Special Education Paraprofessional (ISANA Himalia)

Purpose:

The Special Education Assistant assists the classroom teacher and school service providers by providing the following academic and behavioral support to an individual student or group of students:

A Special Education Paraprofessional assists individual students and small groups of students with academic and behavioral challenges in and outside of the classroom setting under the supervision of a Resource Specialist Teacher, General Education Teacher and/or Behavior Intervention Case Manager (BICM) certified School Psychologist. Additionally, you assist in implementation of Individualized Education Plans and/or behavior plans and track data daily to provide necessary information for the purposes of developing annual IEP goals and objectives for assigned student(s). You are someone who is comfortable and adaptable to working with diverse student populations and schools.

Essential Job Functions

• Assists student(s) in following classroom routines, working on-task, and completing assignments with increasing independence.
• Clarifies, rephrases, and repeats instructions from teacher for student(s) as needed.
• Collaborates with teacher in weekly lesson planning.
• Assists teacher with differentiating instruction and implementing academic and behavioral accommodations for student(s).
• Collaborates with school staff in behavioral support.
• Assists with implementation of behavior support plan, including behavioral data collection;  reinforcement of positive behavior; use of sensory breaks (as needed); and assistance in following through with consistent appropriate consequences for challenging behaviors.
• Use of Non-violent Crisis Intervention (NCI), Love and Logic and Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) strategies to prevent and modify maladaptive student behavior.
• Assists student(s) (including physical assistance as needed) with fine motor tasks and mobility, if needed.
• Work one-to-one with student(s) who have behavior challenges in school. Students served may include those with Autism Spectrum Disorders, behavioral and learning disabilities.
• Facilitate students’ academic, emotional, and social skills per IEP, and Behavior Support Plan.
• Collect academic and behavioral data.
• Attend in-service training sessions.
• Use software to monitor timelines, service delivery and data collection.

Experience:
At least six months working with special needs children and knowledge of autism spectrum disorders. Familiarity with ABA, Floor Time, Discrete Trial Training, and implementation of programs designed to enhance learning, peer relationships, functional communication and behavior. 

Knowledge/Abilities/Skills:

• Excellent communication skills (Verbal and Written).
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Basic computer skills.
• Always maintain a professional image and courteous demeanor.
• Prior experience working with children.
• Must be patient, creative, motivational & enthusiastic toward children.
• Must be ethical, professional, reliable, diligent, and work well within a team setting.
• Must be comfortable taking initiative, taking direction from others and working independently.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Must be able to run short distances, sit on floor, bend down, squat, kneel, and twist at the waist in order to interact and educate our clients
• Must be able to stand and sit for extended periods of time.
• Knowledge of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) is preferred.

Qualifications

Education/ Training:

Consistent with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015 and other related legislation, candidates for this classification must meet the following standards:    

The equivalent of graduation from high school* and one of the following:

1. Completion of at least two years of study* (48 semester units or 60 quarter units) at an institution of higher education;

OR

       2. Attainment of an Associate of Arts degree or higher*

Additionally, completion of coursework at an accredited institution of higher education in child development, education, and/or psychology is desirable.

* Verification will be required for high school graduation, college units, and degrees.