Substitute - Bus Assistant

Bethel School District 403•Spanaway, WA

130d•$20•Onsite

About The Position

This position's responsibilities are to assist a special education bus driver in the loading, unloading and safe transportation of students having special physical needs or behavior disorders. The Bus Assistant will assist special education students in boarding and departing from the bus, properly securing them in their seats, and securing wheelchairs and other support devices. They will maintain a high level of rapport with students and parents, and a high level of safety and health awareness when transporting students. This includes observing students for seizures, disruptive or dangerous behavior, personal hygiene, and various medical and physical conditions, while maintaining confidentiality. The Bus Assistant works as a team with the bus driver, responding jointly to medical, behavioral, physical, accident, and evacuation emergencies. They will operate a variety of lifts, wheelchairs, tie-downs, harnesses, and emergency ramps. Additionally, the role involves assisting in cleaning and sanitizing the bus, applying cleaning compounds as necessary to clean, remove, and disinfect spillages of blood, vomit, and bodily wastes. The Bus Assistant creates a positive atmosphere for students, maintains current knowledge and skills in special needs students, equipment, and emergency procedures, and assists new and substitute drivers in finding routes and student locations. Other functions include assisting the driver in various capacities as requested, potentially serving on district committees or departmental work teams, modeling appropriate and cooperative behavior, and performing related duties consistent with the scope and intent of the position.

Requirements

Skill in oral communication.
Knowledge of district's streets, highways and boundaries.
Ability to diffuse situations and resolve conflicts.
Skill in managing concurrent situations and problems.
Skill in dealing with crisis situations.
Ability to deal with students in a warm and confident manner.
Ability to remain flexible to changes in assignments or situations.
Ability to coordinate student needs with parents and district staff.
Ability to work with special needs students individually or in groups.
Knowledge of a variety of physical and behavioral disabilities.
Ability to operate special needs equipment such as wheelchairs, lifts, harnesses and restraints.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, parents and students.
Requires fingerprinting and background check to determine that there have been no convictions involving physical molestation, abuse, injury or neglect of a minor.
Must complete training in and adhere to district infection control plan.
Requires hepatitis-B immunization.
Valid CPR and first aid certification required.

Nice To Haves

Experience with special needs students preferred.

Responsibilities

Assists special education students in boarding and departing from bus; secures them properly in their seats; secures wheelchairs and other support devices.
Maintains a high level of rapport with students and parents.
Maintains a high level of safety and health awareness when transporting students; observes students for seizures, disruptive or dangerous behavior, personal hygiene and a variety of medical and physical conditions; maintains confidentiality of student conditions.
Works together as a team with the bus driver; responds jointly to medical, behavioral, physical, accident and evacuation emergencies as necessary.
Operates a variety of lifts, wheelchairs, tie-downs, harnesses and emergency ramps.
Assists in cleaning and sanitizing the bus. Applies cleaning compound as necessary to clean, remove and disinfect spillages of blood, vomit, bodily wastes, etc.
Creates a positive atmosphere for students.
Maintains current knowledge and skills in the field of special needs students, equipment and emergency procedures.
Assists new and substitute drivers in finding routes and student locations.
Assists driver in a variety of functions as requested.
May serve on various district committees and/or departmental work teams. Models appropriate and cooperative behavior, including protecting confidential information, consistent with district ethical guidelines.
Performs related duties consistent with the scope and intent of the position.