Assistant, Exceptional Child PNA (25-26)

BASIC FUNCTION:

Assists teachers by working with Exceptional Children (EC) to achieve the goals of the student(s)’ Individual Education Program(s) (IEPs) and provide access to general education as appropriate.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Assists in the instruction of individual Exceptional Children (EC) students or groups of EC students in all curricular areas as directed by the teacher.
• Collects data to document individual student progress on IEP goals.
• Plans and works with teacher in devising instructional strategies.
• Assists with set up, use and management of materials, adapted equipment and/or technology devices for both classroom and individual students.
• Assists and supervises during emergency drills, assemblies, specials (e.g. PE, art, recess) field trips and to other school related functions on and off school campus.
• Acts as a bus monitor when special needs of an EC student(s) are identified by the IEP team.
• Alerts the teacher to any problem or special information about an individual student.
• Participates in in-service training programs for professional growth.
• Assists in checking materials and portfolios, correcting papers, supervising, and testing as directed by the teacher.
• Assists in keeping bulletin boards and other learning centers current.
• Assists in school routines and transitions.
• Assists with student attendance procedures, record keeping, ordering materials and other duties as assigned.
• Provides physical assistance to students as needed in the areas of self-help, clothing management, toileting (including accidents and catheterization), and feeding.
• Provides physical assistance to therapists and teachers as needed in duties related to occupational and physical therapy and mainstreaming classes.
• Provides physical assistance as needed to students by writing assignments, taking notes and/or writing students’ responses under the direction of the teacher.
• Provides physical assistance as needed to students by lifting, positioning, assisting with walking and by pushing wheelchairs.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of local, state and federal regulations and laws pertaining to exceptional children.
• Knowledge and ability to use current technology and alternate forms of communication relevant to specific disabilities. This may include low-tech and high-tech devices.
• Ability to produce communication in oral and written formats in a professional manner.
• Knowledge of classroom management and differentiation techniques.
• Knowledge of the Individual Education Program (IEP) process.
• Ability to use research based techniques in instruction and behavior management
• Ability to comply with local, state and federal guidelines.
• Ability to deliver the curriculum and extensions of the curriculum as appropriate.
• Ability to problem solve both proactively and reactively. Knowledge of the correct person or people to inform when a situation has occurred or may occur.
• Ability to provide personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to students.
• Ability to monitor student performance using a variety of data collection methodologies.
• Ability to teach others to use technology or equipment

EDUCATION AND EXPERIECE:

• Completion of an Associate’s Degree or two years of higher education equivalent to 48 credit hours, or ability to pass a formal assessment (Workkey and 96 hours of in-service training), or completion of the NC DOL Apprenticeship Program or  completion of the NC ATA Professional Development Plan required
• Associate’s Degree with a concentration in Education preferred
• One year working with EC children preferred