Teaching Assistant

About the Employer

Job Summary

Teacher Assistants assist the classroom teacher in delivering educational and/or behavioral interventions for special education students. They report directly to the School Principal and collaborate with a Special Education Administrator.

Required Qualifications

High school diploma or equivalent. Associate's degree or higher, or completion of at least 2 years of study at an institute of higher education, or have passed the Parapro Exam. Completion of the State of RI approved Teacher Assistant pre-employment training program or certified as a TA in another state or obtained an associate or bachelor's degree and completed coursework consistent with the Teacher Assistant Program Standards.

Essential Job Functions

• Provides academic support to students as directed by the classroom teacher and other staff responsible for implementing IEPs.
• Assists the classroom teacher in implementing IEP goals, 504 accommodations, and EL accommodations.
• Assists in maintaining a safe and organized classroom environment.
• Provides behavioral support as directed by the classroom teacher.
• Assists students at arrival, dismissal, recess, and busing.
• Enables students with disabilities to accomplish activities of daily living and tasks (eating, dressing, toileting, transferring, walking, communicating, navigating the school environment, etc.).
• Uses de-escalation techniques (CPI) to assist with behavioral non-compliance and work with students in crisis to enable their return to the proper academic setting.
• May attend to the physical needs of students; may include handling equipment such as wheelchairs, braces, or other equipment.
• Completes necessary paperwork at the direction of the classroom teacher.
• Assists in preparing the classroom as directed by the classroom teacher.
• Performs other duties assigned by the School Principal to meet the specific needs of the Pawtucket School Department and its students.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to interact and communicate effectively with children with special needs.
• Ability to work as a team member with building staff to provide services to children.
• Ability to assist in the instruction of reading, writing, and mathematics.
• Ability to use sound judgment and knowledge of student behaviors and school department policies and procedures to make decisions.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work with individual students or groups of students according to the instructional plan.
• Ability to assist students' educational needs, including personal, emotional, and skill development.
• Ability to observe and record information about student performance.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and practice patience with employees, students, supervisors, and the general public.
• Timely completion of tasks and paperwork requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual.
• CPI Training.
• CPR/AED Training.
• Previous experience working with children.
• Previous education in early childhood or special education.

Physical Requirements/Work Environment

Frequently required to stand, sit, and walk. Frequently required to talk and hear. Must be able to feel attributes of objects, grasp, push, reach, and stoop/kneel/crouch. Occasionally lifting or carrying weighing up to 50 pounds. Must have clarity of vision, precise hand-eye coordination, and the ability to identify students and ensure safety. The work environment is typically within a school classroom setting, although the employee may be exposed to adverse weather conditions related to outdoor recreation events.

Yearly Requirement

Professional development hours as set and approved by the Pawtucket School Department