SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

• The Special Needs Paraeducator assists in the delivery of special education and/or related services under the supervision of a teacher and/or other professional who has the responsibility for the delivery of services to exceptional children.
• This position involves the performance of instructional and non-instructional tasks.
• Non- instructional tasks include, but are not limited to, clerical, monitorial, technical, related service and other general duties.
• The paraeducator is assigned to assist with special education students within the pupil teacher ratio for the specifie exceptionality of the class to which he/she is assigned.
• The Special Needs Paraeducator is assigned specific health maintenance services with more than one student.
• A Special Needs Paraeducator will remain with assigned student in the event of a student transfer .

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES/ ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS :
A. Instructional

• Works with individual or small groups of students to reinforce skills/ concepts .
• Provides instructional leadership when working with substitute teacher .
• Assists with specific tasks as required by exceptionality (e.g. diapering, toileting, feeding, etc .
• Implements the use of techniques and materials to help meet individual differences such as rewriting reading materials for less able readers, taping reading assignments or dictated materials, etc.

B. Non-instructional

• Helps organize classroom at beginning of the school year .
• Arranges room for classroom activities .
• Becomes familiar with and follows all regulations and policies of the school and School Board.
• Attends faculty meetings when . requested.
• Helps provide assistance for the physical needs of students wi disabilities after proper training is provided.
• Helps provide assistance for the health maintenance needs of students with disabilities after proper training is provided.
• Performs physical restraints as demonstrated by the teacher or other professional .
• Attends and participates in pre-service and in-service workshops .
• Follows daily schedule, informing assigned teacher of any changes made by the administrator in work schedule .
• Collects monies, takes attendance and completes absence and illness reports .
• Inventories , labels, and files materials which pertain to the individual paraprofessional is assignment .
• Assists with snack time .
• Helps students with personal possessions; accompanies students to office, first aid room, rest room, etc .
• Maintains discipline standards according to the regulations of the school system and the assigned teacher (s) .
• Relieves assigned teachers for conferences and emergencies .
• Obtains, secures, sets up and operates A-V equipment and other instructional materials.
• Sets up centers for work materials, listening stations, etc .
• Performs all other reasonably related duties as required by the principal .

WORK ENVIRONMENT/HOURS WORKED :

• This paraeducator will work in a variety of settings, dependent upon the students program needs.
• The primary work area will be the home based school and classroom and in the outside areas which are subj ect to climate extremes.
• Other work environments required will be the community and occasionally outside the community.
• Hours worked will be school based hours .

• Be able to express ideas clearly. Must be able to describe student behaviors. Must have the ability to express ideas in writing using standard English. Must have the ability to use behavioral data sheets upon teacher's instruction .

EQUIPMENT USED :

• Copy machines , classroom computer, audio visual aids, mobility support equipment , walker, standing box, corner chairs , braces , hearing aids , wheelchairs, abductor blocks, etc .

PHYSICAL INVOLVEMENT :

• Must have the ability to lift, move and position students.
• Must have the ability to be mobile in the school and community environment at all times in order to monitor students 100% of the time in close proximity if needed.
• Must be able to go on walking field trips or other educational activities into the community requiring walking.
• Must be able to position oneself on the floor to execute activities and tasks as needed by the student as well as to diaper, clothe and assist. children on and off the toilet and ability to perform non-complex healthcare procedures .

MENTAL INVOLVEMENT :

• Must understand written and verbal instructions from the master teacher .
• Must have the ability to work independently after instructions are given.
• Must exhibit ability to make a decision in the teacher's absence .

HUMAN RELATIONS INVOLVEMENT :

• Must be able to interact positively and be emphatic to students and parents .
• Must be able to respond positively to supervision and to accept suggestions for improvement.
• Must have the ability to work in group settings with both adults and children.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS :

• An Associate Degree OR
• Forty-eight (48) hours of approved college courses OR
• Pass ParaPro Praxis and have high school diploma and/or equivalency
• Eighteen (18) years of age or older
• Must be physically capable of implementing health maintenance services for the medically fragile, chronically ill, and/or terminally ill special education student .
• Must complete paraprofessional training and specified training for the chronically ill, and/or terminally ill special education student as required by assignment .
• Must demonstrate ability to work successfully with medically fragile, chronically ill , terminally ill , and/or severe student behavior problems .

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS :

• Previous experience working with children.