Special Olympics Assistant Coach

Young World Physical Education; Mission (TX); On-site; USD 26,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

La Joya ISD seeks a dependable Special Education Assistant / Assistant Coach at Palmview High School, Mission, TX, to support students with disabilities and assist with an assigned athletic program. The employee works under the supervision of certified teachers, campus administration, the Athletic Coordinator, and the Head Coach.

The role involves implementing IEP responsibilities, accommodations, and health and safety procedures while contributing to athletic activities and inclusive education.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; associate degree preferred.
• Valid Texas Educational Aide Certificate or ability to obtain certification within district timelines.
• Experience working with students with disabilities preferred.
• Coaching experience preferred.
• Ability to work effectively under the direction of certified teachers, special education staff, athletic coordinator, and head coach.

Responsibilities

• Assist the certified special education teacher and general education teachers in implementing instructional activities and student supports.
• Provide individual, small-group, inclusion, resource, transition, or specialized classroom assistance as assigned.
• Reinforce academic skills, communication, organization, self-advocacy, social skills, functional skills, and independent-living skills using teacher-approved methods.
• Support the Head Coach in implementing the assigned campus athletic program and district athletic department expectations.
• Teach sport-specific fundamentals and safety techniques consistent with the Head Coach’s program plan and the employee’s training.
• Supervise student-athletes before, during, and after practices, contests, travel, locker-room use, and team activities.

Skills

Strong communication

Organization

Documentation

Supervision

Teamwork

Student-support skills

Education

High school diploma or GED

Texas Educational Aide Certificate

Associate degree preferred

Job description

Special Olympics Assistant Coach

La Joya Independent School District Palmview High School - Mission, Texas Open in Google Maps

Job Details

Job ID: 5875340
Application Deadline: Posted until filled
Posted: Aug 07, 2026 5:00 AM (UTC)

Starting Date: To Be Determined

Job Description

La Joya Independent School District

Special Education Assistant Coach Role Description

Position: Special Education Assistant / Assistant Coach

Wage/Hour Status: Nonexempt

Reports to: Principal / Special Education Administrator or Designee / Athletic Coordinator / Head Coach / Executive Director of Athletics

Pay Grade: Assigned Educational Aide Pay Grade + Coaching Stipend

Dept./School: Assigned Campus

Initiated Date: July 2026

POSITION SUMMARY

La Joya ISD seeks a dependable, student-centered Special Education Assistant / Assistant Coach to provide instructional, behavioral, personal-care, and program support to students receiving special education services while also assisting with an assigned athletic program. The employee works under the direction and supervision of certified teachers, special education staff, campus administration, the Athletic Coordinator, and the Head Coach.

The position supports students’ access to instruction, school activities, and athletics by implementing assigned Individualized Education Program (IEP) responsibilities, accommodations, modifications, supplementary aids and services, behavior intervention plans, health and safety procedures, and coaching expectations. The employee may not independently develop, revise, interpret, or discontinue an IEP, Section 504 plan, behavior plan, or related service.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist the certified special education teacher and general education teachers in implementing instructional activities and student supports.
• Provide individual, small-group, inclusion, resource, transition, or specialized classroom assistance as assigned.
• Reinforce academic skills, communication, organization, self-advocacy, social skills, functional skills, and independent-living skills using teacher-approved methods.
• Prepare, organize, adapt, and distribute instructional materials under the direction of the certified teacher.
• Monitor student participation, engagement, attendance, behavior, and completion of assigned work.
• Collect objective academic, behavioral, functional, service, and progress-monitoring data as directed; submit documentation accurately and on time.
• Provide supervision and assistance during arrival, dismissal, class transitions, meals, transportation, community-based instruction, extracurricular activities, and other assigned settings.
• Maintain a safe, respectful, structured, and inclusive learning environment.
• Communicate student progress, concerns, injuries, incidents, or changes in behavior promptly to the supervising teacher and appropriate administrator.
• Perform other duties consistent with the employee’s role, training, certification, and district procedures.

SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM SUPPORT

• Review and understand only the portions of each assigned student’s IEP, behavior intervention plan, safety plan, health plan, and other educational plan necessary to perform assigned responsibilities.
• Implement assigned accommodations, modifications, supplementary aids and services, assistive technology supports, and instructional or behavioral strategies exactly as directed by the IEP and supervising certified staff.
• Provide access and participation supports in the least restrictive environment and promote meaningful inclusion with nondisabled peers.
• Use prompting, modeling, redirection, reinforcement, visual supports, communication systems, sensory supports, and de-escalation strategies approved by the student’s educational team.
• Support students with mobility, positioning, feeding, toileting, hygiene, lifting, transfers, or other personal-care needs only when assigned, trained, and authorized under district procedures and the student’s plan.
• Assist students in using adaptive equipment, communication devices, and assistive technology after receiving appropriate training.
• Follow teacher direction regarding assignment grading support, testing accommodations, alternate materials, and documentation of student performance.
• Support transition services, vocational activities, job coaching, community-based instruction, and functional-life-skills instruction when assigned.
• Encourage student dignity, independence, self-determination, positive peer relationships, and age-appropriate participation; avoid unnecessary dependence or isolation.
• Participate in required special education, crisis-prevention, behavior-support, confidentiality, and disability-awareness training.

SPECIAL EDUCATION LEGAL AND PROCEDURAL COMPLIANCE

• Carry out assigned IEP responsibilities and required accommodations, modifications, supports, and services; immediately notify the supervising teacher if implementation is unclear, unavailable, or not occurring as written.
• Do not independently change instructional goals, service minutes, placement, grading criteria, accommodations, modifications, behavior interventions, transportation, eligibility, or any other IEP or Section 504 determination.
• Follow all requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Texas Education Agency rules, district policy, and local procedures applicable to assigned duties.
• Protect the confidentiality of student records, disability information, IEPs, evaluations, medical information, behavior data, and personally identifiable information. Access and discuss information only for a legitimate educational purpose and only with authorized personnel.
• Do not photograph, record, post, text, email, copy, remove, or disclose confidential student information except through district-approved systems and procedures.
• Maintain accurate service logs, data sheets, incident records, transportation records, personal-care records, and other required documentation without altering, backdating, or falsifying information.
• Use only district-approved behavior interventions. Never use prohibited aversive techniques, corporal punishment, seclusion, restraint, or physical intervention except as permitted by law, district policy, emergency circumstances, and the employee’s current training.
• Report suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, bullying, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, or unsafe conditions immediately as required by law and district policy.
• Participate in ARD/IEP, staffing, or student-support meetings only when requested; provide objective information within the scope of assigned duties and defer educational decisions to the authorized committee and certified staff.
• Promptly report any concern that a student is being denied access, excluded because of disability, or not receiving an assigned support, service, accommodation, or modification.

ATHLETIC PROGRAM RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support the Head Coach in implementing the assigned campus athletic program and district athletic department expectations.
• Assist with practices, conditioning, skill development, contests, equipment, facilities, transportation, and team organization.
• Teach sport-specific fundamentals and safety techniques consistent with the Head Coach’s program plan and the employee’s training.
• Supervise student-athletes before, during, and after practices, contests, travel, locker-room use, and team activities.
• Monitor attendance, effort, conduct, academic progress, and UIL eligibility; communicate concerns through established procedures.
• Provide disability-related accommodations and supports during athletics when assigned and maintain confidentiality regarding a student-athlete’s disability or educational plan.
• Ensure students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate and are not excluded, disciplined, or limited because of disability when reasonable supports or modifications are required by an applicable plan or district determination.
• Coordinate with the Head Coach, Athletic Trainer, special education staff, and campus administration regarding student safety, emergency plans, medical alerts, adaptive equipment, and approved participation supports.
• Promote teamwork, accountability, sportsmanship, character, academic success, and pride in La Joya ISD.
• Maintain professional communication and boundaries with students, parents, staff, officials, and coaches.

COMPLIANCE AND SAFETY

• Maintain all certifications and training required for the educational aide assignment and coaching duties, including CPR, AED, First Aid, UIL-required training, and any assigned crisis-prevention or specialized-care training.
• Follow all UIL, TEA, federal, state, district, campus, special education, transportation, health-services, and athletic department policies.
• Follow each student’s emergency action plan, seizure action plan, allergy plan, diabetes plan, or other health plan when assigned and trained.
• Administer medication or perform specialized health procedures only when legally authorized, specifically assigned, appropriately trained, and permitted by district policy.
• Use safe lifting, transfer, mobility, equipment, and body-mechanics procedures; request assistance when needed.
• Report injuries, suspected concussion, medical emergencies, safety concerns, student elopement, restraint, significant behavior incidents, or discipline concerns immediately through established procedures.
• Maintain professional boundaries and never use confidential knowledge, disability information, or coaching authority to embarrass, threaten, retaliate against, or discriminate against a student.

QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or GED required; associate degree or college hours preferred.
• Valid Texas Educational Aide Certificate or ability to obtain certification within district timelines.
• Meet federal, state, and district requirements applicable to paraprofessional employees.
• Experience working with students with disabilities preferred.
• Knowledge of or willingness to learn IEP implementation, accommodations, behavior supports, confidentiality, assistive technology, and disability-related safety procedures.
• Coaching experience and knowledge of the assigned sport preferred.
• Ability to work effectively under the direction of certified teachers, special education staff, the Athletic Coordinator, and Head Coach.
• Strong communication, organization, documentation, supervision, teamwork, and student-support skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, exercise sound judgment, and respond calmly during challenging or emergency situations.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Mental Demands

• Maintain emotional control under stress and respond calmly to student behavior, medical needs, emergencies, athletic competition, and changing assignments.
• Follow detailed verbal and written instructions, IEP-related responsibilities, schedules, safety plans, and documentation procedures.
• Communicate effectively and professionally with students, parents, teachers, coaches, related-service personnel, administrators, and community members.
• Maintain sustained attention, confidentiality, objectivity, patience, and sound judgment.

Physical Demands

• Frequent standing, walking, bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching, climbing stairs, and movement throughout classrooms and athletic facilities.
• Ability to lift, carry, position, transfer, or assist students and equipment as assigned; physical requirements may vary based on student needs and must follow district safety procedures.
• Ability to assist with personal-care routines, mobility devices, instructional materials, athletic equipment, drills, and facility setup when assigned and trained.
• Exposure to indoor and outdoor environments, heat, humidity, cold, noise, wet surfaces, athletic facilities, bodily fluids, and communicable conditions.
• Extended or irregular hours may include mornings, afternoons, evenings, weekends, contests, travel, and district events.

POSITION WORKING DAYS

187 Days + Extended Days for Coaching Duties

Position Type: Educational Aide Assignment + Supplemental Coaching Assignment

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. They are not an exhaustive list of all duties. Responsibilities must remain within the employee’s training, certification, job classification, and district authorization. Management reserves the right to revise the job description or assign additional lawful duties as district needs change.

This job description is an operational document and is not legal advice. District administration should review it with Human Resources, Special Education, Athletics, and legal counsel before formal adoption.

Employee’s Signature: _______________________________

Employee ID: ______________________________________

Supervisor’s Name: _________________________________

Supervisor’s Signature: ______________________________

Date: ____________________________________________

Position Type: Full-Time

Job Requirements

• Citizenship, residency or work visa required

Contact Information

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