Assistants and Substitutes

Job Description

We are seeking an Instructional Assistant to provide support to our teachers in providing instruction to individual or small groups of students. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of basic subjects taught in the District schools, including arithmetic, grammar, spelling, language, and reading.

BASIC FUNCTION:

The Instructional Assistant will assist a certificated teacher in providing instruction to individual or small groups; monitor and report student progress.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

Instructional Assistant I incumbents assist a certificated teacher by performing a variety of support functions in a regular classroom setting. Instructional Assistant II incumbents work within a complex program typically requiring additional skills and characterized by increased independence of action.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Tutor individuals or small groups of students, reinforcing and implementing instruction as directed by the teacher;
• Maintain records of student progress;
• Participate as member of an instructional team including remediation teams;
• Prepare and organize lessons as directed by the teacher;
• Administer and score a variety of tests according to established guidelines;
• Assist in determining English proficiency of identified students;
• Assist in administering diagnostic and other tests;
• Score and record test information;
• Monitor and report behavior of students according to approved procedures;
• Report progress regarding student performance and behavior;
• Check and assist students with lab work as necessary;
• Perform routine clerical duties such as preparation of instructional and classroom materials;
• Operate copy machines;
• Maintain classroom records;
• Maintain attendance records;
• Provide support to the teacher by setting up work areas, displays, and exhibits;
• Operate audio-visual equipment;
• Operate educational training equipment;
• Distribute and collect paper and supplies;
• Assist in overseeing students while in labs;
• Provide for supplies inventory as necessary;
• Assist students by providing proper examples, emotional support, a friendly attitude, and general guidance;
• Confer, as needed, with teachers concerning programs and materials to meet student needs;
• Contact parents of students who are absent;
• Make home visits as necessary;
• Assure the health and safety of students by following health and safety practices and regulations;
• Direct group activities of students as assigned;
• Assist in monitoring lunchroom and playground activities as assigned;
• Assist in emergency drills, assemblies, play periods, and field trips;
• Participate in meetings and in-service training programs as assigned;
• Assist students in getting on and off the bus;
• Transport students to and from activities, lunch, bus, and/or pick up;
• Assist teacher in implementation of individual social adaptive lessons as required;
• Works with the teacher in providing progress through authentic observations;
• Assists on the ongoing curriculum revision process, alternate portfolio, including inquiry-based multi-age education;
• Works with the teacher in recognizing problems and alerts teacher so that they can correct behavior appropriately alongside the teacher;
• Assist students in such physical tasks as putting on and taking off of outer wear, moving from room to room, using the lavatory, help with personal hygiene, and other tasks as needed;
• Works with the teacher in implementing, in accordance with school guidelines, reasonable rules of classroom behavior and appropriate techniques that are consistently applied;
• Works with the teacher in taking necessary and reasonable precautions to protect students, equipment, materials, and facilities;
• Shares responsibility during the school day for the supervision of students in all areas of the school;
• Works with the teacher in providing supervision of assigned students when circumstances require a brief absence;
• Works with the teacher in evaluating accomplishments of students on a regular basis using multiple assessment methods such as behavior observations, teacher, and student-made rubrics, samples of students' work, mastery skills checklists, criterion-referenced tests, and norm-referenced tests;
• Works with the teacher in making appropriate adjustments in the instructional program and as required;
• Respects the confidentiality of records and information regarding students, parents, and teachers in accordance with accepted professional ethics and state and federal laws;
• Assist the teacher to provide instruction in the life goal domains-personal management, community, school, domestic, and vocational;
• Assist the teacher in coordinating community-based instruction and on-site vocational training and opportunities that help students with moderate to severe disabilities be productive members of regular education classes and school functions;
• Perform related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A minimum High school diploma or G.E.D. Certificate as required by Kentucky law;
• 48 college credit hours or successful completion of the Kentucky Department of Education Paraeducator Assessment;
• Experience in working with children in an organized setting preferred.

REPORTS TO:

Classroom teacher and School Principal

BACKGROUND CHECK:

As a condition of employment, all applicants shall pass a National (FBI) and State (KSP) Criminal History Background Check and a letter from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services stating the employee is clear to hire based on no findings of substantiated child abuse or neglect found through a background check of child abuse and neglect (CAN) records maintained by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS:

As a condition of initial employment, all employees shall complete training for the use of physical restraint and seclusion in school districts.