Exceptional Children's Teacher Assistant (WAMS)

EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN - TEACHER ASSISTANT

West Alexander Middle School

Full-time 10-month position with benefits

General Statement of Job

Under general supervision, performs a variety of technical and clerical tasks in assisting a teacher. Employees may perform a wide range of tasks to support the efforts of the teacher, meet the needs of all students, and ensure the provision of quality instruction for all students. Employee provides one-on-one assistance with academics and behavioral issues and may lead small-group activities. Employee assists the lead teacher with general housekeeping and clerical duties. Reports to a principal and/or teacher.

Required qualifications

• Associate Degree or 48 semester hours towards an associate degree, preferred.
• Prior experience working with children with special needs is desirable.
• Applicant must hold a valid NC state driver’s license.
• Applicant must be eligible to obtain a CDL with Passenger (P) and School Bus (S) endorsements. If an employee is unable to obtain a CDL with P/S endorsements for any reason, this could result in a recommendation for dismissal.

Essential duties and responsibilities

• Assists teachers with executing instruction and evaluating its effectiveness.
• Constantly monitors the safety and well-being of students, particularly when a student is participating in an inclusive activity.
• Monitors student behavior and helps maintain discipline in the classroom; assists with crisis prevention; restrains students as needed.
• Assists students with learning; reinforces and clarifies instruction; provides one-on-one assistance as needed.
• Praises and reinforces achievement of students; promotes self-esteem.
• Assists students with becoming increasingly independent.
• Maintains and respects the confidentiality of student and school personnel information.
• Constructs, copies, and distributes educational materials as needed.
• Assists students with special needs in all aspects of classroom instruction to maximize inclusion, learning, achievement of IEP objectives, etc.
• Participates in the IEP process and serves as a resource for the student personnel evaluation team as needed.
• Assist physically and/or mentally disabled students with activities of daily living (feeding, personal hygiene, etc.) 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.
• Supervises students during out-of-classroom activities, including those involving school transportation.
• Performs general housekeeping duties in maintaining an orderly classroom.
• Assists students in non-instructional areas, such as supervising student lunch programs, bus duty, playground duty, corridors, study hall, and other related areas.
• Drives a daily bus route or substitutes as a driver when requested by the principal or designee.

Additional duties

• Performs other related tasks as assigned by the principal and/or teacher.

Essential knowledge and abilities

• Must be adaptable and able to perform under stress in emergency situations.
• Employees must have the ability to interpret and establish appropriate rules, methods, and techniques in maintaining a disciplined academic environment.
• Applicant must have strong interpersonal skills and patience.
• Experience working with students and knowledge of conflict resolution techniques is strongly encouraged.
• Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions.
• Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages, including medical, legal, and counseling terminology.
• Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions.
• Must be able to use a variety of equipment and classroom tools such as computers, copiers, calculators, pencils, scissors, etc.
• Physical ability to lift students of various weights independently and with shared responsibilities.
• Must be able to exert up to 20 pounds of force occasionally; and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.

The knowledge and abilities described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.