Special Education 1:1 Resource Room Teaching Assistant – Elementary

Lake Shore Public Schools • St. Clair Shores, MI

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Lake Shore Public Schools is seeking a dedicated Special Education Teaching Assistant to support students receiving special education services in the resource room at Rodgers Elementary. Under the direct supervision of a certified special education teacher and other appropriate staff, the Teaching Assistant supports students’ academic, behavioral, social-emotional, communication, and functional needs in small-group and individual settings throughout the school day. The position is approximately 7 hours per day. The Teaching Assistant works as part of the school and special education team, supporting students in the resource room and, as directed by certified staff, in general education classrooms and other school settings.

Student assignments and responsibilities may be modified based upon student needs, enrollment, IEP requirements, staffing needs, or other District considerations.

Requirements

• Ability to establish supportive, respectful, patient, and professional relationships with elementary students receiving special education services.
• Ability to support individuals and small groups consistently while promoting student independence and avoiding unnecessary reliance on adult assistance.
• Ability to reinforce elementary academic concepts and provide developmentally appropriate instructional support.
• Ability to support classroom routines, transitions, attention, task completion, communication, social interaction, and self-regulation.
• Ability to implement accommodations, modifications, behavioral strategies, communication supports, and other interventions as directed by certified staff.
• Ability to recognize and appropriately respond to student behavioral, social-emotional, communication, functional, and safety needs.
• Ability to provide appropriate prompting, modeling, reinforcement, and redirection while maintaining student dignity and encouraging independence.
• Ability to remain calm, consistent, and supportive when responding to challenging student behaviors or periods of dysregulation.
• Ability to collect and accurately record student performance, behavioral, and progress-monitoring data.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with special education teachers, general education teachers, administrators, related-service providers, and other support staff.
• Ability to carry out written or oral instructions.
• Ability to perform basic arithmetic operations and understand academic content necessary to assist students with elementary-level coursework.
• Ability to understand and use personal computers, educational software, assistive technology, communication systems, and common productivity applications.
• Ability to work effectively with a diverse group of individuals.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding students, employees, and others.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with students, staff, families, and others contacted in the course of work.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to meet the physical requirements of the role, including lifting and/or assisting with transferring students up to 50 lbs, with reasonable accommodations as applicable.

Responsibilities

• Support students receiving special education services in the resource room, individually and in small groups, as directed by the supervising special education teacher.
• Assist students in general education and other school settings, including transitions, lunch, recess, specials, and other school activities, as directed by certified staff.
• Support students’ participation and progress in the general education curriculum and help implement accommodations, modifications, and supports identified in their IEPs.
• Reinforce academic skills, classroom instruction, assignments, routines, and concepts introduced by certified teachers.
• Support classroom routines, task initiation, attention, work completion, organization, and transitions between activities.
• Reinforce strategies that promote independence, communication, self-regulation, problem-solving, and participation in the elementary school environment.
• Use prompting, modeling, redirection, reinforcement, and other appropriate supports to help students remain engaged, regulated, and available for learning.
• Implement instructional, behavioral, social-emotional, communication, and functional strategies as directed by certified teachers and other appropriate professional staff.
• Support student progress toward IEP goals and objectives under the direction of certified special education staff.
• Assist students with transitions between classrooms, activities, arrival, dismissal, lunch, recess, and other portions of the school day while promoting increasing independence.
• Support age-appropriate social skills, peer interactions, communication, and participation in classroom and school activities.
• Use assistive technology, visual supports, schedules, communication systems, educational technology, sensory supports, and other resources appropriate to students’ needs.
• Collect and record student academic, behavioral, participation, communication, independence, and progress data as directed by certified staff.
• Implement behavioral interventions, Positive Behavior Support Plans, safety plans, and other individualized supports when applicable, consistent with training and professional staff direction.
• Recognize signs of student frustration, dysregulation, or distress and use appropriate supports and de-escalation strategies consistent with individual plans and staff direction.
• Promote student independence by providing the least amount of adult assistance necessary for students to access instruction, interact with peers, and participate in school activities.
• Assist with functional, mobility, positioning, personal care, or other student needs when required by a student’s program and consistent with District-provided training.
• Communicate observations and relevant information about student performance, behavior, progress, and needs to the supervising teacher and appropriate professional staff.
• Collaborate with special education and general education teachers, related-service providers, administrators, and other support staff to provide consistent student support.
• Help maintain a safe, respectful, supportive, and productive learning environment.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding student information and records.
• Participate in meetings, professional development, and student-specific training as appropriate.
• Assist with other classroom and student-support responsibilities as directed by certified staff.
• Follow applicable safety rules, procedures, District policies, and regulations governing assistance to students with disabilities or other special needs.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Advanced-degree hourly-rate increases: Associate Degree, +$1.00 per hour; Bachelor’s Degree, +$2.00 per hour; Master’s Degree or higher, +$3.00 per hour.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: No Education Listed