South Newton School Corporation Position Description

Position Title: Special Education Paraprofessional with Life Skill Students

Department: Elementary School-Middle School-High School

Reports To: Principal

Summary: To assist the special education teacher and other educational professionals in carrying out instruction or physical individual plans, feeding, lifting, toileting, and individualized care of students with special needs in a confidential, positive manner.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:  

1. Assists students, individually or in groups, with lesson assignments and reinforces learning concepts.

            -Supervise teacher-planned activities.

            -Assist with seatwork and workbook assignments.

            -Assist students with make-up work

            -Listen and respond to students as they express their thoughts orally.

            -Listen to students read individually and in small groups.

            -Tutor students individually and in small groups.

            -Assist students on computers.

            -Assist students with a variety of drill work and practice exercises.

            -Assist students with group projects.

            -Assist students with writing and illustrating stories.

            -Assist new students and help them get acquainted to a new setting.

            -Read to students.

-Set up and operate audio-visual equipment for the teacher.

-Assist substitute teachers by providing necessary information on classroom routine during the regular teacher’s absence.

-Check papers and assignments.

-Plan, prepare, and develop various teaching aids.

-Monitor student progress and confer with the teacher on student progress.

2.  Carries out clerical duties to assist the teacher.

            -Assist with class record keeping, e.g., taking attendance.

            -Prepare and arrange bulletin board displays.

            -Assist in preparing learning center materials.

-Schedule audio-visual materials and equipment.

            -Prepare student work folders.

            -Duplicate, collate, and organize materials.

            -File papers upon request

3. Performs other necessary auxiliary duties.

            -Assist with cafeteria, bus, and playground duties.

            -Assist with emergency drills and assemblies

            -Assist with restroom breaks and hall supervision.

            -Assist student with coat, boot, etc.

-Assists students with activities of daily living including, but not limited to, feeding, dressing toileting.

4.  Other duties may be assigned by the teacher, principal, or superintendent or as specified in the Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for the students in the class/program.

Qualifications Requirements: Ability to work with students, staff, and the school community. Ability to speak grammatically correct English.

Education and/or Experience: High School diploma or equivalent preferred.  Successfully passing ParaPro test or 60 college hours.

Language Skills:  Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general information, special education procedures from the school and Cooperative School Services. Ability to fill out reports on Harmony.  Ability to speak using grammatically correct English.

Mathematical Skills:  Ability to basic math and record data.

Reasoning Ability: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with students in a variety of situations, such as recess, cafeteria, and classrooms.

Other Skills and Abilities: Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with students, peers, and parents; skill in oral and written communication

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 this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit, crawl, crouch, kneel, and stoop. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms.  The employee must regularly lift 40 pounds and or push/pull up to 100 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision sufficient to read typed or written material.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this 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. Work is generally performed indoors.