2026-2027 - Instructional Assistant - Special Education Self Contained

Job

Title:

Instructional

Assistant

Position

Code:

Classified

Job

Classification:

Exempt

Supervisor:

Assigned

Administrator

Pay

Grade:

7D/8A

Contract:

190

Days

Position

Overview

Under

the

direction

of

a

certified

teacher,

the

Instructional

Assistant

supervises

and

instructs

individual

and/or

small

groups

of

students

in

any

assigned

location

throughout

the

school

by

implementing

and

modeling

appropriate

behaviors

and

necessary

skills

to

perform

assignments/tasks,

following

individualized

educational

and/or

behavioral

plans,

and

monitoring

the

overall

well-being

of

students

to

promote

optimal

academic,

physical,

social,

and

emotional

growth .

Essential

Job

Functions

Implements,

under

the

supervision

of

an

assigned

teacher,

instructional

programs

and

lesson

plans

(e.g.,

reading,

math,

language

comprehension,

writing,

computer,

etc.)

to

students

in

a

variety

of

individual

and

group

settings

for

the

purpose

of

presenting

and/or

reinforcing

learning

concepts,

implementing

goals

for

remediation

of

student

deficiencies,

and

ensuring

students'

success.

Develops

short-term

and

long-term

goals

that

support

the

philosophy

and

policies

of

the

Superintendent

Administers

tests,

homework

assignments,

make-up

work,

etc.,

for

the

purpose

of

supporting

teachers

in

the

classroom.

Effectively

presents

information

in

one-on-one

and

group

situations

to

students,

with

frequent

interruptions.

Adapts

classroom

activities,

assignments,

and/or

materials

under

the

direction

of

the

classroom

teacher

for

the

purpose

of

supporting

and

reinforcing

classroom

objectives.

Communicates

and

collaborates

with

teachers

and

other

school

or

district

personnel

for

the

purpose

of

assisting

in

evaluating

progress

and/or

implementing

IEP

objectives.

Maintains

classroom

equipment

and

work

area

for

the

purpose

of

ensuring

the

availability

of

a

safe

learning

environment

and/or

meeting

mandated

requirements.

Monitors

and/or

assists

individuals

and/or

groups

of

students

in

a

variety

of

settings

(e.g.

rest

rooms,

playgrounds,

hallways,

bus

loading

zones,

cafeteria,

assemblies,

field

trips,

etc.)

for

the

purpose

of

maintaining

a

safe

and

positive

learning

environment.

Adheres

to

students'

daily

schedules

and

behavior

plans

(e.g.,

class

schedule,

toileting,

medication,

appetite,

etc.)

for

the

purpose

of

maintaining

a

safe

and

positive

learning

environment.

Loads/unloads

wheelchair-bound

students

on

the

bus

and/or

waits

with

students

for

transportation.

Participates

in

physical

activities

which

are

part

of

the

students'

basic

program.

Assists

students

in

the

restroom

as

necessary

and

may

have

to

attend

to

diapering

needs.

Documents

students'

daily

activities

(e.g.,

behavior,

completed

assignments,

on/off

task

times,

etc.)

for

the

purpose

of

collecting

data

to

complete

daily

logs,

students'

hourly

activities,

or

any

other

pertinent

information

in

relation

to

IEP

goals,

behavior

intervention

plans,

and

any

other

associated

objectives.

Assists

with

compiling

and

gathering

needed

information

that

the

certified

teacher

will

communicate.

All

communication

with

the

parents

will

be

facilitated

and

directed

by

the

teacher.

If

the

parent

communicates

directly

with

the

assistant

or

classroom

helper,

this

communication

must

be

immediately

relayed

to

the

teacher.

Implements,

under

the

supervision

of

the

assigned

teacher,

behavioral

plans

designed

by

the

IEP

team

for

students

with

behavior

disorders

or

other

special

conditions

for

the

purpose

of

presenting

and/or

reinforcing

learning

concepts.

Models

appropriate

conversation,

manners,

clean-up

activities,

listening,

and

everyday

interactions

for

the

purpose

of

demonstrating

desired

social

behavior

in

a

culturally

sensitive

manner.

Responds

to

emergency

situations

(e.g.,

injured

students,

fights,

etc.)

for

the

purpose

of

resolving

immediate

safety

concerns

and/or

directing

to

appropriate

personnel

for

resolution.

Attends

and

participates

in

all

meetings,

training

programs,

and

in-service

sessions

as

assigned

by

the

teacher

or

building/district

administrator

for

the

purpose

of

acquiring

and/or

conveying

information

relative

to

job

functions.

Interacts

positively

and

works

with

community

members,

parents,

other

staff

members,

and

all

students,

including

emotionally,

physically,

and/or

mentally

impaired

students.

Provides

nonverbal

cues

throughout

the

school

day

to

utilize

coping

strategies

when

needed.

Assists

in

instruction,

modeling,

guided

practice,

and

coaching

in

identifying

and

labeling

feelings

and

expressing

those

feelings

in

appropriate

ways

using

"I"

statements.

Assists

across

the

school

unit

as

directed

by

the

principal.

Performs

other

duties

as

assigned

for

the

purpose

of

ensuring

the

efficient

and

effective

functioning

of

the

work

unit

and/or

school.

Required

Skills/Abilities:

Excellent

verbal

and

written

communication

skills

Excellent

interpersonal

and

customer

service

skills

Excellent

organizational

skills

and

attention

to

detail

Proficient

computer

skills

using

Microsoft

Office

and/or

Google

classroom

Knowledge

of

school

procedures

and

policies

Knowledge

of

the

techniques

and

procedures

used

in

working

with

Special

Education

students

Ability

to

apply

common

sense

and

problem-solving

skills

to

carry

out

instructions

Ability

to

plan

and/or

implement

instructional

activities

Ability

to

remain

flexible

with

changing

work

priorities

Ability

to

perform

some

lifting,

carrying,

pushing,

and/or

pulling

Ability

to

maintain

composure

under

stressful

situations

Ability

to

exhibit

compassion

and

keep

a

fair

and

courteous

firm

hand

Ability

to

maintain

confidentiality

Education

and

Experience:

High

School

diploma

or

GED

required

Title

1

• Highly

Qualified

Instructional

Assistant

requirements:

At

least

two

years

of

study

(60

semester

hours)

at

an

accredited

institution

or

higher

education;

or

Associates

degree

or

higher;

or

An

approved

state

or

local

academic

assessment

that

measures

the

paraprofessional's

knowledge

of

and

ability

to

assist

in

instruction

at

the

appropriate

level.

Paraprofessionals

may

meet

the

assessment

requirement

by

passing

the

ParaPro

Assessment.

Working

Conditions:

Dexterity

of

hands

and

fingers

to

operate

standard

office

equipment

to

type

letters,

reports

and

other

materials;

bending,

hearing

to

answer

telephone;

speaking

to

exchange

information,

and

sitting

and

operating

a

keyboard

to

enter

data

into

a

computer

for

extended

periods

of

time

Requires

light

work

that

involves

walking

or

standing

most

of

the

time

and

involves

exerting

up

to

20

pounds

of

force

on

a

recurring

basis

and

lifting

up

to

10

pounds

Physical

demands

may

include

lifting

students

Minimum

to

moderate

stress

level

Environmental

Conditions:

Indoor

office

and

school

environment

Temperature

• normal

climate

Americans

with

Disabilities

Act

Compliance:

The

Lancaster

County

School

District

is

an

equal

opportunity

employer

and

does

not

discriminate

on

the

basis

of

race,

color,

religion,

sex,

gender,

ethnicity,

national

origin,

place

of

birth,

age,

ancestry,

disability,

pregnancy

and

childbirth,

familial

or

marital

status,

gender

identity

or

expression,

sexual

orientation

or

any

other

basis

prohibited

by

law.

ADA:

The

employer

will

make

reasonable

accommodations

in

compliance

with

the

American

with

Disabilities

Act

of

1990.

Disclaimer

The

preceding

job

description

has

been

designed

to

indicate

the

general

nature

and

level

of

work

performed

by

employees

within

this

classification.

It

is

not

designed

to

contain

or

be

interpreted

as

a

comprehensive

inventory

of

all

duties,

responsibilities,

and

qualifications

required

of

employees

assigned

to

this

job.