PROGRAM ASST,ESE,CENTER SITES,C

Orange County Public Schools•Pine Hills, FL

23h

About The Position

The Program Assistant provides staff support to students with disabilities under the direction of one or more Exceptional Student Education (ESE) teachers or a supervisor. The role may be assigned to an ESE school program or to one or more general education classes. Depending on the functional program assignment, the assistant monitors student behavior, conducts hearing screenings, maintains records and reports, provides instruction and assistance, and communicates with parents and staff. The assistant works with students individually and in groups as directed and performs related duties as assigned. The position also supports program administration and instruction, helps maintain a safe learning environment, and may assist with curriculum implementation, student progress evaluation, recruitment, job placement, and transition activities. Duties vary according to the assigned program.

Requirements

Associate’s degree or higher, or at least 60 semester hours from an accredited institution of higher education; official transcripts are required to validate education.
At least three years of progressively knowledgeable and responsible experience.
May require experience working directly with students with significant disabilities and/or severe behavioral disorders.
Demonstrated administrative support skills.
Ability to communicate program goals and objectives effectively.
Must be highly qualified before starting employment with Orange County Public Schools. Passing a third-party paraprofessional certification exam, such as the ParaPro Assessment, may substitute for the education requirement.
Ability to evaluate, audit, deduce, or assess data using established criteria and select alternatives based on the evaluation.
Ability to apply principles of leadership, persuasion, or influence.
Ability to operate modern office and computer equipment and related peripherals.
Ability to use reference, descriptive, and advisory information.
Ability to perform basic arithmetic; depending on program assignment, may need to calculate decimals and percentages.
Ability to exercise independent judgment, decisiveness, and creativity in evaluating information and resolving problems.
Ability to exert very moderate physical effort, including stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and potentially lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling objects weighing 12–20 pounds.
Most tasks require visual perception and discrimination; some require oral communication and the ability to perceive and discriminate sounds.

Responsibilities

Respond to internal and external customers in a timely, accurate, courteous, and empathetic manner, representing OCPS positively.
Provide assistance and support in the assigned functional program.
Respond professionally to school crisis situations when needed and assist in reestablishing a safe learning environment.
Perform administrative support duties, such as maintaining attendance and student records, printing and distributing reports, scoring examinations, filing materials, and answering telephone inquiries.
Monitor student activities and behavior to support students’ physical and environmental safety and appropriate conduct.
Assist teachers or supervisors with developing and implementing program curricula, including vocational or technical training, examination administration, environmental study, and behavior modification.
Maintain and properly store equipment, supplies, and materials used in the assigned program.
Explain, demonstrate, and teach program content to students; reinforce skills according to individual needs or supervisor direction.
Perform recruitment activities as applicable, including outreach to employers, parents, community agencies, community resources, and potential student participants.
Assess exceptional students’ skills and employability to identify job-placement potential; assist with job-placement coordination and transition.
Assist teachers or supervisors in checking and objectively evaluating student performance or progress, and teach students individually and in groups in accordance with instructional guidelines.
Assist with district-level programs in the ESE department.
Establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships with district administrators, school staff, students, parents, community agencies, and community employers, as applicable.
Keep current with job-appropriate technology used by OCPS and attend district-supported training to maintain required technology skills.
Maintain timely and accurate information as part of job responsibilities.
Perform related duties as directed.