Teacher Assistant, Special Education

Loudoun County Public Schools • Sterling, VA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

This role involves providing instructional support, training, and personal assistance to teachers working with students who have physical or intellectual disabilities. The employee will assist the teacher by performing instructional duties, preparing classroom materials, supervising student behavior, learning and applying specific behavior management techniques, performing clerical duties, and assisting with personal hygiene and physical care as needed. This work is done under the guidance and supervision of the teacher.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED
• Experience as a teacher aide or experience working with children
• Ability to work under the supervision of the teacher, including following lesson plans prepared by teachers
• Ability to work effectively with individual children and small groups, meeting the instructional objectives as established by the teacher
• Physical ability to lift, position, and assist students as required
• Ability to accept and adapt to the wide differences in student characteristics and abilities
• Ability to operate standard office equipment, learn to operate video equipment, and learn to perform individual medical procedures when necessary
• Good human relations and communications skills; patience and flexibility
• Must have a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent.
• Must have completed two years of study at an institution of higher education; OR obtained an associate’s (or higher) degree; OR meet a rigorous standard of quality and be able to demonstrate, through a formal state or local academic assessment, knowledge of and the ability to assist in instructing, reading, writing, and mathematics (or, as appropriate, reading readiness, writing, readiness, and mathematics readiness).

Responsibilities

• Collects and records student data such as skill practice, seizure occurrences, and toileting.
• Provides discipline in the absence of the teacher and maintains consistency with procedures established by the teacher.
• Implements behavior modification plans.
• Practices individual speech sounds, vocabulary, and syntax objectives with students as directed by the speech therapist; reads to students and asks questions to stimulate language development; presents language activities involving expressive and receptive areas of development.
• Supervises learning centers during independent student work and assists students in manipulating materials.
• Participates in classroom activities such as discussions and games.
• Operates computer and audiovisual equipment such as DVD, data projector, or smartboards.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED