Special Education Teaching Assistant

Urbana School District #116 • Urbana, IL

23h • Onsite

About The Position

The Special Education Teaching Assistant works under the direct supervision of the special education teacher and under the broad supervision of the building principal. This role involves providing assistance to students to help them develop independence, carrying out lessons, and supporting students individually or in small groups. The assistant will also adapt academic programming, follow behavioral plans, and help maintain a functional and orderly classroom environment. Additional duties include clerical tasks, preparing materials, playground supervision, and assisting with student transportation. The role emphasizes promoting responsible behavior, appropriate social interactions, and maintaining classroom routines. The assistant may also provide programs for students off school property, record data, and participate in team meetings. They will monitor student needs and behaviors throughout the school day, report unusual behaviors, and maintain confidentiality. A key aspect of the role involves using Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) techniques, including de-escalation and therapeutic restraint, and maintaining certification in this training. The assistant will also provide for the special needs of individual students, including physical, hygienic, medical, and restroom assistance.

Requirements

• Meet all requirements for the position as designated by the ISBE to obtain a Paraprofessional License: 60 hours of college credit or passing scores on a Work Keys Basic Skills test.
• Two years of school-based experience is preferred.
• Highly organized
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills
• Excellent problem-solver
• Should be able to work with students with a history of behavior or learning problems
• Proven to work under pressure and can prioritize multiple tasks
• Become certified in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention training and maintain current certification.

Nice To Haves

• Two years of school-based experience

Responsibilities

• Provide assistance to students to help develop their independence.
• Assist in carrying out lessons to students as arranged by the teacher, including working with students on an individual or small group basis.
• Adapt and accommodate students’ academic programming in general education classes as developed by the special education teacher.
• Follow each student’s individual behavioral plan as well as the classroom behavior management plan.
• Assist the teacher in maintaining a functional, attractive, orderly environment conducive to student learning.
• Assist the special education teacher in clerical tasks, computer work, arts and crafts preparation, playground Supervision, housecleaning duties, and bus loading and unloading.
• Promote and model responsible, respectful, and safe behaviors.
• Promote and model appropriate social interactions with and between students.
• Maintain the classroom routine when the teacher is not present.
• Provide programs for students off School property if requested (e.g., field trips, vocational and aquatic center activities).
• Record and compile data monitoring academic and behavior programming.
• Participate in staff team/collaboration meetings as assigned.
• Perform all other duties and tasks assigned from time to time by the special education teacher as it relates to individual students or the classroom.
• Monitor student needs and behaviors during lunch, going to and from all classes, and at all times.
• Report any unusual student behaviors to the teacher or administrator.
• Maintain strict standards of student and family confidentiality.
• Use appropriate TCI techniques, including de-escalation strategies and therapeutic restraint methods, when students are in danger of harming themselves or others.
• Become certified in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention training and maintain current certification.
• Provide for special needs of individual students, including lifting, hygiene, medical needs, and restroom assistance if necessary.
• Provide other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Salary and Benefit information can be found on the Human Resources webpage.
• Opportunities for employees to earn additional compensation (stipends, differentials, extra duty pay, etc.) during the regular school year and in the summer.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree