Physically Handicapped Teacher Assistant (Grades: 6-8)

• Help teacher prepare instructional materials and classroom displays
• Help maintain a neat and orderly classroom and prepare classroom according to student needs
• Help with inventory, care and maintenance of equipment
• Help teacher keep administrative records and prepare required reports
• Provide orientation and assistance to substitute teachers
• Assist students with physical disabilities according to their needs, including transferring to and from wheelchairs, lifting or positioning
• Assist students with physical needs and personal care, including feeding, bathroom needs and personal hygiene
• Assist with classroom curriculum
• Help manage behavior of students which includes intervening in crisis situations and restraining disruptive or dangerous student behavior as needed
• Assume responsibility for learning and adapting to each student's special medical, physical, communicative and emotional needs
• Work with individual students or small groups to develop motor skills and conduct instructional exercises assigned by teacher
• Help supervise students throughout the school day, inside and outside the classroom which includes lunchroom, bus and playground
• Keep teacher informed of special needs or problems of individual students
• Maintain confidentiality
• Participate in staff development training programs, faculty meetings and special events as assigned
• Perform all other tasks and duties as assigned
• Regular and punctual attendance at the worksite is required for this position

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Travel throughout the district is integral to this job. A remote working environment /alternate work arrangement is not an option for campus-based employees/campus-based positions because regular and punctual attendance at the worksite and performing all duties at the worksite are essential job duties for all campus-based personnel.

• Accredited Senior High School Diploma or equivalent (U.S.A. equivalency), plus one of the following:  Associate degree, 48 college credit hours, pass an academic assessment
• Paraprofessional certificate required from State Board of Certification
• Successful completion of a specific training program for teacher assistants or six months of knowledge and skills acquired through work experience preferred
• Demonstrated general knowledge of child growth/development and behavior characteristics
• Demonstrated ability to work with people from diverse ethnic groups
• Demonstrated organizational and interpersonal skills required to meet the goals of the position
• Demonstrated initiative and a willingness to follow verbal and written instructions
• Demonstrated effective communication skills both in oral and written form
• Demonstrated ability to work with children with disabilities
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred
• Demonstrated flexibility to cope with the challenges of a rapidly changing world
• Demonstrated willingness to remain current with the latest developments in the profession