Riverside Middle School is currently accepting applications for an Exceptional Children Teacher Assistant for the upcoming school year. (Start Date: August 2024). The employee will work 7.5 hours per day for a total of 37.5 per week. See the job description below for more information.

The employee will be required to obtain and maintain a license to drive a school bus and to drive when needed to "efficiently and effectively operate the school transportation system." (Board Policy 4701) Bus driving duty is considered an essential function of this position.

GRADE: Grade 56 of State Classified Salary Scale (Exact amount is based on verified years of related experience.)

FLSA: Non-Exempt

REPORTS TO: Principal and/or Lead Teacher

SUPERVISES: None

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: 10 months

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Associate Degree related to Education or 48 semester hours of transferable college coursework. (Official transcript is required to validate education.)
• Willingness to obtain a bus license/pocket card and to drive a school bus on an “as needed” basis.
• Demonstrated ability to fulfill the dexterity and physical requirements of the work.
• Experience working with children with special needs and behavioral challenges.

NATURE OF WORK: Under general supervision, a teacher assistant performs a variety of technical and clerical tasks in assisting a teacher of students with disabilities. Employee may perform a wide range of tasks in order to support the efforts of the supervising teacher, meet the needs of all students, and ensure the provision of quality instruction for all students. Employee provides individual assistance with academics and behavioral problems and may lead small group activities as directed. Employee assists lead teacher with general housekeeping and clerical duties.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• General knowledge of activities performed by lead teacher, daily routines of the classroom, student handbook rules, procedures to follow in the event of an emergency and the principles of organization and administration.
• General knowledge of methods of adapting instruction, equipment, and tools for children with special needs.
• Some knowledge of the curriculum for the grade.
• Ability to constantly monitor the safety and well-being of students, particularly when student is participating in an inclusive activity.
• Ability to motivate students and to maintain order and discipline in a classroom.
• Ability to maintain a clean and orderly environment.
• Ability to perform general clerical duties, to operate common office machines, and to maintain basic files and records.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. This list is meant to be representative, not exhaustive. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The Exceptional Children Teacher Assistant is required to follow all board policies and procedures and to comply with the instructions and/or directives from his/her supervisor(s).

1. Assists teacher with executing instruction and evaluating its effectiveness.
2. Constantly monitors the safety and well-being of students; monitors student attitudes and encourages self-esteem; assists students with becoming increasingly independent.
3. Monitors student behavior and helps maintain discipline in the classroom; records time out and in-class suspension; assists with crisis prevention; restrains students as needed.
4. Assists students with learning; reinforces and clarifies instructions; conducts short sessions on improving study skills; provides one-on-one assistance as needed.
5. Maintains standardized records and documentation concerning the progress of students.
6. Performs general housekeeping duties in maintaining an orderly classroom; performs repair and maintenance tasks related to school equipment.
7. Performs various clerical duties as needed, maintains records of student progress; develops and files incident reports; grades student papers and scores tests; checks daily attendance; makes copies; develops classroom display and instructional materials; maintains and operates audiovisual equipment; orders supplies; maintains class files, etc.
8. Feeds students, when necessary; toilets students, if needed; and assists with any other tasks students are not able to perform for themselves.
9. Drives a school bus as needed in order to efficiently and effectively operate the school transportation system.
10. Participates in staff development workshops.
11. Performs other related work as required.

PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE REQUIREMENTS: The major physical and cognitive requirements listed below are applicable to the Exceptional Children Teacher Assistant job classification within Martin County Schools. Work in this classification is considered light physical work requiring the exertion of up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects.

Physical Requirements: Must be able to use a variety of equipment and classroom tools such as computers, copiers, typewriters, calculators, pencils, scissors, equipment for children with special needs, etc.

Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or composite characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.

Interpersonal Communication: Requires the ability to speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving instructions, assignments and/or directions from superiors.

Language Ability: Requires the ability to read a variety of correspondence, reports, handbooks, forms, lists, etc. Requires the ability to prepare correspondence, simple reports, forms, instructional materials, etc., using prescribed format.

Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply rational systems to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists; to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule form.

Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in standard English.

Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract; and to utilize decimals and percentages.

Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.

Motor Coordination: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using office equipment.

Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of office machines, etc. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/ foot coordination.

Color Discrimination: Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.

Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with persons acting under stress.

Physical Communication: Requires the ability to talk and hear: (Talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words. Hearing: perceiving nature of sounds by ear). Must be able to communicate via telephone.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works indoors. The noise level in the work environment is usually minimal. The work is performed in the school.