About The Position
The Instructional Assistant - Special Education II assists, under the direct supervision of certified teachers and specialists, with monitoring and instruction of special education students while implementing Individual Education Plans. The role supports students with academic, daily living, and health care activities and relieves teachers of routine clerical tasks. Work may take place in resource rooms, inclusion settings, or self-contained classrooms, in close collaboration with special education teachers, general education staff, therapists, and administrators. Student needs, schedules, behaviors, and support plans may vary each day. This position is full-time at 35 hours per week, with a 9.25-month work calendar. The base hourly rate is $19.89. Sick leave, holidays, retirement matched through the Arizona State Retirement System, health insurance, and life insurance are offered. Annual performance pay is available. New hires may receive 1% of the base hourly rate for each verified year of like experience beyond the requirement, up to ten years, and 1% for an associate degree or higher if the degree is not required for the position.
Requirements
- Associate degree or 60 college credit hours at the time of hire, or passing the ParaPro Test provided by the district free of charge.
- Previous experience and a record of effectiveness in similar roles.
- Ability and willingness to work with special education students who may need specialized instruction to meet academic, social, and behavior goals.
- Ability to work well with students, staff, and parents, with good verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to work well in stressful situations.
- Computer proficiency, including basic software applications such as Word and Excel.
- Ability to operate standard office equipment.
- Ability to organize and prioritize and follow classroom guidelines set by the classroom teacher.
- Ability to stand, walk, sit, bend, and kneel frequently throughout the day.
- May need to lift or assist students, commonly 25–50 pounds and sometimes more, including transfers to and from wheelchairs, standing frames, or other equipment.
Responsibilities
- Deliver classroom work or homework under teacher direction and reinforce classroom objectives through tutoring and guided practice.
- Assist with developing instructional materials and maintaining the classroom.
- Collect data on academic and behavior goals as instructed.
- Implement positive behavior intervention plans for students who display challenging behaviors, including verbal and physical aggression.
- Respond to problem behaviors according to the student's positive behavior intervention plan and district crisis intervention policy.
- Provide support tasks according to district procedures and student needs, including behavior management for elopement, district-identified behavior management strategies (A.S.P.E.N.), physical interventions when a student is a danger to self or others, transfers and lifts, tube feeding, diapering, seizure intervention, and aerosol-generating procedures.
- Assist students with personal care needs related to severe medical conditions or physical limitations, including toileting, feeding, dressing, and suctioning.
- Accompany students as they transition across campus.
- Monitor individual students and small groups in classrooms and on playgrounds to maintain a safe, positive learning environment and facilitate peer interactions.
- Maintain classroom and student equipment to ensure a safe environment.
- Model professional, safe, responsible, and respectful behavior.
- Perform general clerical tasks, including maintaining student files and providing classroom materials.
- Participate in meetings to share information and improve skills or knowledge.
- Maintain regular and on-time attendance.
- Perform other related duties as assigned to support the effective functioning of the work unit and Mesa Public Schools.
Benefits
- Sick leave
- Holidays
- Retirement matched through the Arizona State Retirement System
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Annual performance pay is available
- New hires may receive an experience-based hourly rate increase for verified like experience beyond the requirement
- New hires may receive an education-based hourly rate increase for an associate degree or higher if not required for the position
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Associate degree
