SPED LSC/DSC Instructional Assistant

Gadsden Independent School District•Sunland Park, NM

About The Position

Under the supervision of a teacher or related staff, the SPED LSC/DSC Instructional Assistant directs and implements activities related to students’ IEPs and helps ensure students’ safety and well-being in special education classes and learning activities. The role supports classroom instruction, student supervision, behavior interventions, and the physical training and personal care of students with disabilities. Applicants must meet NCLB Highly Qualified requirements and qualify through a passing score on an approved educational assistant assessment or the specified college-credit coursework. The position requires a high school diploma or GED, or related experience and training or an equivalent combination. The employee must be capable of lifting children as needed and may need reasonable accommodation to perform essential functions. This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED, or one to three months of related experience and/or training, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Meet one of the listed qualification pathways: pass the ParaPro exam with a score of 457 or pass an approved educational assistant assessment; alternatively, complete 48 semester hours of college credit from an accredited college or university, including the specified coursework.
The college-credit pathway requires 15 semester hours in the listed subject areas: language arts, reading, writing, mathematics, or professional education; the posting specifies coursework in language arts, mathematics, writing, and reading, writing, math readiness, or professional education.
Meet NCLB requirements for Highly Qualified status.
Ability to perform basic arithmetic, compute rate, ratio, and percent, and draw and interpret bar graphs.
Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos; write simple correspondence; and present information effectively in one-on-one and small-group situations.
Ability to apply common-sense understanding to written, oral, or diagrammatic instructions and address problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
Capable of lifting children as needed.
Patience and acceptance of children with special educational needs, and ability to maintain emotional control under stress.
Ability to perform the physical demands of the role, including frequently lifting or moving up to 100 pounds.

Responsibilities

Assist with classroom management routines and classroom activities.
Under teacher supervision, direct IEP-related student activities and prepare the classroom for activities.
Accompany the teacher on home visits as necessary.
Help prepare classroom displays and bulletin boards.
Keep equipment and materials used by students clean and in good condition.
Maintain professional working relationships with employees and students.
Assist with supervision of the playground, cafeteria, classroom, feeding, personal care, bus loading, and other school-related activities.
Participate in in-service activities.
Ride the special education bus as assigned.
Assist with students’ physical training and care, including exercises, transfers into and out of wheelchairs, diaper changes, and bathing, as directed by the IEP, teacher, or related staff.
Assist with monitoring and documenting behavior, implementing behavioral interventions, and caring for students with disabilities as directed by the IEP, teacher, or related staff.
Perform other duties as assigned.