Bilingual Special Education Assistant

Sun Prairie Area School District; Town of Sun Prairie (WI); On-site; USD 26,969 - 38,411; Full time

Job summary

Sun Prairie Area School District seeks a paraprofessional to assist multilingual learners with disabilities in a bilingual Spanish-English Dual Language Immersion program. Responsibilities include supporting IEP/504 goals, leading small groups, and providing language accommodations for student success in class and assessments.

The role requires a high school diploma with technical training in special education, DPI certification, and bilingual proficiency.

Qualifications

• High school graduate with technical training in special education, or equivalent experience.
• DPI certification provided by employee.
• Bilingual English and Spanish language skills.
• CPR, non-violent crisis intervention, and first aid certifications.
• Must meet NCLB standards: ability to assist in reading, writing and mathematics.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Maintains a safe learning atmosphere for students to enable them to meet or surpass their capabilities.
• Supports and facilitates all IEP/504 goals and collects related behavioral and academic data.
• Facilitates inclusion of students and promotes acceptance of differences with students, staff and community.
• Leads small groups and one-on-one instruction using bilingual skills.
• Facilitates student accommodations on assignments and tests to address language needs.
• Provides culturally and linguistically responsive student supervision across environments.
• Uses bilingual skills to support communication between students, staff, and families.

Skills

Bilingual English and Spanish

Education

High school diploma with technical training in special education

DPI certification provided by employee

CPR certification

First aid certification

Non-violent crisis intervention certification

Valid driver’s license

Job description

STARTING WAGE: $23.73+ PER HOUR (based on experience)
Summary: The purpose of this position is to assist teachers in meeting the comprehensive needs of dually identified multilingual learners (ML) with disabilities in the educational environment, with a particular focus on students in our bilingual Spanish-English Dual Language Immersion program.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities: The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all inclusive. Other duties may be required and/or assigned.

• Maintains a safe learning atmosphere for students to enable them to meet or surpass their capabilities.
• Supports and facilitates all IEP/504 goals/plans set by IEP/504 Teams and collect related behavioral and academic data.
• Facilitates the inclusion of students whenever and wherever possible, be that the classroom or the community; also promotes acceptance of differences with students, staff and community.
• Leads small groups and one-on-one instruction under the guidance of a teacher, utilizing bilingual skills and language of instruction with multilingual learners.
• Facilitates student accommodations on assignments and tests, ensuring language needs are addressed.
• Provides culturally and linguistically responsive student supervision across all educational environments.
• Utilizes bilingual skills to support communication between students, staff, and families ensuring that language barriers do not impede student progress and participation.
• Must be able to take and follow through with directives and instructions consistently from special education contact teacher, as well as be able to independently make decisions and solve problems to meet the needs of students.
• Prepares and maintains detailed notes, plans and materials for substitutes when absent.
• Provides basic first aid to students; maintains injury/attendant care logs and participates in and keeps current certification in appropriate training sessions, such as blood borne pathogens, medication administrations, CPR, first aid, non-violent crisis intervention, tube feeding, transfers and lifts for students with physical limitations, and others as required for specific assigned position.
• Provides self-care assistance for students, including but not limited to feeding, diapering and toileting, etc. May come in contact with bodily fluids.
• Performs or assists with health procedures such as: catheterization, tube feedings, diaper changes, glucose monitoring as assigned after training completed.
• Follows all relevant district policies and procedures including District Technology Use Policy throughout work day.
  

Minimum Training and Experience Required to Perform Essential Job Functions:

• High school graduate with technical training in special education, or any combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills and abilities;
• DPI certification provided by employee
• Bilingual English and Spanish language skills (demonstrated through a language proficiency test as a part of the hiring process).
• CPR, non-violent crisis intervention, and first aid certification.
• Must meet the following NCLB standards for this position: (1) Completed two years of study at an institution of higher education, (2) obtained an associate's degree (or higher) or (3) be able to demonstrate through a formal assessment, the ability to assist in instructing reading, writing and mathematics.
• Must possess a valid driver's license.
  

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to sit or stand for prolonged periods, up to 90% of an eight-hour day, without back support.
• Ability to perform light to moderate physical work, frequently lifting up to 10 to 15 pounds without assistance, and when needed, lifting up to 50 to 80 pounds with assistance.
• Ability to freely move throughout the building to keep pace with assigned students both in crisis and non-crisis times.
• Ability to reach in all directions with full range of motion, bend/stoop and use hand/eye coordination to assist students in any required capacity when needed.
• Ability to complete job duties in an environment where background noise and frequent interruptions are the norm while maintaining concentration and focus.
• Ability to assist students with disabilities through lifts transfers, positioning, restraint, etc., while maintaining personal and student safety.
• Must have current physical exam on file with the district certifying employee is able to meet all job qualifications.
  

Mathematical Ability

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, divide and calculate decimals and percentages
• Ability to do basic algebra and geometry
• Ability to pass a skills performance task at the level they are supporting

Language Ability And Interpersonal Communication

• Ability to comprehend, interpret and/or prepare a variety of documents, including attendance reports, , disciplinary reports, etc., test and instructional materials, confidential files, health cards, , student/family handbook, purchase orders, etc., using prescribed format and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style.
• Ability to record and deliver information, explain procedures, and follow instructions.
• Ability to communicate effectively with teachers, students, parents, administrators, police officers, nurses, the general public, and others verbally and in writing
• Ability to use and interpret special education terminology
• Ability to pass a skills performance task at the level they are supporting
• Ability to be responsive to curriculum changes

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Ability to pass a skills performance task at the level they are supporting Language
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize tasks requiring timelines and accuracy.
• Demonstrated ability to be a collaborative and confidential team member.
• Ability to learn to use Assistive Technology devices or software with training
• Ability to use and interpret special education terminology
• Ability to pass a skills performance task at the level they are supporting
• Ability to work with physically and verbally aggressive students

The Sun Prairie Area School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the School District will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.