Early Childhood Special Education Assistant

About the Employer

Job Summary

Assist teachers in the instruction, supervision, and care of students in a variety of instructional settings, including special education, general education, work/community, early learning, and school bus, as assigned.

Qualifications

Any combination of education and experience providing the required skill and knowledge for successful performance would be qualifying. Typical qualifications would be equivalent to:
• AA degree or 60 college credits or para certification level I and II Early Childhood required
• 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.

Essential Functions

• Assist teachers with educational activities.
• Maintain a safe and orderly educational environment.
• Implement consistent behavior management strategies and procedures.
• Supervise lunchroom, recess, halls, classroom, bus loading/unloading, and other assigned areas.
• Clarify and reinforce teachers' instructions and reinforce skills taught by the teacher.
• Chart/graph student performance.
• Assist students with work completion.
• Implement and monitor students' individual education plans.
• Prepare and organize instructional materials and equipment.
• Assist in meal and snack preparation and clean up, as needed.
• Clean and sanitize the classroom environment.
• Follow students' behavior management plans.
• Perform personal care duties for students with disabilities, as needed.
• Assist with instruction in the community setting, as required.
• Lift, carry, and correctly position students with physical disabilities.
• Complete Medicaid documentation, as necessary.
• Feed, toilet, and diaper students as needed.
• Implement strategies to maintain/increase appropriate behavior and reduce inappropriate behavior.
• Supervise students in community/work settings.
• Follow directions from teachers and administrators.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Maintain satisfactory and harmonious working relationships with students, parents, and colleagues.
• Provide supervision to students on the school bus, as assigned.
• Attend work on a prompt and reliable basis.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to engage students with special needs.
• Ability to carry out duties cooperatively with others.
• Ability to follow health, safety, and emergency procedures.
• Well-developed oral and written communication skills.
• Physical and mental demands, work hazards:
• Works in standard office and school building environments.
• Ability to work outdoors during outdoor student activities.

Physical Requirements

• Amount of time physical activity: occasionally (1%-32%) frequently (33%-65%) constantly (66%-100%)
• Mobility: x Bend-x Talk-x Hear-x Operate Computer
• Stationary position-x Balance-x Lift up to 10 pounds-x Lift up to 50 pounds-x Manual dexterity tasks-x Reaching/pushing/pulling-x Sitting-x Carrying (25 feet)-x Working conditions: amount of time working conditions occasionally (1%-32%) frequently (33%-65%) constantly (66%-100%)
• District office hours-in Indoors- Weekends/Off Schedule-
• Temperature extremes

Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Statement

It is the policy of Fort Dodge Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs, services, and its employment practices. If you have questions or grievances related to this policy, please contact Roger Porter, Director of School Safety and Security, 515-574-5731, rporter@fdschools.org, located at Fort Dodge Middle School, 800 N 32nd Street, Fort Dodge, IA 50501, or the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Cesar E. Chavez Memorial Building, 1244 Speer Boulevard, Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204-3582, telephone: (303) 844-5695 fax: (303) 844-4303, TDD: (800) 877-8339, OCR.Denver@ed.gov. (Alternate for Section 504 is Branwyn Greathouse, Director of Special Education/Special Needs, 515-574-5675, bgreathouse@fdschools.org, Central Administration Office, 109 North 25th Street, Fort Dodge, IA 50501). Affirmative Action Compliance Coordinator: The district's compliance coordinator for affirmative action is Kimberly Whitmore, Director of Human Resources, 515-576-1161, kwhitmore@fdschools.org, 109 North 25th Street, Fort Dodge, IA 50501. The school district will respond promptly to allegations of abuse of students by school district employees by timely reporting to all relevant agencies as required by law. The district's coordinator for abuse reporting is Roger Porter, Director of Safety and Security, 515-574-5731, rporter@fdschools.org, located at Fort Dodge Middle School, 800 North 32nd Street, Fort Dodge, IA 50501. Harassment Complaints and Allegations: The district's officers for harassment complaints and allegations is Roger Porter, Director of School Safety and Security, 515-574-5731, rporter@fdschools.org, located at Fort Dodge Middle School, 800 North 32nd Street, Fort Dodge, IA 50501. Sex Discrimination and Harassment (Title IX): The district's coordinator for sex discrimination and harassment is Kimberly Whitmore, Director of Human Resources, kwhitmore@fdschools.org, located at Central Administration Office, 109 North 25th Street, Fort Dodge, IA 50501. The Deputy Coordinator is Roger Porter, Director of School Safety and Security, 515-574-5731, rporter@fdschools.org, located at Fort Dodge Middle School, 800 North 32nd Street, Fort Dodge, IA 50501.

Compensation

Compensation: $15.07/hr (+$0.40 extra for 60+ college credit and $0.30 for para certification/sub authorization) All positions assigned 30 or more hours weekly (typically 6 hours daily) are eligible for a full benefits package, including medical, dental and vision insurance and paid leave.

Reporting Structure

• Supervised by: [Supervisor's Name]
• Reports to: [Reports to's Title]