Jobs for People with MS: National MS Society

PARAEDUCATOR AIDE

HIGHLY QUALIFIED STATUS (HQ): Individual selected into this position at Title 1 Sites, must be Highly Qualified for this assignment. Applicants must possess a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent, and have completed the following requirements: Completed at least 48 semester hours of credit at an accredited college or university;or,obtained anassociate'sdegree or higher degree from an accredited college or university;or,passed theParaProAssessment prepared and administered by Educational Testing Services (ETS) with a score of at least 460.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

Under supervision, works in a special education classroom assisting teaching staff in a variety of instructional activities. Assists teachers in special education classroomsand provides individual or group assistance depending on student or class'sfunctional living and academic skills and/or behavioral support needed. Incumbent can also provide attendant services to students with various intellectual and/or physical disabilities. Incumbent performs related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The Teacher Aide III works in a special education classroom assisting the teacher and/or a special education student within the general and/or special education classroom, in specific specialized programs such as: CLS (Comprehensive Life Skills), EC (Early Childhood), MA (Multi-Age), SIP (Social Intervention Programs), Strategies (Autism Spectrum Disorders), Social Resource and/or Resource classrooms as well as one-on-one assistance. Additionally, a Teacher Aide III working at a Title I school must be highly qualified.

May act as liaison between general education teachers, resource teachers; previews instructional information when possible and may attend seminars and conferences.

EXEMPLARY DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

Teacher aides may be assigned to a variety of special education programs or individual students who require adult support based upon their IEP's (Individualized Education Program). Duties may include: assist students with intellectual, physical, or behavioral disabilities in boarding and de-boarding buses before and after school; assist students in reaching proper location in school; accompany students into general education classrooms; provide attendant services (diapering, toileting, washing faces, etc.) to students as needed; supports instruction in proper health and hygiene habits; performs delegated procedures such as clean intermittent catheterization, provide emergency and first aid care as necessary; move students weighing 50-80 pounds, daily and repetitively; follows proper safety procedures; prepares and helps feed students as needed; supports instruction in functional life skills; realizes individual needs of students with intellectual, physical and/or behavioral disabilities and modifies general education classroom assignments occasionally; follows behavior plans as outlined in students' IEP's; uses positive behavior management techniques; assists with lesson assignments; reinforces learning concepts to students; maintains discipline and order on the playground, lunchroom, library and classrooms; accompanies students on field trips; arranges and adjusts wheelchairs, oxygen hoses and other equipment as needed; communicates with special education teachers about concerns and/or observations of students; assists in maintaining bulletin boards in the classroom; may assist children with medication when trained; assists in the operation of classroom equipment or students' assistive technology devices; assist in recording student progress towards goals and developing instructional materials and preparing graphs and charts; assists in modification of the general education curriculum; participates in district training programs when requested and receives training in and implements non-violent behavioral intervention procedures; maintains confidentiality regarding student information and records.

When assigned to SPED Programs:

EC - Early Childhood/Pre-K

TheEarly Childhood Special Education Programprovides services to three, four and five year olds with disabilities. This program consists of developmentally appropriate curriculum that addresses all areas of child development including literacy and math readiness skills, gross and fine motor skills, self- help skills, communications skills, and social skills. In addition, the classroom provides multiple opportunities to develop skills in the areas of cognition, receptive and expressive language, and social/emotional development.

EC SIP - Early Childhood/SIP (for details strictly on SIP, see SIP description)

The Early Childhood SIP Program provides developmentally appropriate curriculum that addresses all areas of child development including literacy and math readiness skills, gross and fine motor skills, self- help skills, communications skills, and social skills. The program focuses primarily on social emotional development and primarily serves students with behavioral challenges in a small group setting. When assigned to an EC SIP classroom, a combination of EC and SIP practices are followed. The descriptions mentioned for EC and SIP respectively should not be construed to believe that only one or the other will be followed. A combination of practices of both are followed to best suit student needs.

EC STRAT - Early Childhood/Strategies (for details on Strat, see Strat description)

The Early Childhood Strat Program provides developmentally appropriate curriculum that addresses all areas of child development including literacy and math readiness skills, gross and fine motor skills, self- help skills, communications skills, and social skills. The program focuses primarily on the development of communication and social emotional skills using a variety of strategies. The EC Strategies Program serves students with deficits in these areas, usually caused by Autism. This program also provides?a small group setting and focuses on extensive data collection to document progress. When assigned to an EC Strat classroom, a combination of EC and Strat practices are followed. The descriptions mentioned for EC and Strat respectively should not be construed to believe that only one or the other will be followed. A combination of practices of both are followed to best suit student needs.

IEC - Early Childhood/PreK

The Early Childhood inclusion model program provides services to three, four and five year olds who are receiving specialized instruction with typically developing peers in a developmentally appropriate classroom. This inclusion program provides an age appropriate environment that offers all children a wide range of learning opportunities. This program consists of developmentally appropriate curriculum that addresses all areas of child development including literacy and math readiness skills, gross and fine motor skills, self- help skills, communications skills, and social skills. In addition, the classroom provides multiple opportunities to develop skills in the areas of cognition, receptive and expressive language, and social/emotional development.

IK - Integrated Kindergarten

The SPED IK Program provides developmentally appropriate curriculum in a co-teaching model that addresses all areas of child development including literacy and math readiness skills, gross and fine motor skills, self- help skills, communications skills, and social skills along with kindergarten standards and curriculum. Services are provided in a kindergarten setting.

CLS - Comprehensive Life Skills

CLSfocuses on building a foundat