Special Education Aide - Functional Life Skills (FLS)

Denton Independent School District • Little Elm, TX

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Special Education Aide – Functional Life Skills (FLS) provides instructional, behavioral, and personal-care support to students with disabilities to promote access to learning and student well-being. Under the direction of teachers and other certified instructional staff, the aide supports instructional activities, behavior plans, individual student needs, classroom operations, student supervision, and daily routines in accordance with documented plans and campus procedures. The position is assigned to a campus and works with students in educational settings.

The role may involve supporting students with physical disabilities, including mobility, transfers, positioning, feeding, toileting, and hygiene. The aide helps maintain a safe, structured, and inclusive learning environment and reports student observations to teachers. The position is nonexempt and scheduled for 187 duty days per school year, with a minimum hourly rate of $17.60.

Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Must meet one of the following education requirements: high school diploma or GED and ability to pass a locally approved paraprofessional academic assessment; completion of 48 semester hours of college credit; or an associate degree or higher.
• Must hold a current Texas Educational Aide certificate issued by the State Board for Educator Certification or be able to obtain one upon hire.
• Experience working with children.
• Ability to work well with children with disabilities.
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions.
• Ability to exercise discretion and sound judgment when handling confidential and sensitive student information.
• Proficient organizational, interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist teachers in preparing instructional materials, learning resources, and classroom displays.
• Maintain a neat, orderly, and safe classroom environment.
• Assist with inventory, care, and routine maintenance of instructional equipment and materials.
• Support teachers with administrative recordkeeping and preparation of required documentation and reports.
• Provide orientation and assistance to substitute teachers.
• Assist students with physical disabilities according to individual needs, including transfers to and from wheelchairs, lifting, positioning, and mobility support.
• Assist students with physical needs and personal care, including feeding, toileting, and personal hygiene.
• Work with individual students or small groups to support motor-skill development and complete teacher-assigned instructional exercises.
• Learn and adapt to each student’s medical, physical, communicative, behavioral, and emotional needs in accordance with documented plans and staff guidance.
• Supervise students throughout the school day in classrooms, hallways, lunchrooms, playgrounds, and during bus duty.
• Support behavior management by assisting with implementation of classroom and campus behavior expectations.
• Intervene in crisis situations and assist with disruptive or unsafe student behavior, including approved physical intervention techniques when required and trained.
• Communicate observations about student needs, concerns, or progress to the teacher in a timely manner.
• Follow district policies, procedures, employee handbook requirements, safety protocols, and emergency procedures.
• Participate in professional development, faculty or department meetings, and assigned special events.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support district and campus goals.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED