Special Education Aide Specialized Support/Structured Communication (SSC)

Ysleta Independent School District•El Paso, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Special Education Aide Specialized Support/Structured Communication (SSC) helps meet the physical and instructional needs of students with disabilities inside and outside the classroom. The aide assists with implementing Individual Education Plans (IEPs), including self-help, behavior-management, and instructional programs. The position works under the general supervision of the principal and the immediate direction of a certified teacher, and follows applicable federal and state laws and district policies, procedures, and regulations. The aide supports students individually, in small groups, and as part of the whole class. Duties include reinforcing instruction, implementing IEP-guided strategies and modifications, supporting students with developmental and communication delays, and helping students use augmentative communication and adaptive or assistive devices. The aide also assists with students’ personal care and physical needs, including transfers, lifting, positioning, feeding, bathroom needs, diaper changing, and hygiene. The role includes student supervision across school settings, crisis intervention as needed, documentation of services, and related classroom and administrative support. The position also includes participation in staff development, support for virtual classroom activities when assigned, and communication with district stakeholders during regular school business hours. Attendance at the work site is required to perform essential functions. The assignment is 187 days at Paraprofessional Level 205.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED or higher.
Forty-eight hours of coursework from an accredited college or university.
Experience working with students and parents.
Possess or be eligible to obtain a paraprofessional certificate issued by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC).
Obtain certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), the Heimlich maneuver, and Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (NCI) within the available district training calendar.
Familiarity with and ability to use Occupational Therapy/Physical Therapy (OT/PT) apparatus.
Ability to communicate, listen, read, write, and comprehend English sufficiently for daily communication.
Ability, skill, patience, and understanding to work with students who have disabilities.
Ability to assist in lifting and carrying students with disabilities weighing 50 to 175 pounds, depending on age level, and to push or pull wheelchairs and walkers.
Ability to perform frequent bending, reaching, standing, kneeling, and squatting.
Provide transcripts from an accredited college or university as a required application document.
Subject to the district’s drug and alcohol screening policy and regulation.

Responsibilities

Supervise students throughout the school day in classrooms and other settings, including the lunchroom, bus, and playground.
Assist teachers with instructional materials, behavioral interventions, and students’ physical needs.
Participate in staff development and apply learned strategies in the curriculum.
Work with individual students, small groups, and the whole class as assigned by the teacher.
Support students with developmental and communication delays, limited social interaction, and behavioral concerns in implementing modifications and meeting individual instructional goals.
Reinforce skills and instructional units taught by the teacher.
Follow each student’s IEP under the assigned teacher’s supervision and document services provided.
Help manage student behavior, intervene in crisis situations, and restrain disruptive or dangerous students as needed.
Assist with testing instruments and technology integration into the curriculum.
Incorporate social-emotional learning, behavioral strategies, and social-skills development into daily activities.
Assist with filing, copying, inventory, equipment maintenance, and SHARS billing as required.
Assist students and teachers with augmentative communication and adaptive or assistive devices, as appropriate.
Help meet students’ individual needs, including wheelchair transfers, lifting and positioning, interpreting instructions, personal care, feeding, bathroom needs, diaper changing, and hygiene.
Provide orientation and assistance to substitutes.
Meet with teachers, administrators, and special education support staff to evaluate and assist with student progress.
Participate in creating and actively supporting a virtual classroom environment when assigned.
Be available by phone, email, or video conferencing during regular school business hours to confer with district stakeholders as needed.
Participate in required professional development, follow safety procedures, support district and department goals, maintain professional ethics, and perform other assigned duties.
Maintain attendance at the work site as required to perform essential job functions.