Paraprofessional

POPLAR SCHOOL DISTRICT; Poplar (MT); On-site; USD 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

POPLAR SCHOOL DISTRICT is seeking an instructional assistant to support certified staff in classrooms and help students meet instructional goals. The role involves reinforcing reading, language arts, and math, assisting with assessments and materials, and supporting behavior management.

You will work with students individually or in small groups, help with field trips, and participate in IEP processes to support inclusion and achievement for students with special needs.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• College coursework or passing examination as required by federal/state programs.
• Prior experience with special needs students is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Assist and guide students to reinforce reading, language arts, mathematics and other skills.
• Work with students individually and in small groups to reinforce learning and implement programs.
• Assist professional staff in administration and correction of exercises, tests and assessments.
• Prepare classroom materials and reinforce instructional materials for individual needs.
• Assist with record-keeping to document student learning and performance.
• Help manage classroom behavior to maintain a safe, orderly environment.
• Supervise students in non-instructional areas (lunch, bus duty, playground, study hall).
• Accompany students on field trips to assist with supervision.
• Construct, copy and distribute educational materials as needed.
• Assist with parent contact to encourage involvement in student education.
• Assist students with special needs to maximize inclusion and achievement.
• Participate in IEP process and act as resource for evaluation teams.
• Assist students with daily living activities for participation in school.
• Follow safety rules and procedures for all students, including those with disabilities.

Skills

Instructional support

Reading & math support

PC literacy (Word, Excel)

Diversity awareness

Confidentiality

Team collaboration

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

College coursework or certification per No Child Left Behind

Experience with special needs students desirable

Tools

Word

Excel

Job description

• Under the direct supervision of a certified administrator, to assist certified professional staff with students in the classroom to meet instructional goals and objectives, and to free certified professional employees from non-provided duties to enable them to make a contribution to other aspects of the educational program, such as curriculum development.

Position Purpose

Under the direct supervision of a certified administrator, to assist certified professional staff with students in the classroom to meet instructional goals and objectives, and to free certified professional employees from non-professional duties to enable them to make a contribution to other aspects of the educational program, such as curriculum development.

Essential Job Functions

• Assists and guides students to reinforce reading, language arts, mathematics, computer instruction, and other skills.
• Works with students individually and in small groups to reinforce basic learning and implement assigned programs.
• Assists professional staff in the administration and correction of classroom exercises, tests and assessments.
• Assists in classroom preparations and strategies for reinforcing instructional materials and skills according to individual student needs.
• Assists with record-keeping procedures to document student learning and performance.
• Assists with classroom behavioral management to minimize disruptions, ensure a safe and orderly classroom, and ensure students are on task.
• Assists students in non-instructional areas, such as supervising the student lunch programs, bus duty, playground duty, corridor, study hall, and other related non-instructional areas.
• Accompanies students on field trips for the purpose of assisting with supervision.
• Constructs, copies and distributes and use educational materials as needed.
• Assists teacher with parent contact as requested to foster effective and participatory parent involvement in student education.
• Assists students with special needs in all aspects of classroom instruction to maximize inclusion, learning, achievement if IEP objectives, etc.
• Participates in IEP process and serves as resource for the student personnel evaluation team as needed.
• Assist students with physical or mental disabilities with activities of daily living for the purpose of maximizing their ability to participate in school or learning activities.
• Follows all applicable safety rules, procedures and regulations governing the proper manner of assistance for all students, including those with disabilities or other special needs.

Additional Duties

• Assist guidance, pupil services staff or building administration, as needed.
• Perform any other related duties as assigned.

Note: The above description is illustrative of tasks and responsibilities. It is not meant to be all inclusive of every task or responsibility.

Equipment

• Use standard office equipment, such as personal computers and copiers.

Travel Requirements

• Travel between schools, or between schools and central offices, may be required for certain positions.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Ability to carry out instructions furnished in written or oral form.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide, and perform arithmetic operations as needed to assist students.
• Ability to understand, apply and use personal computers and software applications (e.g., Word, Excel).
• Ability to work with a diverse group of individuals.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of information regarding students, employees and others.
• Ability to establish a supportive and compassionate relationship with students with special needs.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with students, staff and others contacted in the course of work.
• Ability to report work orally or in writing to supervisor as required.
• Effective writing and verbal communication skills.

Physical and Mental Demands, Work Hazards

• Works in standard office and school building environments.
• Ability to work outdoors during outdoor student activities.

Note: Also see the Summary of Physical, Sensory and Environmental Requirements Needed to Perform Essential Functions for this position.

Qualifications Profile

• Any combination of education and experience providing the required skill and knowledge for successful performance would be qualifying. Typical qualifications would be equivalent to:
• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Successful completion of college level coursework or passing of examination as required by the No Child Left Behind Act.
• Prior experience working with special needs children desirable.

FLSA Status: Non-exempt