Special Education Paraprofessional

Job Title: Special Education Paraprofessional

Exemption Status: Test - Nonexempt Reports to: Principal and teachers Date Revised: August 2022 Dept.: School Assigned Campus: Primary Purpose Help meet physical and instructional needs of students with disabilities in a self-contained classroom. Assist in implementation of classroom programs including self-help behavior management and instruction programs. Work under general supervision of principal and immediate direction of certified teacher.

Qualifications: Education:

• High school diploma or hold a General Educational Development (GED) certificate
• Have met formal academic assessment associate&rsquos degree or two years of study at an institution of higher learning
• Valid Texas educational aide certificate

Special Knowledge, Skills, and Ability:

• 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:

• Help teacher prepare instructional materials and classroom displays.
• Help maintain a neat and orderly classroom.
• Help teacher keep administrative records and prepare required reports.
• Provide orientation and assistance to substitute teachers.

Student Management:

• Assist students with physical disabilities according to their needs, including transferring to and from wheelchairs, lifting, positioning, or assisting students with personal care such as feeding, bathroom needs, and personal hygiene.
• Keep teacher informed of special needs or problems of individual students.
• Help manage behavior of students. This includes intervening in crisis situations and restraining disruptive or dangerous students as needed.
• Recognize differences in each student&rsquos special medical, physical, communicative, and emotional needs and adapt methods and interaction accordingly.
• Work with individual students or small groups to develop motor skills and conduct instructional exercises assigned by teacher.
• Supervise students throughout the school day inside and outside the classroom. This includes lunchroom, bus, and playground duty.

Other:

• Maintain confidentiality.
• Participate in staff development training programs, faculty meetings, and special events as assigned.
• Follow district safety protocols and emergency procedures.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Mental Demands:

• Frequent standing, kneeling, squatting, bending, stooping, pushing, pulling, and twisting
• 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.

Physical Demands:

• Frequent standing, kneeling, squatting, bending, stooping, pushing, pulling, and twisting
• 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.

Environmental Factors:

• Work inside and outside exposure to sun, heat, cold, and inclement weather
• Exposure to noise
• Exposure to biological hazards, bacteria, communicable diseases

Tools, Equipment Used:

• Standard office equipment, including computer and peripherals
• Standard instructional equipment
• 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.

Mental Demands:

• Work with frequent interruptions
• Maintain emotional control under stress
• Required by Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) for aides who are providing instructional support in Title I Part A program.

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.