Instructional Aide/A - Emotional Support

Position Type:

Support Staff/Instructional Aide - Special Ed.

Date Posted:

9/18/2024

Location:

Strayer Middle School

Job Title:

Instructional Aide/A - Special Ed./Emotional Support

Reports To:

Building Principal at Strayer Middle School

Level:

QESPA Union, Category A

Status:

Hourly, Students Days Only - 181 days per school year

Hours:

6.5 hours per day

Salary:

Starting at $18.63 per hour. Additional $1.00 per hour stipend with

HQ status *required for this position

Effective Date:

24-25 School Year

SUMMARY: Assists the teacher (classroom, special education, reading specialist, library) in daily classroom activities. At least 60% of primary role consists of one, or a combination of, the following area(s) of instructional support: Special Education, ESL, Reading, IST.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Other duties may be assigned.

• Assists in small group pupil instruction; tutors pupils at the teacher's request
• Assists teacher in routine classroom operation (e.g., tutoring, student management)
• Assists in the preparation of instructional materials, attendance, behavioral, and other reports
• Demonstrates an understanding of students' problems, implements classroom behavior management with fairness and consistency
• Keeps records, writes lessons on the board, and corrects student work
• Implements/follows the teacher's instructions for classroom procedures; reinforces and consistently implements teacher's philosophy
• Makes appropriate referrals when difficulties arise and teacher is not readily available
• Assists with clerical duties such as inventory, bulletin boards, collecting money

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: 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, and/or ability required. Special Education/Paraprofessional Aides must meet Highly Qualified requirements as set forth by the PA Department of Education. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Strong interpersonal skills
• Effective communication skills with students, parents, teachers
• Child centered
• Organized, strong initiative
• Knowledge of child development
• Knowledge of teaching techniques/strategies or willing to learn
• Flexible
• Experience in school setting preferred
• Ability to work with students with emotional, physical, or mental disabilities
• Ability to maintain composure under stressful conditions
• Ability to develop effective working relationships with students, staff, parents, and the school community
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing
• Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and Board of Education policies
• Highly Qualified (required) =

$1.00 per hour additional stipend
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Previous experience with children, especially at-risk students or students with disabilities preferred.

HIGHLY QUALIFIED: In order to be considered Highly Qualified according to the Pennsylvania Department of Education you would have to suffice one of the following:

• Have completed at least two years of study at an institution of higher education [defined as completion of 48 semester hours (or equivalent trimester hours) of college coursework or an applicable number of semester hours as defined by the institution of higher education attended, whichever is less; or
• Have obtained an associate's (or higher) degree; or
• Have met a rigorous standard of quality and can demonstrate, through a formal state or local academic assessment -
• Knowledge of, and the ability to assist in instructing, reading, writing, and mathematics; or
• Knowledge of, and the ability to assist in instructing, reading readiness, writing readiness, and mathematics readiness, as appropriate.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to staff, students, parents, and administrators.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure using whole numbers, fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio and percentage.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, talk, and hear. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is frequently required to bend at the trunk more than the average person. Occasionally the employee is required to lift or move up to 90 pounds, such as to move students and equipment on wheels. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and peripheral vision. The employee needs to be able to tell where a sound is coming from and hear in a noisy environment.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include distance and close vision such as to read handwritten or typed material and the ability to adjust focus. The position requires the individual to meet multiple demands from several people and interact with staff, students, and parents/guardians.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics 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 the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud. The employee must work with parents, staff, students and administrators, continuously meeting multiple demands from several people. The employee is continuously responsible for the safety, well-being and work output of students.