Teacher Assistant

Summary: A Teacher Assistant ("TA") works collaboratively with general and special education teachers and other teacher assistants to provide quality educational activities for students. Provides for basic needs of students. Assists with feeding, self-help skills, toileting, communication strategies and instruction, and other duties as may be assigned. The employee is expected to perform all duties in a manner that prioritizes the safety, well-being and educational goals of students.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Other duties may be assigned.

1. Demonstrates initiative and creativity with students and their programs.
2. Implements goals and objectives that are specified in students' Individual Education Plans (IEP) under the direction of professional staff.
3. Assists with development and implementation of classroom and individual behavior management programs and techniques.
4. Understands and performs duties with awareness of possible medical needs of students. Assists with student medical needs when trained and qualified to do so. Assists students with daily needs, such as but not limited to, feeding, toileting, grooming, and other daily living activities.
5. Assists professional staff with routine tasks & practices (bulletin boards, open house, etc.)
6. Assists with individual or small group student instruction.
7. Provides assistance to facilitate students' non-instructional needs, such as therapy, including implementation of service programs under the direction of professional staff.
8. Assists instructional staff in the supervision of students while they are loading and unloading buses, in gym, classroom or on the playground.
9. Assists where necessary, with lifting students from wheelchairs, to changing tables, therapy equipment, etc.
10. Assists professional staff with keeping records and similar administrative support functions related to student needs.
11. Regular and predictable in-person attendance is required for this position.

Education and/or Experience: High school graduate or equivalent required. Preference may be given to applicants with successful experience as an aide in a day care training program or special education classroom, or with advanced training related to special education instructional assistant responsibilities, or who are recommended by an educational administrator who has supervised the work of the applicant for at least one year.

Other Skills and Abilities: Ability to work with children with disabilities, from mild to severe, from birth to age 26. Ability to interact with public and other staff is required. Ability to maintain composure under stressful conditions. Ability to interact appropriately with students based upon developmental data. Ability to meet multiple demands from several people. Ability to develop effective working relationships with students, staff and the school community. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and Board of Education policies. Ability to qualify for CPR and first aid certification. Ability to learn and follow procedures for meeting student needs.

Employment Date, Salary, and Fringe Benefits: Anticipated employment date is as soon as possible. Placement on the Special Education Teacher Assistant Salary Schedule depends on qualifications and experience. A new employee hourly pay range is $17.64-$28.11. Paid health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurances, sick, and personal business days.

To Apply: Interested parties should go to our website, https://jcisd.workbrightats.com to complete an online application.

Certifications, License: Applicants for the TA position are not required to have any current certifications. Some TA assignments may involve driving a personal or school vehicle, and in those cases a valid Michigan driver's license and good driving record are required; accommodations will be considered as necessary and appropriate.

Pre-employment Screening: Applicants who receive a conditional offer of employment for a position with JCISD will be required to successfully complete a background check, a pre-employment physical to determine ability to perform the desired position (with or without reasonable accommodations) and a drug test.