Primary Purpose:

Help meet physical and instructional needs of individual students with disabilities inside and outside classroom. Assist with the implementation of Individual Education Plans (IEP), including self-help, behavior management, and instruction programs. Work under general supervision of principal and immediate direction of certified teacher.

Qualifications:

Education/Certification:

High school diploma or GED

Valid Texas educational aide certificate

Special Knowledge/Skills:

Ability to work with children with disabilities

Ability to follow verbal and written instructions

Ability to communicate effectively

Knowledge of general office equipment

Experience:

Some experience working with children

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

Instructional Support

1. Help teacher prepare instructional materials and classroom displays.
2. Help maintain a neat and orderly classroom.
3. Help with inventory, care, and maintenance of equipment.
4. Help teacher keep administrative records and prepare required reports.
5. Provide orientation and assistance to substitute teachers.

Student Management

1. Help meet the individual needs of students, including transferring them to and from wheelchairs, lifting and positioning them, and signing or interpreting instructions for them, etc.
2. Help students take care of physical needs and personal care including feeding, bathroom needs, and personal hygiene.
3. Help manage the behavior of assigned students. This includes intervening in crisis situations and restraining disruptive or dangerous student behavior as needed.
4. Assume responsibility for learning and adapting to each student’s special medical, physical, communicative, and emotional needs.
5. Work with assigned students or small groups to develop motor skills and conduct instructional exercises assigned by teacher.
6. Assist assigned students throughout school day, inside and outside classroom. This includes lunchroom, bus, and playground duty.
7. Keep teacher informed of special needs or problems of assigned students.

 Other

8. Maintain confidentiality.
9. Participate in professional development programs, faculty meetings, and special events as assigned.
10. Other duties as assigned.

 Supervisory Responsibilities:

None.

 Equipment Used:

Wheelchair lift, ramp and other specialized and adaptive equipment used by students.

Posture: Frequent standing; kneeling/squatting, bending/stooping, pushing/pulling, and twisting.

Motion: Frequent walking and reaching.

Lifting: Frequent light lifting and carrying (less than 15 pounds); Occasional heavy lifting (45 pounds or over) and positioning or students with physical disabilities, controlling behavior through physical restraint, assisting nonambulatory students, and lifting and moving adaptive and other classroom equipment.

Working Conditions:

Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors:

Maintain emotional control under stress. Frequent standing, stooping, bending, kneeling, pushing, and pulling; regular heavy lifting of students; biological exposure to bacteria and communicable diseases.