Special Education Instructional Assistant (Para)

Instructional Assistant/Special Education for the 2024-2025 School year

Position: Special Education Instructional Assistant

Monday-Friday

6.5 hours/day

180 days/school year

PLEASE APPLY ON THE LPCSC WEBSITE: https://skyward01.lpcsc.k12.in.us/scripts/wsisa.dll/WService=wsFin/rapplmnu03.w

Qualifications: Subject to qualifications mandated by South La Porte County Special Education Cooperative

Assistants -

If the candidate does not have at least 60 hours of college credit, an Associate Degree, 1 year or 1,000 hours of previous employment experience in a school or working with children, or CDA Credentials. They will have to complete 5 Professional Development/Training Modules.

Before an individual can work with students or have his/her name submitted for approval to the Board of School Trustees, the candidate must complete the background check authorization (at a cost of $15.00-cash or check) and the background check must receive a "cleared" rating. Additionally, the individual must complete a federal I-9 form (providing appropriate identification documents); tax forms; a direct-deposit form (with an attached voided check); and, view training videos at the Educational Services Center (approximately 20-25 minutes in length).

SUMMARY: To assist students with disabilities in classroom academics and social activities, manage behavior and implement established behavior plans. These include but are not limited to the following:

Desirable Qualifications: Previous experience working with students, health care background or experience such as CPR, CNA, LPN, and / or experience with individuals with disabilities. Positive employment history and recommendations from an individual(s) in an administrative position.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

1. Assist students with instructional activities and assignments as directed by the Special Education teacher. These may occur in the general education, special education or community environment.

2. Assist the teacher in the development of positive student behaviors through complying with

behavior management plans, contracts, IEP goals and other teacher directed activities.

3. Provide appropriate accommodations for students in their daily work, assignments, testing (local, district and statewide) as specified in the student's IEPs, and as directed by the special education teacher.

4. Maintain student confidentiality by complying with all the Rights to Students Confidentiality, act, both in and out of the school environment.

5. Collect and maintain student data as directed by the classroom teacher.

Assist with classroom clerical and other non-student specific activities as directed by the special education teacher.

6. Participate in mandatory in-service training meetings designed to improve the skills of the instructional assistant for the benefit of the students.

7. Comply with all the standard rules and regulations for the assigned building established by the building principal.

8. Defer all specific questions about a student to the special education teacher for a response.

Qualification. Requirements: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and / or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience that is Required:

High School Diploma or GED

Passing Score on ParaPro Exam

Two years of college is preferred

Language Skills:

Ability to read and interpret textbooks and / or teacher guides, student IEPs, Behavior Plans, procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of children, parents or employees of the school organization.

Mathematical Skills:

Ability to work with mathematical concepts appropriate to the students' grade level. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform 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 the job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; sit in a chair and on the floor; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and taste or smell.

The employee may need to physically restrain a student for safety reasons. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus.

The employee should be able to use the following machines, tools, equipment, and work aids which may be representative, but not all inclusive, of those commonly associated with this type of work: pen, pencil, pointer, slate, stylus, projector, public address system, tape recorder, blackboard, chalk, charts, diagrams, examinations, manuals, maps publications, reference books, textbooks, augmentative devices, computers, various computer programs, copy machine.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.