Teacher Associate Sp Ed - EmpowerU

Southeast Polk Community School District•Pleasant Hill, IA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Teacher Associate - EmpowerU works under the supervision of teachers or other licensed personnel, who retain ultimate responsibility for designing and implementing educational and related service programs. The role supports the social, emotional, and intellectual growth of students, contributes to instruction and supervision, and helps maintain safe, orderly learning environments across school and community settings. The position is based at the Alternative Programs Building and involves accompanying students to community locations for internship opportunities. The listed schedule is 7:15 a.m.–3:00 p.m., with a 9:15 a.m.–3:00 p.m. schedule on Wednesdays. Employment is based on need, and hours and days are assigned as needed.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Demonstrated ability to work successfully with the needs of students from Pre-K through grade 12 and beyond.
Experience working in an educational setting.
Ability to work with students with diverse needs.
Successful completion of a physical examination, criminal background check, child abuse registry check, and pre-work screening at the time of hire.
Ability to obtain required training, including certification to administer medication to students, American Heart or Red Cross First Aid/CPR certification, and Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) training.
Ability to stand throughout the workday and to work with interruptions.
Ability to work with students with different personalities, capabilities, and physical and mental limitations.
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds to waist level and carry equipment or supplies weighing up to 25 pounds for 50 feet.
Ability to stand, walk at variable speeds and durations including running, change positions quickly, sit on and rise from the floor and chairs of varying heights, and sustain kneeling, crouching, bending, and leaning postures for up to 40 minutes at a time.
Willingness to come into contact with body fluids, including urine, feces, blood, and nasal secretions, and contagious illnesses such as flu and the common cold.
Ability to use cleaning and sanitizing chemicals with appropriate personal protective equipment.
Ability to work across a broad range of temperatures and humidity, in winter and summer conditions, and in noisy environments.
Physical dexterity in limbs and digits necessary to interact with children in playground and classroom environments.
Appropriate personal appearance and cleanliness for working in close proximity to school-age children and adults.
Outdoor clothing, including coats, boots, gloves, and a hat, as environmental conditions require; appropriate footwear for environments where sharps, chemicals, or body fluids may contact exposed skin.

Nice To Haves

Successful work or volunteer experience with the disabled population.
Supervisory experience with school-age children.
Forty-eight post-secondary credit hours or paraeducator certification from the Iowa Department of Education.

Responsibilities

Assist with small-group and individual student instruction and supervision.
Help maintain a safe and orderly learning environment in classrooms, lunchrooms, playgrounds, on field trips, and in other school settings.
Travel with students to and from community locations for internship opportunities.
Assist with classroom setup and preparation of materials.
Assist students with physical or behavioral needs.
Operate standard school equipment, including computers, copiers, and audiovisual equipment.
Complete assigned clerical tasks and maintain assigned paperwork, including Medicaid and student academic or behavioral data, in a timely manner.
Use standard universal health precautions and follow applicable health and safety practices.
Read and comprehend material at the student's grade level or above.
Build rapport with students and interact with them using positive reinforcement and effective communication.
Communicate effectively with staff and follow teacher directives and students' IEPs.
Help students become part of the class and serve as a positive role model.
Maintain student confidentiality and discuss student needs only with staff who have an educational need to know.
Report to the assigned center as scheduled and follow Kronos clock-in and clock-out rules.
Implement daily activities, including crafts, board games, and individual or group activities.
Maintain a clean, sanitary, orderly, and safe environment and ensure student safety in the building, outdoor play areas, and on field trips.
Follow program policies and procedures and record behavioral incidents, time-outs, problem reports, and accident reports.
Participate in home visits with a teacher when asked.
Assist with preparing, serving, and cleaning up breakfast, lunch, and snacks as needed.
Attend required staff meetings and maintain required professional growth and current training, including Mandatory Reporting, First Aid, and CPR as applicable.
Complete annual Bloodborne Pathogens training.
Carry out other duties and responsibilities assigned by the teacher or principal.