Aide - Special Ed - Life Skills
Waxahachie ISD•Waxahachie, TX
About The Position
Provide special education students with learning activities and experiences designed to support their intellectual, emotional, physical, and social growth. Develop or modify curricula and prepare lessons and instructional materials suited to students’ ability levels. Work in a self-contained, team, departmental, or itinerant capacity as assigned. The position is assigned to a campus, reports to the Principal, and follows the Teacher Pay Scale and Teacher Pay Schedule.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university.
- Valid Texas teaching certificate with required special education endorsements for the assignment.
- Knowledge of the special needs of students in the assigned area.
- Knowledge of the Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) Committee process and Individual Education Plan (IEP) goal-setting and implementation.
- Knowledge of adapting curriculum and instruction for students with special needs.
- Effective communication skills.
- Student teaching, an approved internship, or related work experience.
Responsibilities
- Develop and implement lesson plans for in-person, distance, and virtual learning that meet district curriculum requirements and document preparation.
- Prepare lessons that accommodate individual student differences.
- Collaborate with students, parents, and staff to develop each assigned student’s IEP through the ARD Committee process.
- Implement instructional, therapeutic, or skill-development programs for assigned students and document preparation.
- Assess student learning styles and use instructional strategies, activities, materials, and equipment suited to students’ learning styles and needs.
- Present subject matter according to IEP guidelines and use varied instructional techniques, media, and technology.
- Work with classroom teachers to modify regular curricula and assist students with assignments in regular classes.
- Participate regularly in ARD Committee meetings and in selecting books, equipment, and other instructional media.
- Assess student achievement through ongoing formal and informal testing.
- Provide or supervise personal care, medical care, and feeding as specified in student IEPs.
- Assume assigned extracurricular responsibilities and sponsor outside activities approved by the campus principal.
- Consult district and outside resource personnel about students’ educational, social, medical, and personal needs.
- Create in-person and virtual classroom environments conducive to learning and appropriate to students’ development.
- Manage student behavior and administer discipline, including crisis intervention and physical restraint when necessary according to IEPs.
- Consult with classroom teachers about behavior management according to IEPs.
- Take necessary and reasonable precautions to protect students, equipment, materials, and facilities.
- Plan and assign the work of instructional aides and volunteers and oversee its completion.
- Be available by phone, email, or video conference to confer with district personnel, students, and parents.
- Maintain professional relationships and open communication with parents, students, colleagues, and community members, including through conferences.
- Participate in staff development activities to improve job-related skills.
- Stay informed of and comply with federal, state, district, and school regulations and policies for special education teachers.
- Compile, maintain, and file required physical and computerized reports, records, and documents.
- Attend and participate in faculty meetings and serve on staff committees as required.
- Follow district safety protocols and emergency procedures.
- Perform other duties assigned by the supervisor or administrators that are consistent with the position’s general requirements and qualifications.
