The Paraprofessional assists the teacher and works with students either individually or in groups to meet their specific needs, including academics, significant behavioral challenges, mental health, and social-emotional learning..
TYPICAL DUTIES:
- Assists the teacher with record keeping, filing, preparing and using instructional materials, preparing progress notes and incident reports, maintaining student data tracking records (academic, behavioral, medical), etc.
- Attends to the physical needs of children, i.e., toileting, transferring from wheelchair to floor or other pieces of equipment, help them on/off the bus, etc.
- Assists the teacher with instruction including planning and reinforcing instruction under the supervision of the teacher.
- Provide supervision to students during instructional times, transition times, lunch periods, and throughout the day.
- Communicate with students clearly and efficiently in reinforcing teacher direction or clarifying instructions.
- Have no lifting restrictions, be able to walk to and from classes, and raise/lower to the floor as needed for classroom activities.
- Attends classroom team meetings and professional development opportunities, as appropriate.
- Will undergo rigorous four-day training in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention for Schools and participate in yearly re-certification refreshers to maintain certification.
- Utilizes TCIS strategies (ex. Conflict Cycle) to effectively prevent and/or respond to behavioral challenges/crises.
- Maintains an awareness of current treatment/behavior intervention plans of students. Uses positive behavioral strategies/techniques to support students with behavioral challenges throughout the school day.
- Perform such other related additional services as may be assigned by the teacher or the Administration
SPECIAL SKILLS AND APTITUDES:
Candidates must be flexible, patient, physically/emotionally able to handle confrontational situations with students without personalizing these events. The candidates will also need to be resilient to dealing with sudden, explosive crises that may cause deviations from work plans and schedules.
Must possess or meet requirements for Civil Service title of Student Behavioral Assistant, Teacher Aide, or School Aide.
Student Behavioral Assistant
Two (2) years of full-time paid or the part-time equivalent experience involving the supervision, counseling or instruction of children in a school facility, institution or agency devoted to the care, education, rehabilitation or detention of children; OR Graduation from a regionally accredited or NYS registered college or university with an Associate's degree or completion of 60 credit hours;
Teacher Aide
One (1) year of full-time or its part-time equivalent paid or volunteer equivalent experience working in a clerical capacity; OR One (1) year of full-time or its part-time equivalent paid or volunteer equivalent experience working with children; OR, Possession of a certificate of completion for a course for Child Care through an occupational school, The American Red Cross or similar agency;
School Aide
No education or experience qualifications.