About this role
Primary Purpose
Help meet the physical and instructional needs of students with disabilities in a self-contained classroom. Assist in the implementation of classroom programs, including self-help, behavior management, and instruction programs. Work under the general supervision of the principal and the immediate direction of a certified teacher.
Qualification
Education/Certification
High school diploma or hold a General Educational Development (GED) certificate
Valid Texas educational aide certificate
Have met formal academic assessment, associate’s degree, or two years of study at an institution of higher learning*
Special Knowledge/Skills
Ability to work with children with disabilities
Ability to follow verbal and written instructions
Ability to assist in instructing reading, writing, and mathematics
Ability to instruct students and assist in managing their behavior
Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
Experience
Two years experience working with children
Major Responsibilities and Duties
Instructional Support
- 1. Assist the teacher in preparing instructional materials and classroom displays.
- 2. Help maintain a neat and orderly classroom.
- 3. Help with equipment inventory, care, and maintenance.
- 4. Help the teacher keep and maintain records and prepare reports.
- 5. Provide orientation and assistance to substitute teachers.
Student Management
- 1. Assist students with physical disabilities according to their individual needs, including transferring to and from wheelchairs, lifting, positioning, and assisting with personal care tasks such as feeding, bathroom needs, and personal hygiene.
- 2. Keep the teacher informed of any special needs or problems individual students may have.
- 3. Help manage the behavior of students. This includes intervening in crisis situations and restraining disruptive or dangerous students as needed.
- 4. Recognize differences in each student’s special medical, physical, communicative, and emotional needs and adapt methods and interaction accordingly.
- 5. Work with individual students or small groups to develop motor skills and conduct instructional exercises assigned by the teacher.
- 6. Help supervise students throughout the school day, inside and outside the classroom. This includes lunchroom, bus, and playground duty.
Other
- 1. Maintain confidentiality.
- 2. Participate in staff development training programs, faculty meetings, and special events as assigned.
- 3. Follow district safety protocols and emergency procedures.
Supervisory Responsibilities
None
Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors
- 1. Tools/Equipment Used: Standard office equipment, including computer and peripherals; standard instructional equipment; other specialized and adaptive equipment used by students
- 2. Posture: Frequent standing; kneeling/squatting, bending/stooping, pushing/pulling, and twisting
- 3. Motion: Frequent walking and reaching
- 4. Lifting: Frequent light lifting and carrying (less than 15 pounds); Occasional heavy lifting (45 pounds or over) and positioning of students with physical disabilities, controlling behavior through physical restraint, assisting nonambulatory students, and lifting and moving adaptive and other classroom equipment
- 5. Environment: Work inside and outside (exposure to sun, heat, cold, and inclement weather); exposure to noise; exposure to biological hazards (bacteria, communicable diseases)
- 6. Mental Demands: Maintain emotional control under stress; work with frequent interruptions
*Required by Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) for aides who are providing instructional support in Title I, Part A program.