Teacher Assistant II – Special Education (Resource/Inclusion)

Position Purpose

Provides instructional assistance to students under the direct supervision of a certified teacher; assists in preparing, conducting, and managing classroom activities.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Instruction

• Assists and guides students to reinforce reading, language arts, mathematics, science, computer instruction, and other skills.
• Works with students individually and in small groups to reinforce basic learning and implement assigned programs.
• Assists in classroom preparations and strategies for reinforcing instructional materials and skills according to individual student needs.
• Assists students with special needs in all aspects of classroom instruction to maximize inclusion, learning, achievement if IEP objectives, and so forth.
• Participates in IEP process and serves as resource for the student personnel evaluation team as needed.
• Assists students with physical or mental disabilities with activities of daily living, and helps students achieve their maximum potential to participate in school or learning activities.
• Assist students with physical disabilities according to their needs, including transferring to and from wheelchairs, lifting, or positioning.
• Assist students with physical needs and personal care, including feeding, bathroom needs, and personal hygiene
• Help manage behavior of students which includes intervening in crisis situations and restraining disruptive or dangerous student behavior as needed
• Follows all applicable safety rules, procedures and regulations governing the proper manner of assistance for all students, including those with disabilities or other special needs.
• Assists with classroom behavioral management to prevent and address disruptions, to ensure a safe and orderly classroom, and to ensure students are on task.
• Assists students in non-instructional areas, such as supervising the student lunch programs, bus duty, playground duty, corridor, study hall, and other related non-instructional areas.
• Accompanies students on field trips for the purpose of assisting with supervision.
• Constructs, distributes, copies and uses educational materials as needed.
• Assists professional staff in the administration and correction of classroom exercises, tests and assessments.
• Assists with record-keeping procedures to document student learning and performance.
• Assists teacher with parent contact as requested to foster effective and participatory parent involvement in student education.

Safety

• Performs preventive maintenance on tools and equipment and ensures equipment is in safe operating condition.
• Follows established safety procedures and techniques to perform job duties including lifting and climbing; operates tools and equipment according to established safety procedures.
• Corrects unsafe conditions in work area and promptly reports any conditions that are not immediately correctable to supervisor.

Supervisory Responsibilities

None.

Personal Work Relationships

• All Fort Worth ISD employees must maintain a commitment to the District’s mission, vision, and strategic goals.
• Exhibits high professionalism, standards of conduct and work ethic.
• Demonstrates high quality customer service; builds rapport / relationship with the consumer.
• Demonstrates cultural competence in interactions with others; is respectful of co-workers; communicates and acts as a team player;

promotes teamwork; responds and acts appropriately in confrontational situations.

Other Duties as Assigned

Performs all job-related duties as assigned and in accordance with Board rules, policies and regulations. All employees are expected to comply with lawful directives in rare situations driven by need where a team effort is required.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of instructing, reading readiness, writing readiness, and mathematics.
• Knowledge of developmentally appropriate social, emotional, cognitive, and communication skills for children.
• Knowledge of District policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Knowledge of correct English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary.
• Ability to assist in instructing, reading, writing, and mathematics.
• Ability to carry out instructions furnished in written or oral form.
• Ability to work with students with physical, emotional, educational, and / or intellectual disabilities.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, divide, and perform arithmetic operations as needed to assist students.
• Ability to work with a diverse group of individuals.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of information regarding students, employees and others.
• Ability to establish supportive and compassionate relationships with students with special needs.
• Ability to handle difficult and stressful situations with professional composure.
• Ability to report work orally or in writing to supervisor as required.
• Ability to use software to create spreadsheets, databases, and do word processing.
• Ability to organize and coordinate work.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both oral and written forms.
• Ability to engage in self-evaluation with regard to performance and professional growth.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others contacted in the course of work.

Travel Requirements

Travel between schools, or between schools and central offices, may be required for certain positions.

Physical & Mental Demands, Work Hazards

• Tools / Equipment Used : Standard office equipment, including computer and peripherals; standard instructional equipment.
• Posture : Prolonged sitting and standing; occasional stooping, squatting, kneeling, bending, pushing / pulling, and twisting.
• Motion : Frequent repetitive hand motions, including keyboarding and use of mouse and reaching; frequent walking, including walking with a sense of urgency.
• Lifting : Regular moderate lifting and carrying (less than 40 pounds); may lift students weighing in excess of 50 lbs.

when necessary; may restrain students when necessary.

Environment : Works in a standard office setting and school building environment; works inside, may work outside; regular exposure to noise;

regularly required to listen and speak; this position may involve exposure to blood or body fluids; requires occasional irregular and / or prolonged hours.

• Attendance : Regular and punctual attendance at the worksite is required for this position.
• Mental Demands : Maintains emotional control under stress; works with frequent interruptions; works with students with physical, emotional, educational, and / or intellectual disabilities.

Minimum Required Qualifications

• Education : Accredited High School diploma, GED, or Texas Certificate of High School Equivalency required.
• Certification : Obtain valid Texas educational aide certificate.
• Experience : One year of experience working with children required.
• Language : Bilingual (English / Spanish) preferred in some settings.

This document is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required.