Special Education Assistant

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Special Education Assistant

FLSA Status: Non-exempt

Schedule: 32.5 hrs/week, 11-months / year

Reports to: Principal

Job Type: Full-time, At-will

Pay: $18.25/hr; starting

Salary Schedule

Required: Associate's Degree, 2 years of college credit (48 credits), or passage of the CBEST or other equivalent test showing proficiency in reading, math, and writing; fully vaccinated against COVID-19

ABOUT INGENIUM SCHOOLS

Ingenium Schools is transforming education by restoring joy and meaning to learning. Since 2009, Ingenium Schools has helped students build confidence, leadership, and a lifelong love of learning with the Ingenium Learning System, an easily replicable, standards-based educational model that promotes personal mastery. Ingenium Schools currently operates several charter schools, serving students throughout Los Angeles.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Special Education Assistant provides support for students with special needs in the classroom environment and supports the special education teacher, general education team and support staff to ensure each student receives an excellent education.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & JOB DUTIES

Essential Duties may include, but are not limited to:

Support Ingenium Goals:

• Support the noble cause, mission, and core values of Ingenium Schools
• Strive to implement, by instruction and action, Ingenium Schools’ philosophy of education and instructional goals and objectives
• Maintain and improve professional competence, and participate in all required professional development opportunities
• Attend mandatory training as required

Position Goals:

• Assist special education teacher in supporting students with disabilities in the general education curriculum
• Create daily schedule
• Provide services, supports and interventions directly to students under guidance and daily supervision of special education teacher, to ensure students meet academic and behavioral goals; i.e., providing 1:1 support to student in classroom, explaining instructions to students, modeling appropriate behavior, communicating regularly with classroom teacher
• Assist in providing materials to help classroom teacher create curriculum modifications for students
• Assists in developing a student’s communication abilities in the written, oral or manual areas (receptive and expressive skill areas)
• Help provide testing accommodations; For example, supervise student completing test in a separate location or during an extended time
• Assist student and classroom teacher on behavior; e.g. implementing behavior plan
• Help students understand their disability and work towards improving their skills where specific areas for improvement have been diagnosed
• Assist special education students in becoming more self-reliant and able to work with general education individuals or groups
• Upon specific request/need, assist student with toileting or other special needs
• Assist general education students as needed or required
• General student supervision, as needed or required
• Enter minutes served into appropriate database(s) as determined by DDS and site administrative team
• Demonstrate knowledge of, and support Ingenium Schools mission, vision, value statements, standards, policies and procedures, operating instructions, confidentiality standards, and the Code of Cooperation
• Other duties, as required by site administrator or director of student services

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION:

• Required: High School Diploma or General Equivalency Diploma
• Required: Associate's Degree, 2 years of college credit (48 credits), or passage of the CBEST or other equivalent test showing proficiency in reading, math, and writing
• 2-4 years of experience with students in special education highly desired
• Experience working with children of varied ages highly desired
• Fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and able to provide proof of vaccination status

KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE:

Must have the ability to demonstrate and/or show competency in the following areas:

• Appropriate and effective approaches to discipline
• Work with students and staff in maintaining a safe and welcoming school campus
• Understanding and willingness to implement students’ Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
• Child cognitive development, knowledge of general needs and behavior of children in Special Education
• Methods and practices of child instruction and tutoring
• Correct English usage, including spelling, grammar and punctuation
• Administrative practices and procedures, including record keeping and filing
• Communicate clearly and effectively orally and in writing
• Use tact, discretion, courtesy and patience in dealing with sensitive and difficult students and situations

WORKING CONDITIONS

ENVIRONMENT:

Majority of duties performed indoors, with some work outdoors in varying weather conditions (heat, cold, rain, dust, wind, etc.). Some exposure to childhood and other diseases. Exposure to moderate and loud campus noise and seasonal temperatures.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Lift 40 pounds using proper technique
• Must have adequate vision to effectively review documents in varied formats i.e. paper and digital
• Ability to read and comprehend written information
• Must have adequate hearing to respond to members and interact with the public.
• Ability to stand for up to 5 hours
• Ability to run up to 100 yards
• Frequent bending at waist, kneeling, and crouching to assist students
• Dexterity of hands and fingers to demonstrate activities
• Ability to document information, typing and writing throughout the day
• Ability to effectively and immediately communicate orally with parents and coworkers
• Ability to perform student restraints according to accepted practices and techniques in rare circumstance that student exhibits immediate danger to self or others
• Selective attention
• Inductive and deductive reasoning skills
• Information ordering and category flexibility skills

PROFESSIONAL EXPECTATIONS

The Special Education Assistant will present a competent and positive image of Ingenium Schools by supporting student learning via tutoring and other support services.

In addition the Special Education Assistant will exhibit and represent behaviors consistent with the expectations within the Ingenium Schools competency guidelines listed below:

• Accepts and demonstrates the school values
• Demonstrates a desire to serve others and fulfill community needs
• Works effectively with people of different backgrounds, abilities, opinions, and perceptions
• Builds rapport and relates well to others
• Makes sound judgments, and transfers learning from one situation to another
• Embraces new approaches and discovers ideas to create a better student experience
• Strives to meet or exceed goals and deliver a high-value experience for members
• Pursues self-development that enhances job performance
• Demonstrates an openness to change, and seeks opportunities in the change process