Special Education 1:1 Resource Room Teaching Assistant – Elementary

Special Education Resource Room Teaching Assistant – Rodgers Elementary

Lake Shore Public Schools is seeking a dedicated Special Education Teaching Assistant to support students receiving special education services in the resource room at Rodgers Elementary. Under the direct supervision of a certified special education teacher and other appropriate staff, the Teaching Assistant will support students’ academic, behavioral, social-emotional, communication, and functional needs in small-group and individual settings throughout the school day.

The position is approximately 7 hours per day. The Teaching Assistant works as part of the school and special education team, supporting students in the resource room and, as directed by certified staff, in general education classrooms and other school settings.

Essential Job Functions

Supports students receiving special education services in the resource room, in small groups and individually, as directed by the supervising special education teacher.

Assists students in general education and other school settings, including transitions, lunch, recess, specials, and other school activities, as directed by certified staff.

Supports students’ participation and progress in the general education curriculum and assists with implementation of accommodations, modifications, and supports identified in each student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP).

Works with individual students and small groups to reinforce academic skills, classroom instruction, assignments, routines, and concepts introduced by certified teachers.

Provides developmentally appropriate support with classroom routines, task initiation, attention, work completion, organization, and transitions between activities.

Reinforces strategies designed to improve students’ independence, communication, self-regulation, problem-solving, and successful participation in the elementary school environment.

Provides prompting, modeling, redirection, reinforcement, and other appropriate supports to help students remain engaged, regulated, and available for learning.

Implements instructional, behavioral, social-emotional, communication, and functional strategies as directed by certified teachers and other appropriate professional staff.

Supports students’ progress toward IEP goals and objectives under the direction of certified special education staff.

Assists students with transitions between classrooms, activities, arrival, dismissal, lunch, recess, and other portions of the school day while promoting increasing independence.

Supports the development of age-appropriate social skills, peer interactions, communication, and participation in classroom and school activities.

Utilizes assistive technology, visual supports, schedules, communication systems, educational technology, sensory supports, and other resources appropriate to students’ individual needs.

Collects and records data regarding student academic performance, behavior, participation, communication, independence, and progress as directed by certified staff.

Implements behavioral interventions, Positive Behavior Support Plans (PBSP), safety plans, or other individualized supports, when applicable, consistent with training and direction from professional staff.

Recognizes signs of student frustration, dysregulation, or distress and implements appropriate supports and de-escalation strategies consistent with students’ individual plans and staff direction.

Promotes student independence by providing the least amount of adult assistance necessary for students to successfully access instruction, interact with peers, and participate in school activities.

Provides assistance with functional, mobility, positioning, personal care, or other student needs when required by a student’s individual program and consistent with training provided by the District.

Communicates observations and relevant information regarding student performance, behavior, progress, and needs to the supervising teacher and appropriate professional staff.

Collaborates with special education teachers, general education teachers, related-service providers, administrators, and other support staff to provide consistent student support.

Assists in maintaining a safe, respectful, supportive, and productive learning environment.

Maintains confidentiality regarding student information and records.

Participates in meetings, professional development, and student-specific training as appropriate.

Assists with other classroom and student-support responsibilities as directed by certified staff.

Follows all applicable safety rules, procedures, District policies, and regulations governing assistance to students with disabilities or other special needs.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Note: Student assignments and responsibilities may be modified based upon student needs, enrollment, IEP requirements, staffing needs, or other District considerations.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Ability to establish supportive, respectful, patient, and professional relationships with elementary students receiving special education services.

Ability to provide consistent support to individuals and small groups while promoting student independence and avoiding unnecessary reliance on adult assistance.

Ability to reinforce elementary academic concepts and provide developmentally appropriate instructional support.

Ability to support students with classroom routines, transitions, attention, task completion, communication, social interaction, and self-regulation.

Ability to implement accommodations, modifications, behavioral strategies, communication supports, and other interventions as directed by certified staff.

Ability to recognize and appropriately respond to student behavioral, social-emotional, communication, functional, and safety needs.

Ability to provide appropriate prompting, modeling, reinforcement, and redirection while maintaining student dignity and encouraging independence.

Ability to remain calm, consistent, and supportive when responding to challenging student behaviors or periods of dysregulation.

Ability to collect and accurately record student performance, behavioral, and progress-monitoring data.

Ability to collaborate effectively with special education teachers, general education teachers, administrators, related-service providers, and other support staff.

Ability to carry out instructions furnished in written or oral form.

Ability to perform basic arithmetic operations and understand academic content necessary to assist students with elementary-level coursework.

Ability to understand and use personal computers, educational software, assistive technology, communication systems, and common productivity applications.

Ability to work effectively with a diverse group of individuals.

Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding students, employees, and others.

Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with students, staff, families, and others contacted in the course of work.

Effective written and verbal communication skills.

Physical Requirements

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions, consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA).

Works in standard elementary school classroom environment.

Standing, walking, moving, climbing, lifting, carrying, bending, kneeling, crawling, reaching, handling, pushing, and pulling.

Ability to lift and/or assist with transferring students up to 50 lbs, including support with positioning, mobility, and transitions between activities.

Ability to respond quickly to student behavioral or safety needs, including bending, kneeling, or moving at floor level to support young students.

Communicate successfully through speaking with a variety of persons.

Sit and stand for extended periods of time; exhibit manual dexterity to dial a telephone, to enter data into a computer; to see and read a computer screen and printed material with or without vision aids; hear and understand speech in classroom levels, and throughout the school building.

Employees requiring accommodation to perform essential functions should contact Human Resources to initiate the interactive ADA accommodation process.

Compensation

Individuals holding an advanced degree receive the following increase above the regular hourly rate:

Associate Degree: +$1.00 per hour

Bachelor’s Degree: +$2.00 per hour

Master’s Degree or higher: +$3.00 per hour

The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.
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