Special Education Instructional Assistant - Cross Categorical Resource

Wake County Public School System•Wake Forest, NC

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Provides support and assists in coordinating instructional programs for special education students and their Individual Education Plans (IEPs). Monitors programs for students with disabilities, maintains confidentiality, and complies with federal, state, and local laws, regulations, guidelines, and procedures applicable to the district’s special education program. Helps maintain an environment conducive to learning. The position is based at a school site in an elementary, middle, or high school and operates in a classroom environment. The role supports teachers with instruction, behavioral intervention plans, classroom planning and organization, preparation of lesson materials, student transitions, and the use of assistive technology and augmentative communication devices. It also supports students’ safety, progress toward independence, and individualized health, mobility, feeding, personal-care, and behavioral needs. The role may include additional one-on-one responsibilities and specialized training for an assistant assigned to a student with severe to profound learning disabilities.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
For assignment to a Title I school, meet ESSA employment requirements and have either six documented semester hours of early childhood education coursework or two years of work experience in an early childhood setting.
Maintain Crisis Prevention and Intervention (CPI) certification through the required renewal process and timelines; WCPSS will provide CPI training if needed.
Knowledge of Microsoft Office, specifically Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and Google Apps.
Working knowledge of successful instructional delivery methods and general classroom activities and routines.
Ability to protect personally identifiable information in accordance with FERPA and applicable laws, policies, and regulations.
Ability to work in a team and collaborate effectively.
Ability to motivate students and constantly monitor and supervise their safety and well-being.
Ability to recognize and support students with varied backgrounds, abilities, exceptionalities, behavioral needs, and learning styles.
Ability to communicate clearly and concisely orally and in writing using a variety of communication methods and tools.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with school system staff, students, parents, businesses, community agencies, and the public.

Nice To Haves

CPR and First Aid certification.
Experience working with or assisting individuals with special needs, including physical, emotional, behavioral, or learning disabilities or impairments requiring additional or specialized services or accommodations.

Responsibilities

Support teachers in coordinating special education instructional programs, including becoming familiar with students’ IEPs, and help ensure an encouraging, caring, safe, and healthful environment.
Assist teachers with strategies for implementing students’ behavioral intervention plans.
Help teachers plan and organize instruction, evaluate instructional activities, develop classroom procedures, and prepare materials according to lesson-plan needs.
Demonstrate the professional and technical skills needed to function effectively in the classroom and support student achievement and the school program.
Maintain a positive disposition, exercise good judgment, and remain calm when working with students.
Provide in-class support while promoting students’ progress toward independence and self-determination.
Assist with classroom use of low- and high-tech assistive technology and augmentative communication devices to address class-wide and individual student needs.
Compile, maintain, and file required reports, records, and documents while maintaining confidentiality.
Participate in district staff development and continued professional growth in the area of assignment.
Coordinate and facilitate student transitions between classes.
Assist students with special health-care needs, including personal hygiene and restroom functions, diapering, mobility, lifting, positioning or transfers, seizure control, feeding, adaptive equipment, behavioral support, and CPI skills.
Perform other related duties as assigned.
For SATA assignments only, serve as a one-on-one instructional assistant to a student with severe to profound learning disabilities and attend and successfully complete specialized training determined by the student’s IEP.