Instructional Assistant - Special Education II 1:1, Sycamore Canyon TK Pos#30031578

Santee School District•Santee, CA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the direction of a school administrator, this role assists a certificated teacher in presenting and reinforcing training and instruction in a special education program for students with emotional disturbances or severe disabilities. The assistant works with individual and small groups of students with emotional disturbances, or moderate to severe mental and/or physical handicaps, reinforcing instructions as directed by the teacher. This position also performs routine instructional support and clerical duties. Incumbents in this classification assist a certificated teacher in providing instruction to students who are emotionally disturbed or moderate to severely handicapped and require special instruction, care, and attention, including medically fragile students in various programs.

Requirements

Possession of a First Aid/CPR Certificate issued by an authorized agency.
NCLB Certification required in one of three ways: 1) Possession of an Associates Degree (AA); 2) Completion of 48 college semester units (official transcripts required); or 3) Completion and passage of the District-approved NCLB proficiency test.
Graduation from high school and one year experience as an Instructional Assistant in working with handicapped children in an organized setting.
Willingness to be trained in one or more crisis intervention strategies (for programs for SED students).

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of basic principles of child guidance and child development.
Knowledge of effective methods of working with students who have special needs and learning disabilities.
Knowledge of behavior management and motivation techniques.
Knowledge of basic arithmetical concepts.
Knowledge of correct grammar and spelling.
Knowledge of general purposes and goals of public education, particularly related to exceptional students.
Knowledge of effective interpersonal and communication skills.
Knowledge of record keeping techniques.
Knowledge of operation of physical therapy and medical treatment equipment.
Knowledge of proper handling techniques of hazardous materials.
Knowledge of bus rules and regulations.
Ability to assist a certificated teacher in teaching varying degrees of basic academics and basic living skills to handicapped students with special needs and learning disabilities in resource programs, special day classes or general education classrooms.
Ability to perform specialized health care procedures, monitor seizure activity and attend to basic health needs, following training and under the direction of medical personnel.
Ability to tutor individual and small groups of students, reinforcing instruction as directed by the teacher in academic, domestic, vocational, community and recreational skills.
Ability to relate effectively to students with special needs including physical and learning disabilities and emotional problems.
Ability to assist students with social, hygiene and prevocational skills.
Ability to work patiently and tactfully with students.
Ability to remain calm during emergency situations.
Ability to understand and apply rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
Ability to maintain confidentiality of student information.
Ability to perform routine clerical tasks and use instructional support equipment including computers.
Ability to learn basic teaching, supervision, and behavior management techniques and methods.
Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
Ability to learn nonviolent crisis intervention as assigned.
Ability to listen to students carefully to assist them in learning and resolving problems and to provide teachers with helpful information.
Ability to lead the students through follow-up activities to reinforce the teacher’s lessons.

Responsibilities

Assist teacher in providing instruction in whole class, small group and/or individual student settings as directed by teacher (instruction can be in academic, technology, behavioral, social and/or functional skills development areas.)
Communicate with teachers regarding student progress and conduct.
Support and maintain discipline programs in the class and in outside-classroom settings in the presence or absence of a teacher.
Assist in preparation and inventory of classroom materials, record-keeping tasks, and bulletinboard/display tasks.
Assist with bus boarding and departing.
Assist with preparing, serving and feeding meals and instructing during meals.
Administer first aid and remain informed of medical needs or problems of students.
Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
Assist in keeping facilities neat, clean and safe.
Assist teacher and students in using audio-visual and adaptive equipment.
Perform specialized health care procedures after training and under the monitoring of the school district nurse.
Diaper, change, and assist with toileting of students.
Lift non-ambulatory students and assist with transfers.
Provide safety restraint for students when behavior presents a dangerous situation to student or others (following appropriate training).
Provide activity and practice for OT/PT goals after training and under the guidance of OTR or Physical Therapist.
Work with and around hazardous materials.
Perform related duties as assigned.