Special Education Instructional Assistant

Portsmouth Public Schools•Portsmouth, VA

About The Position

Performs responsible human support and paraprofessional work assisting classroom teachers by working with individual special needs students or small groups; does related work as required. Work is performed under the regular supervision of assigned teachers, therapist or pathologist. ESSENTIAL DUTIES : Assisting teacher or other professional to achieve instructional objectives; assisting special population students with achieving established goals, with personal care and mobility; preparing and maintaining files and records. Assists classroom teacher in performing specific duties as assigned or undertaking specialized tasks to achieve and enhance instructional objectives; Maintains various records and files, keeps confidential files, test scores and related records; Works with individuals or small groups to reinforce material introduced by teacher; Provides programmed practice activities and repetitions; Prepares various reports, sets up counseling sessions, conducts orientation sessions; Verifies student records and grades for scholarships and awards; prepares honor roll; Assists with large group activities; Escorts students to special classes and therapy; Guides independent study and other work assigned by teacher; Advises teacher on student problems; Assists students with handicaps, assists with loading and unloading buses; Assists with breakfast, lunch, snack, clean- up, lavatory, clothing, personal hygiene, and wash- up routines; Participates in in- service training programs as assigned; Performs special assistance duties reading to tape, preparing narratives from dictation; Performs related tasks as required.

Requirements

General knowledge of the practices, methods and techniques used in the teaching of special education population
Ability to maintain confidential files and information and to compile reports
Ability to deal effectively with special students and teachers
Skill in the use of classroom and instructional equipment
Ability to operate audio visual, standard office, word and data processing equipment
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with teachers, parents, students and the general public
Applicants must be highly qualified as mandated by the No Child Left Behind Act
Applicants must possess either of the following: an associates degree or 48 semester credit hours (2 years) at an accredited college or university, or have successfully passed the Para Pro exam (score of at least 455)
Background investigation
Tuberculin skin test or screening results

Responsibilities

Assisting teacher or other professional to achieve instructional objectives
Assisting special population students with achieving established goals, with personal care and mobility
Preparing and maintaining files and records
Assists classroom teacher in performing specific duties as assigned or undertaking specialized tasks to achieve and enhance instructional objectives
Maintains various records and files, keeps confidential files, test scores and related records
Works with individuals or small groups to reinforce material introduced by teacher
Provides programmed practice activities and repetitions
Prepares various reports, sets up counseling sessions, conducts orientation sessions
Verifies student records and grades for scholarships and awards
Prepares honor roll
Assists with large group activities
Escorts students to special classes and therapy
Guides independent study and other work assigned by teacher
Advises teacher on student problems
Assists students with handicaps, assists with loading and unloading buses
Assists with breakfast, lunch, snack, clean- up, lavatory, clothing, personal hygiene, and wash- up routines
Participates in in- service training programs as assigned
Performs special assistance duties reading to tape, preparing narratives from dictation
Performs related tasks as required