Teacher Assistants

Teacher Assistants assist the classroom teacher in the delivery of educational and/or behavioral interventions for special education students.  Due to the varied and individual needs of each student, Teacher Assistants may provide a variety of support and assistance and should be flexible in adjusting to students' needs.   Building Assistants are directed daily by the School Principal to provide support as needed in the school.   Teacher Assistants report directly to the School Principal in collaboration with a Special Education Administrator.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Provides academic support to students as directed by the classroom teacher and other staff that may be responsible for the implementation of IEPs.
• Assist classroom teacher in implementing IEP goals, 504 accommodations, and ELL accommodations.
• Assists classroom teacher with special education students to enable learning with minimal disruptions to other students.
• Assists in maintaining a safe and organized classroom environment
• Provides behavioral support as directed by the classroom teacher.
• Assists students at arrival, dismissal, recess, and busing.
• Provides assistance to enable students with disabilities to accomplish activities of daily living and tasks (eating, dressing, toileting, transferring, walking, communicating, navigating the school environment, etc.)
• Use de-escalation techniques (CPI) to assist with behavioral non-compliance and to work with students in crisis to enable their return to the proper academic setting. 
• May attend to the physical needs of students; may include handling equipment such as wheelchairs, braces or other equipment.
• Completes necessary paperwork of students at the direction of the classroom teacher.
• May assist in the preparation of the classroom as directed by the classroom teacher.
• Ability to perform other duties assigned by the school principal in order to meet the specific needs of the Pawtucket School Department and its students. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Ability to interact and communicate effectively with children with special needs
• Ability to work as a team member with building staff to provide services to children 
• Ability to assist in the instruction of reading, writing, and mathematics
• Ability to use sound judgment and knowledge of student behaviors and school department policies and procedures to make decisions
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to work with individual students or groups of students according to the instructional plan.
• Ability to assist students’ educational needs, including personal, emotional, and skill development.
• Ability to observe and record information about student performance.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and to practice patience with employees, students, supervisors and the general public
• Timely completion of tasks and paperwork requirements

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Associate's degree or higher or completion of at least 2 years of study at an institute of higher education or have passed the ParaPro Exam.
• Completion of the State of RI Approved Teacher Assistant Pre-Employment Training Program or certified as a TA in another state or obtained an associate or bachelor’s degree and have completed coursework or other training consistent with the teacher assistant program standards.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bi-lingual 
• CPI training
• CPR/AED training
• Previous experience working with children 
• Previous education in early childhood or special education

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Frequently required to stand, sit and walk
• Frequently required to talk and hear
• Must be able to feel attributes of objects, grasp, push, reach, and stoop/kneel/crouch
• Occasional lifting or carrying weighing up to 50 pounds
• Must have clarity of vision, precise hand-eye coordination, and the ability to identify students and ensure safety
• The work environment is typically within a school classroom setting, although the employee may be exposed to adverse weather conditions related to outdoor recreation events
• May be exposed to bodily fluids when assisting students with physical needs

YEARLY REQUIREMENT

• Professional Development hours as set and approved by the Pawtucket School Department