Instructional Assistant

Nwoesc•Defiance, OH

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Provides student services consistent with the service center mission and legal requirements. This role involves non-teaching support services as a collaborative member of the educational team, preparing and distributing classroom materials, preparing program equipment for use, keeping program areas orderly, cleaning and maintaining equipment, assisting with classroom records and data collection, and verifying the accuracy of information. The Instructional Assistant provides direct student assistance with daily living activities, behavior management, discrete trial training, instructional support, social skills training, and task redirection. They also assist individuals and small student groups with remedial or enrichment activities, reinforce instructional objectives, support an inclusive educational environment, help students assimilate into the school environment, and implement classroom accommodations as directed by the teacher. The role requires working with program staff to identify effective student assistance strategies and helping students manage the learning environment, including access to activities, assistive technology, augmentative devices, mobility assistance, and instructional/media resources. Encouraging student accountability, active participation, cooperation, punctuality, and dependability is also key. The position requires professionalism, effective communication, problem-solving, time management, and maintaining high ethical standards.

Requirements

Valid state department of education license/permit as determined at the time of appointment.
Meets mandated state/federal criteria (i.e., approved degree, completion of requisite higher education credit hours/courses, or acceptable score on an authorized professional standards test).
Educational aide permit required.
Displays flexibility, reliability, self-discipline and a willingness to take on challenging tasks.
Documents/maintains a record free of criminal violations that prohibit public school employment.
Effective communication, problem-solving and time management skills.
Embodies high ethical standards/integrity.
Accepts responsibility for personal decisions/conduct.
Employees must obtain training and maintain skills to fulfill compliance requirements applicable to the position as required by board policy and state/federal law.

Nice To Haves

BA in education or related field preferred.

Responsibilities

Arrives on time prepared to work and complies with established work schedules.
Performs non-teaching support services as a collaborative member of the educational team.
Prepares and distributes classroom materials.
Prepares program equipment for use (e.g., computers, media resources, etc.).
Keeps program areas orderly and cleans/maintains equipment as directed.
Helps with classroom records and data collection and verifies the accuracy of information as directed.
Provides student assistance with daily living activities, behavior management, discrete trial training, instructional support, social skills training, task redirection, etc., as directed.
Assists individuals and small student groups with remedial or enrichment activities.
Reinforces instructional objectives introduced by the teacher/intervention specialist.
Supports an inclusive educational environment and helps students assimilate into the school environment.
Helps implement classroom accommodations as directed by the teacher.
Works with program staff to identify student assistance strategies most likely to be effective.
Helps students manage the learning environment (e.g., access/proximity to activities, assistive technology, augmentative devices, mobility assistance, use of instructional/media resources, etc.).
Encourages student accountability, active participation, cooperation, punctuality, dependability, etc.
Attends to student concerns discreetly when assistance is requested.
Assists students with personal care as trained by a health care professional.
Assists with non-classroom activities (e.g., arrival/departure, lunch, recess, field trips, etc.).
Exemplifies professionalism to enhance NwOESC and member district public images.
Diligently attends to job details and pursues quality work results.
Performs all aspects of the job.
Develops mutually respectful relationships with co-workers and functions as part of a cohesive team.
Maintains an acceptable attendance record and provides prompt notice of delays or absences.
Maintains a professional appearance and wears work attire appropriate for the position.
Respects privacy and resolutely maintains the confidentiality of privileged information.
Works effectively with minimal supervision and performs tasks efficiently to meet deadlines.
Maintains open and effective communications and serves as a reliable information resource.
Prepares and maintains accurate records and submits required paperwork on time.
Refers administrative procedure and policy questions to an appropriate administrator.
Seeks clarification when directives are unclear and resolves issues tactfully.
Uses active listening and problem-solving techniques and respects diversity.
Pursues opportunities to enhance personal performance.
Keeps current with professional standards associated with work duties and updates personal skills as needed to effectively utilize task-appropriate technology.
Keeps current with emergency management plan procedures.
Protects program property and takes precautions to prevent the loss of equipment and supplies.
Takes action to address harassment and/or aggressive behavior.
Complies with all legal statutes when dealing with discrimination, inappropriate behavior or suspected child abuse/neglect.
Upholds high standards for proper conduct and implements effective pupil management procedures.
Uses positive behavioral support techniques to address disruptive student behavior.
Performs other specific job-related duties as directed.
Helps implement workplace initiatives to advance organizational goals.