Job Details

Special Education Teaching Assistant K - 1st Grade

This position is responsible for specialized work by assisting special education teachers in instructing and directing the activities of students in assigned special education settings and classes to provide a well-organized, smoothly functioning classroom environment. Assists school administrators and staff with various administrative and clerical functions as requested. This position is under occasional supervision and reports to the special education teacher.

The specific role provided by the special education teaching assistant varies by the specific assignment and program placement. Federal, state and special program requirements supersede district guidelines. The assistant may be asked to perform the tasks identified in the requirements below in a special education classroom, a general education classroom, an elective class or related arts class or in other specific location.

Essential job functions include:

• Assists students with exercises and class activities; concentrates efforts with small groups of students and individuals as necessary.
• Maintains a clean and orderly classroom; assists in cleaning and storing of materials after completion of activities; provides classroom coverage as necessary.
• Reinforces all knowledge and skills taught by the special education teacher.
• Models proper behavior and play.
• Assists teachers by recording daily attendance, grading assignments, recording and/or analyzing test scores/grades, substituting as needed, setting up special projects, escorting children to other areas of the school, monitoring student behavior, packing / unpacking student communication folders, running errands, etc.
• Collects and receipts monies for monthly activity fees, school fees, school pictures, field trips, meal fees, etc.
• Distributes textbooks, technology devices, and other classroom materials as needed and maintains inventory; assists students and teachers in troubleshooting computer equipment and software applications; submits help desk tickets as necessary; may assist with invoicing for lost or damaged equipment.
• Supervises and assists students when unloading and loading buses, in the halls, on field trips, during testing, during lunch, and on school grounds.
• Supervise students throughout the school day including during bathroom breaks by physically assisting students in daily living skills and personal care, breakfast and lunch, during recess, before and after school and between classes to ensure students are supervised at all times.
• Serve as bus aide before and after school to assist students.
• Prepares daily snacks for students.
• Assists individual children with special needs and/or in need of special attention.
• Accompanies students within the school environment to other classes, activities and field trips and assist them in these settings.
• Coordinates and/or participates in special programs or projects as assigned.
• Attends staff meetings as required; participates in in-service training programs.
• Receives and responds to inquiries and requests for assistance in areas of responsibility.
• Operates a variety of equipment such as a computer, printer, copier, calculator, telephone, audio-visual equipment, laminating machine, binding machine, waxing machine, etc.; uses clerical, copier, computer supplies, arts and crafts supplies, instructional supplies and materials.
• Interacts and communicates with various groups and individuals such as the classroom teacher, other teachers, principals, other school staff, District staff, students, parents, volunteers and the public.
• Attends training, seminars and workshops, etc., to maintain and enhance job knowledge and skills.
• Participates in staff development as directed by the principal, special education teacher or district personnel. This may include crisis prevention intervention, CPR and first aid training and district bus training.

Additional job functions include:

• Performs routine office tasks as required, including but not limited to preparing routine records and reports, copying and filing documents, answering the telephone, sending and receiving faxes, entering and retrieving computer data, ordering office supplies, etc.
• Performs related duties as required.

Minimum training and experience includes:

At least two years of study or 60 semester hours at an accredited institution of higher education; or an associate's degree (or higher); or an approved state or local academic assessment that measures the paraprofessional's knowledge of and ability to assist in instruction at the appropriate level. Must possess a valid state driver's license.

Minimum qualifications or standards required to perform essential job functions include:

Physical requirements: Requires sedentary work that involves walking or standing some of the time and involves exerting up to 25 pounds of force on a recurring basis or routine keyboard operations.

Data conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether like or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people, or things.

Interpersonal communication: Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes the receiving of information and instructions from supervisor and giving information and instructions to students.

Language ability: Requires ability to read a variety of policy and procedure manuals, literary materials, reference materials, technical manuals, etc. Requires the ability to prepare reports, records, notices, etc., with proper format, punctuation, spelling and grammar, using all parts of speech. Requires the ability to speak with and before others with poise, voice control and confidence.

Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply principles of rational systems to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists; to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in oral, written, diagrammatic or schedule form. Requires the ability to learn and understand relatively complex principles and techniques; to make routine independent judgments in absence of supervision; to acquire knowledge of topics related to primary occupation. Must have the ability to comprehend and interpret received information.

Verbal aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow verbal and written instructions; to teach students. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently with students, teachers and other staff using technical and/or professional languages including library studies, instructional technology, etc.

Numeric aptitude: Requires the ability to add and subtract totals, to multiply and divide, to use mathematical formulas, to determine percentages and decimals and to determine time. Must be able to use practical applications of fractions, percentages, ratio and proportion.

Form/spatial aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width, and shape.

Motor coordination: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes in using office equipment.

Manual dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, office equipment, control knobs, switches, etc. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.

Color discrimination: Requires the ability to differentiate colors and shades of color.

Interpersonal temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress when confronted with emergency situations or tight deadlines. The worker may be subject to tension as a regular, consistent part of the job.

Physical communications: Requires the ability to talk and hear: (talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing: perceiving nature of sounds by ear).

Performance indicators include:

Knowledge of job: Has knowledge of the methods, procedures and policies of the assigned school and Spartanburg School District Seven as they pertain to the performance of duties of the Teacher Assistant - Special Education/Self-Contained K-1st Grade. Is knowledgeable in the laws, ordinances, standards and regulations pertaining to the specific duties and responsibilities of the position. Can take the initiative to complete the duties of the position without the need of direct supervision. Has the ability to plan, organize and prioritize daily assignments and work activities.

Quality of work: Maintains high standards of accuracy in exercising duties and responsibilities. Exercises immediate remedial action to correct any quality deficiencies that occur in areas of responsibility. Maintains high quality communication and interaction with internal and external entities with whom the position interacts.

Quantity of work: Performs described essential functions and related assignments efficiently and effectively to produce quantity of work which consistently meets established standards and expectations.

Dependability: Assumes responsibility for completing assigned work. Completes assigned work within deadlines in accordance with directives, policy, standards and prescribed procedures. Maintains accountability for assigned responsibilities in the technical, human and conceptual areas.

Attendance: Attends and remains at work regularly and adheres to policies and procedures regarding absenteeism and tardiness. Provides adequate notice to higher management with respect to vacation time and leave requests.

Initiative and enthusiasm: Maintains an enthusiastic, self-reliant and self-starting approach to meet job responsibilities and accountabilities. Strives to anticipate work to be accomplished and initiates proper and acceptable action for the completion of work with a minimum of supervision and instruction.

Judgment: Exercises analytical judgment in areas of