Instructional Assistant/Bus Driver [INTERIM]

NATURE OF WORK

To provide support to the teacher in the instruction ofstudents. A wide variety of technicaland clerical tasks are performed to support the teacher in theteaching-learning process for students. The second aspect of this job is bus driving in which under generalsupervision, it is expected that an employee operate a school bus on assignedroute(s) and schedule to provide safe and efficient transportation to studentsof the school system.

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

A High School diploma and one of the following is required:48 Semester Hours, or an Associates Degree, or Workkeys Completed (2 CollegeCourses, or 96 Contact Hours). Employee should also have some experience indriving large vehicles with some experience transporting humans preferred; orany equivalent combination of training and experience which provides therequired skills, knowledge and abilities.

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Assists teacher with executing instruction and evaluating its effectiveness.

2. 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.

3. Monitors the safety and well-being of students; monitors student attitudes and encourages self-esteem; assists students with becoming increasingly independent.

4. Assists students with learning; reinforces and clarifies instructions; conducts short sessions on improving study skills; provides one-on-one assistance as needed.

5. Operates the assigned school bus on the route(s) and schedule.

6. Obeys all traffic laws and school bus regulations while operating the school bus.

7. Performs required post-trip inspection, to detect students who may still be on board the school bus asleep or incapacitated and to detect any other irregularities or vandalism to the bus interior.

8. Observes all safety regulations and standards for school buses. This includes cleaning the school bus and evacuating students quickly in the event of an emergency.

9. Maintains discipline of students assigned to ride the school bus. Establishes a discipline plan that is consistent with school disciplinary objectives, as stated by the principal, and which provides a clear, progressive plan of consequences for students who cause disciplinary problems and rewards for those who maintain proper school bus safety standards.

10. Secures the assigned bus before leaving the vehicle at the conclusion of a run or route. This includes parking the vehicle properly, making a visual inspection of the bus to check for damage and the possibility of remaining passengers, and securing all windows and doors to protect the interior of the vehicle.

11. Maintains acceptable relationships with parents/guardians of students transported and with school personnel.

12. Performs other related tasks as required.

MINIMUM STANDARDSREQUIRED TO PERFORM RESPONSIBILITIES

PhysicalRequirements: Must be able to use a variety of equipment and classroomtools such as computers, copiers, typewriters, calculators, pencils, scissors,equipment for children with special needs, etc. Must be able to exert anegligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pullor otherwise move objects. Due to amount of time spent standing and/or walking,physical requirements are consistent with those for Light Work. Must be physically able to operate a schoolbus. Must be able to quickly decelerate the bus and firmly apply the brake inan emergency situation. Must be able to turn the steering wheel of the vehiclerapidly in an emergency situation. Must be able to begin in a seated positionwith seat belt fastened, parking brake released, and engine running, secure thebus (parking brake set, key removed), rise from the seat, exit through therearmost emergency exit, and be in position to assist passengers in exiting thebus within 20 seconds. Must be able to exert up to 50 pounds of forceoccasionally, and/or up to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements arefor Medium Work.

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

Interpersonal Communication: Requires the ability tospeak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving instructions, assignmentsand/or directions from superiors, and communicating information and instructionsto students and other persons.

Language Ability: Requires the ability to read avariety of correspondence, reports, handbooks, forms, lists, etc. Requires theability to prepare correspondence, simple reports, forms, instructionalmaterials, etc., using prescribed format. Requires the ability to speak to people with poise, voice control andconfidence.

Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply rationalsystems to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concretevariables in situations where only limited standardization exists; to interpreta variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic, or scheduleform.

Verbal Aptitude: Requiresthe ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to followoral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively andefficiently in standard English.

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

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

Motor Coordination: Requiresthe ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using officeequipment. Requires the ability tocoordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in operating a school bus.

Manual Dexterity: Requiresthe ability to handle a variety of office machines, etc. Requires the ability to handle a variety ofitems, school bus equipment, control knobs, switches, etc. Must have minimallevels of eye/hand/foot coordination.

Color Discrimination: Requiresthe ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color. Requires the ability to recognize the colorsof traffic signals and devices showing standard red, green, and amber.

Interpersonal Temperament: Requiresthe ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Mustbe adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with persons actingunder stress.

Physical Communication: Requiresthe ability to talk and/or hear: (talking: expressing or exchanging ideas bymeans of spoken words; hearing: perceiving nature of sounds by ear). Requiressufficient hearing ability to distinguish warning sounds made by horns,screeching tires, sirens, grade-crossing alarms or train whistles. Hearing aforced whispered voice in the better ear at a distance of five feet isconsidered adequate hearing. Must be able to communicate via telephone.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS,AND ABILITIES

• General knowledge of activities performed by lead teacher
• General knowledge of daily routines of the classroom
• General knowledge of student handbook rules
• General knowledge of procedures to follow in the event of an emergency
• General knowledge of the principles of organization and administration
• Some knowledge of the curriculum for the grade
• Ability to motivate students
• Ability to perform general clerical duties.
• Ability to maintain order and discipline in a classroom
• Ability to maintain a clean and orderly environment
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions
• Considerable knowledge of safe and efficient practices and procedures used in the operation of a school bus
• Considerable knowledge of traffic laws and school bus regulations
• Considerable knowledge of safety regulations and standards for school buses
• General knowledge of Transportation Department Operating Instructions
• Ability to physically inspect the bus according to Transportation Department Operating Instructions

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

Interim

Salary: Grade 56 (Certified TAs move up 8 steps)

DISCLAIMER

The preceding job description was designed to indicate thegeneral nature and level of work performed by employees within thisclassification. It is not designed tocontain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties,responsibilities and qualifications required of employees to this job.