Early Childhood Special Education Aide

Reports to: Campus Principal and Assigned Teacher(s)

Wage/Hour Status: Nonexempt

Pay Family: Clerical/Paraprofessional

Pay Grade: 03

Minimum Hourly Rate: $17.60

Duty Days: 187 days per year

Primary Purpose:

Helps the special education teacher provide for the physical and instructional needs of preschool students with disabilities in a special education setting. Assists in implementing classroom programs, including self-help, behavior management, and instruction programs; works under the general supervision of the principal and the immediate direction of a certified teacher.

Qualifications:

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent and ability to pass a rigorous content-oriented exam

or

• Associate degree or 48 semester hours of college credit

Certification

• Current Texas educational aide certificate or ability to obtain

Experience

• Some experience working with children

Special Knowledge and Skills

• Ability to work with young children with disabilities
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions
• Ability to communicate effectively
• Knowledge of general office equipment

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

Instructional Support

• Helps teacher prepare instructional materials and classroom displays.
• Helps maintain a neat and orderly classroom.
• Helps with inventory, care, and maintenance of equipment.
• Helps teacher keep administrative records and prepare required reports.
• Provides orientation and assistance to substitute teachers.

Student Management

• Assists students with physical disabilities according to their needs, including transferring to and from wheelchairs, lifting, or positioning.
• Assists students with physical needs and personal care, including feeding, bathroom needs, and personal hygiene.
• Helps manage behavior of students, including intervening in crisis situations and restraining disruptive or dangerous student behavior as needed.
• Assumes responsibility for learning and adapting to each student's special medical, physical, communicative, and emotional needs.
• Works with individual students or small groups to develop motor skills and conduct instructional exercises assigned by teacher.
• Helps supervise students throughout the school day, inside and outside the classroom. This includes lunchroom, bus, and playground duty.
• Keeps teacher informed of special needs or problems of individual students.

Other Related Duties:

• Follows district safety protocols and emergency procedures.
• Participates in professional development, department meetings, and special events as assigned.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors:

Tools and Equipment Used: Standard office equipment including computer and peripherals; standard instructional equipment; other specialized and adaptive equipment used by students, including wheelchair lift and ramp

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

Environment: Work inside and outside (exposure to sun, heat, cold, and inclement weather); exposure to noise; exposure to biological hazards (bacteria, communicable diseases); may require occasional district-wide and statewide travel

Mental Demands: Work with frequent interruptions; maintain emotional control under stress

This document describes the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required.