h•Onsite

About The Position

This classification provides teaching support and services under the direction of a licensed special education teacher. The role involves implementing Individual Education Programs (IEPs) for students with disabilities in general or special education classrooms, either one-on-one, in small groups, or through specialized services. The position is at Lookout Valley Middle/High, a 6-12 community school in Chattanooga, TN, known for its supportive and family-like staff. The school seeks dedicated teachers who excel at building student relationships, are excellent team members, and are willing to go the extra mile.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Possess one of the following before reporting to work: (1) 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours; (2) an Associate’s degree or higher; (3) passing score on PRAXIS for ParaPro Exam; (4) passing score on HCS equivalent educational assistant assessment; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.
Basic technology skills required.
Completed TCIS training or the ability to complete TCIS training within first 60 days of employment.
Ability to learn and implement a variety of teaching strategies.
Proficient in verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to work collaboratively with students who have a variety of disabilities.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with students with mild to moderate disabilities in a school setting preferred.

Responsibilities

Train in or be willing to be trained in nonviolent crisis intervention techniques.
Competently use verbal and nonverbal techniques to prevent or de-escalate students when acting out behaviors occur.
Incorporate consistent patterns of assertive communications, including delivering a three-part statement of empathy, verbalizing conflict behavior, and communicating a rectifying statement when behavioral conflict is apparent.
Maintain a group during emergencies or when a teacher must be away from the group.
Provide educational assistance to students with disabilities.
Assist in preparing, modifying, and utilizing instructional materials to meet individual needs of students.
Assist with development and implementation of Individual Education Programs (IEPs) for each student.
Assist with data collection and progress monitoring of student’s physical, communication, social/emotional, and educational levels of development.
Use special educational strategies and techniques to address students’ academic needs.
Provide physical assistance, including but not limited to toileting, positioning, lifting, carrying, feeding, personal hygiene, or other assistance as determined by specific student needs, to any student with disabilities based on a student’s Individual Education Program.
Oversee, monitor, or cover classes during the short-term absence of the teacher.
Assist teacher and work with students during various class activities.
Prepare instructional materials for classroom use.
Assist with instructional and assistive technology.
Assist with data collection and progress monitoring used to evaluate student performance and skill levels.
Follow established procedures for ensuring students are safe.
Perform clerical tasks in support of teaching activities, office operations, and/or other school functions.
Respond appropriately to students’ inappropriate behavior(s).
Be willing to be trained as needed and maintain certification in non-violent positive behavioral interventions and support methods to respond to, diffuse, de-escalate, and control aggressive behavior utilizing physical restraint as appropriate.
Assist students and model appropriate social and professional behaviors during community experience or work-based learning.
Chaperone students on field trips occurring during the regular school day only.
Hold and attend regular parental conferences.
Develop and implement transition programming for students age 14 plus.
Work in collaboration with related service providers for students with communication disorders to teach and implement specialized communication systems.
Provide general physical assistance to students with various disabilities, including assisting students with toileting/feeding/other self-help and behavioral needs.
Participate in training programs related to delivery of IEPs or curriculum.
Maintain all required special education records, ensuring that they are complete, accurate and within all timelines.
Perform tasks requiring reading, handwriting, numeracy, oral and written communication skills, and the use of various equipment and technology in support of teacher responsibilities to assure compliance under the IDEA and to implement student IEP’s.
Demonstrate basic sign language acquisition, communication facilitation competencies, and Brailing skills as needed.
Communicate with supervisors, school officials, teachers, students, parents, vendors, the community, and other individuals as needed to coordinate work activities under the direction of administration or special education teacher/supervisor.
Attend staff meetings, parent meetings, IEP-Team meetings, or other meetings as required.
Perform other responsibilities such as lifting, transferring, and positioning students with physical support needs; appropriate use of assistive technology; feeding/oral-motor interventions; signing; Brailing instructional materials; augmentative systems; etc.
Comply with applicable district, state, and federal codes, laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures.
Adhere to the Teacher Code of Ethics as defined by Tennessee Law.
Act in a professional, respectful, and welcoming manner at all times.
Create a customer-focused climate and provide quality services and support to schools, community, businesses, Superintendent of Schools, Board of Education, and other stakeholders.
Work collaboratively with all stakeholders.
Follow established procedures to ensure assigned areas are safe.
Maintain confidentiality.
Attend work and arrive to work on time.
Perform other related duties as assigned.