Special Education Instructional Assistant I

Sioux City Community School District; Sioux City (IA); On-site; USD 40,116,000 - 51,577,000; Full time

Job summary

Sioux City Community School District North Middle School in Sioux City, Iowa is seeking a Special Education Instructional Assistant I to support students with disabilities and assist with health and behavior supports so learners can access instruction across settings. The role involves working with a small group or individual students in general and special education environments.

The position requires a high school diploma (paraeducator certification preferred) and strong communication, data

Qualifications

• High school diploma and experience with children.
• Paraeducator certification preferred.
• Ability to communicate with a variety of individuals and groups.

Responsibilities

• Work with students with disabilities in general and special education settings.
• Communicate with teachers and staff to support instruction and student progress.
• Maintain confidentiality of student information and records.
• Assist with health and behavior supports to enable instructional access.
• Use assistive technology and adaptive equipment as needed to support learning.

Skills

Communication

Analytical thinking

Physical stamina

Technology literacy

Education

High school diploma

Paraeducator certification

Job description

Special Education Instructional Assistant I

Sioux City Community School District North Middle School - Sioux City, Iowa Open in Google Maps

Job Details

Job ID: 5904519

Application Deadline: Posted until filled

Posted: Aug 26, 2026 5:00 AM (UTC)

Starting Date: Sep 21, 2026

Job Description

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Special Education Classroom Instructional Assistant I provides assistance and motivation to students with disabilities. This position will provide assistance with health and behavior supports needed to allow our students to effectively access instruction in a variety of settings. This position will generally work with students who are working toward grade level standards and who spend part of the day in the general education environment.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

include the following:

• Work effectively with children having disabilities and special needs within general and special education classrooms and in varied settings. May work with one student or a small group of students.
• Communicate and work effectively with special education and classroom teachers, co-workers.
• Practice professional, legal, and ethical conduct toward students, parents, and co-workers.
• Motivate and assist student(s) to build self-esteem and independence, develop interpersonal and social skills, think independently, learn actively, and self-advocate.
• Use assistive technology, computers, and adaptive equipment providing special care or physical assistance required for the student to function in school and learn effectively.
• Gather and maintain accurate data regarding the student, including academic, behavioral, and/or health information, as needed, and providing feedback to the teacher to improve instruction for the student.
• Understand and appreciate diversity in children’s skill and abilities, cultural heritage, lifestyles, values systems, and human rights.
• Maintain confidentiality with student information and student records.
• Implement prevention and response strategies as outlined in a student’s Behavior Intervention Plan.
• Implement supports and services as outlined in a student’s Individual Health Plan. This may include toileting, assisting with meals, and other self-care activities for students who spend a majority of their time in the general education setting.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, education and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Minimum education include a high school graduate and previous experience working with children. A paraeducator certification is preferred.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Must possess the ability to communicate effectively with a variety of individuals and groups from all levels of the organization. Individual must have effective listening skills.

ANALYTICAL and REASONING SKILLS

Ability to gather, collate, and/or classify data. Ability to work with a variety of data. Problem solving is required to identify issues and create action plans.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

May be required to lift up to 50 pounds frequently. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The employee may work inside or outside. The environment is usually fast paced with a great deal of movement throughout the day. Individuals must be able to engage in physical activity associated with active supervision of students.

TECHNOLOGY SKILLS

Must be able to use the computer, process electronic requests. Must be able to learn different communication devices from pictures/symbols to individual student augmentative communication devices. Able to retrieve and print information from various computer programs when needed.

OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED

Will perform other duties as may be assigned by the superintendent or designee, necessary and appropriate to achievement of the program and/or District goals and objectives.

Under the Every Student Succeeds Act prior to starting, you must have one of the following:

• Two years of study at an institution of higher education; or
• Associate degree or higher; or
• Obtain voluntary certification through the Board of Educational Examiners(Paraeducator Certification); or
• Successful completion of ACT WorkKeys® (NCRC Assessment).

ACT WorkKeys® Assessment

ACT WorkKeys®is a job skills assessment system that helps employers select, hire, train, developand retain a high-performance workforce. This series of tests measures foundational and soft skills and offers specialized assessments to target institutional needs.

Successful completion of ACT WorkKeys® assessments in Applied Mathematics, Locating Informationand Reading for Information can lead to earning ACT's National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC), a portable credential earned by more than 2.3million people across the United States. If you are interested in taking the NCRC assessments, you may schedule a time at one of theIowaWORKS Centers .

For more information, please contact Iowa Work Force Development at 712-233-9030. The calendar of testing times and locations is available on the Skilled Iowa website:
https://www.iowaworkforcedevelopment.gov/assess-and-improve-my-skills

Non-Discrimination Statement

The Sioux City Community School District offers career and technical programs in the following areas: Business & Marketing, Family & Consumer Science, Health Science, and Industrial Arts, Technology, & PLTW. The Sioux City Community School District is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information (for employment), national origin, religion, age (for employment), disability, socioeconomic status (for programs), marital status (for programs), or veteran status (for employment) in its educational programs and its employment practices.

The District is required by Title IX and 34 CFR Part 106 not to discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs, activities, or employment. Inquiries or grievances under Section 504 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act may be directed to the Compliance Coordinator, at 627 4 th Street, Sioux City, IA 51101, [phone], [e-mail] . Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations to the District may be referred to the Compliance Coordinator, the Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, or both. Please see District board policies 103 and 504.4 for additional information on available grievance procedures.

Position Type: Full-Time 10 Month

Job Categories:

Instructional Support > Paraprofessional / IA

Equal Opportunity Employer

All employers submitting a job opening for posting on the Teach Iowa system will not discriminate in hiring on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, age, physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, marital status, or status as a veteran. A bona fide religious institution may choose to exercise the allowances in Iowa Code section 216.6.(6)d. Employers may have additional developed specific equal employment opportunity policies and procedures; please check with employers.

Job Requirements

• High School/Trade School degree preferred.
• Citizenship, residency or work visa required

Contact Information

• Stefanie Verros
• 627 4th Street
• Sioux City, Iowa 51101
• Phone: [phone]
• Email: [e-mail]