GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Instructional Assistant I Special Education personnel perform a variety of duties in support of instructional activities for students who are enrolled in special education programs.

Under the general direction of the assigned administrator or certificated staff member, supports the instructional program for special education students on the mild/moderate continuum. Work is generally performed in a classroom or small group environment. The Instructional Assistant applies well-developed communication skills sufficient to interact with administrators, teachers, other staff members, parents, and students in formal and informal settings.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Reinforce skills taught by teacher in small groups or individually, assist students with class work and help them to stay on task; prepare study guides for students prior to testing; assist students with beginning computer skills; read with students to increase comprehension and assist students with English language acquisition.
• Assist classroom teacher in preparation for and presentation of lessons to students; support instructional program by setting-up learning areas and projects; prepare student materials; put up and take down student work and classroom displays.
• Administer and score teacher-made and non-standardized tests using answer key and teacher instructions; record test results. Correct student work, compute and record grades in accordance with instructions provided by teacher; file work in student portfolios.
• Support substitute teachers in maintaining classroom norms, and assist in the implementation of classroom instruction and individual student instructional programs.
• Accompany and supervise students on field trips; participate in physical activities with assigned students.
• Instruct and model appropriate social behaviors.
• Maintain student records directed by teacher; support routine clerical functions.
• Assist in maintaining an appropriate instructional environment by organizing materials, cleaning up work areas after learning activities, putting materials away after use.
• Monitor students during snacks and lunch, and while on playground during recess and lunchtime, accompany students to physical education instruction and other mainstream classes as assigned to assist the instructor, instruct students in playground sports
• Administer basic first aid assistance for injuries, and request appropriate assistance for more serious injury or illness
• Support special needs students by assisting in medical procedures, as directed by the teacher, physician and District Nurse in emergency situations (e.g. blood sugar testing, administer insulin, injections, medication, and catherization). Monitor and protect students during seizures. Provide basic first-aid assistance for injuries, request appropriate assistance for more serious injuries.
• Monitor students as they arrive and leave school and wait for buses and parent transportation; assist students in getting on and off bus, walk with children to class, library, office and cafeteria.
• Supervise and guide students in toileting; remind children to go to the bathroom, change wet and/or soiled clothing.
• Provide assistance with discipline, or remove students from classroom when behavior becomes disruptive, uncontrollable or harmful to the child or others; adhere to child abuse reporting procedures.
• Reinforce self-esteem, self image and morale; encourage independence and self-confidence.
• Provide physical assistance to students; assist disabled students with specialized equipment, as needed.
• Guide and assist parent volunteers.
• Participate in disaster preparedness drills; serve on assigned committees and teams.
• Participate in District mandated training and retraining programs.
• Participate in and support a program that involves decreasing the child’s dependency on adult support. Work toward allowing the child to become independent.







DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge and Skills:

Requires knowledge of child development, basic understanding of curriculum and instructional materials used in each of the basic subjects and at various grade levels, basic understanding of special education programs and its purpose, and basic English language and math skills. Strong communication skills in both formal and informal settings are essential. Requires good record-keeping, clerical and computer skills.

Requires the ability to plan learning activities and deliver instruction under the guidance of appropriate certificated staff, provide curriculum modifications and accommodations as requested for individual students, perform simple clerical tasks, operate standard office and classroom machines and equipment, communicate satisfactorily in oral and written form and establish and maintain effective working relationships with others. Requires the ability to communicate with students, staff, parents and the public using patience and courtesy, and in a manner that reflects positively on the District. Must be able to work well independently and as part of a team.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION:
High school graduate or education equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade. Under the Federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) requirements, applicants must have two years college (48 semester units) or the ability and willingness to pass an equivalency exam provided by the district.

Experience working with children; prior experience as instructional assistant in a special education classroom or in academic tutoring highly desirable.

PHYSICAL ABILITIES:

Hearing and speaking to exchange information in person and on the telephone and to make presentations; seeing to conduct inspections, read, prepare and proofread documents; sitting or standing for extended periods of time; dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard and other equipment; kneeling, bending at the waist and reaching overhead, above the shoulders and horizontally to retrieve and store supplies, lifting heavy objects up to fifty pounds; climbing during inspections; walking over rough or uneven surfaces at construction sites and during inspections.