[Hiring] SPED Educational Assistant @Deming Public Schools

Role Description

The primary responsibility of this position is to monitor and assist students who receive virtual physical therapy (PT), speech language therapy (SLT), and occupational therapy (OT) services. The Educational Assistant supports student access and participation during virtual therapy sessions, follows therapist-directed guidance, and helps maintain a safe and effective therapy environment. When not supporting virtual PT, OT & SLT services, the employee may provide instructional, personal-care, supervisory, or clerical assistance to special education students and staff as assigned.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Coordinates with special education staff to ensure students arrive on time and are prepared for scheduled virtual PT/OT/SLT sessions.
• Prepares the designated therapy area and assists with approved technology, equipment, and materials needed to connect students with the licensed virtual therapist.
• Remains present throughout virtual therapy sessions to monitor student participation, behavior, comfort, and safety.
• Provides hands-on assistance, prompting, positioning support, or reinforcement only as directed by the licensed physical therapist, occupational therapist, and speech language pathologist.
• Follows therapist-demonstrated activities and supports student practice between sessions only when specifically authorized and trained to do so.
• Immediately reports concerns regarding pain, fatigue, changes in mobility, equipment, student response, or safety to the therapist and appropriate District staff.
• Maintains accurate session logs and communicates relevant participation information to the therapist, case manager, teacher, and other authorized staff, while maintaining student confidentiality.
• Supports compliance with each student's IEP, therapy schedule, accommodations, and related-service procedures under the direction of licensed and supervisory staff.
• Accompanies students and assists with instructional materials and activities based on teacher direction and individual student needs.
• May be assigned to support an individual student or multiple students based on therapy schedules and program needs.
• May assist with feeding, toileting, diapering, mobility, wheelchair transfers, positioning, or other personal-care tasks when trained and when required by the student's IEP, medical management plan, or safety plan.
• Assists the special education teacher in the preparation of materials and activities for classroom instruction.
• Assists small groups and individual students with classroom instruction and activities.
• Assists the teacher in maintaining a clean, attractive, and safe learning environment.
• Accompanies students to a mainstream setting, translating between English and Spanish.
• Assists substitute teachers as needed.
• Participates in staff meetings and in-service training activities.
• Assists teachers with general clerical work such as filing, photocopying, word processing, and duplication of materials for classroom use.
• Assists students in the classroom with reading, math, and other subjects.
• Supervises children at recess, lunch, and getting on and off the bus to ensure child safety and that each child is accounted for.
• Assists students with classroom and homework assignments.
• Relieves teachers for attending professional development activities.
• Reports information about a child's development and behavior to teachers.
• Actively fosters positive relationships with all staff and the community.
• Maintains the safety and security of students.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Applicant must be highly qualified which requires one of the following and a complete application on file to be eligible for the position:
• Associate’s Degree
• 48 specific college credit hours as listed by NM State Statute
• Passing of the Paraprofessional Test (which will be scheduled after a person is offered the position)

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED certificate.
• Educational coursework and prior classroom experience in special needs student settings preferred.
• Current Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) Certification required for position.

Knowledge Of

• Educational, accessibility, therapy-support, and personal-care needs of students with disabilities.
• Techniques, policies, and practices of child instruction.
• Child discipline.
• Emergency and safety procedures.
• Policies and objectives of assigned programs.
• Modern office practices and procedures.
• School site and assigned policies and procedures.
• Basic principles and techniques of education.
• Correct English usage.
• Operation of modern office equipment including PC and related software.
• First aid and CPR.
• Educational needs of students with multiple needs.

Ability To

• Adhere to District & Federal FERPA policies and strict confidentiality.
• Safely monitor and assist students during virtual PT, OT, and SLT sessions in accordance with therapist direction, the student's IEP, and District procedures.
• Assist with student health care needs and personal hygiene.
• Prepare a variety of records and reports.
• Assist teachers in classroom education activities.
• Supervise students at recess and entering and exiting buses.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with others.
• Operate a variety of modern office equipment.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Understand and follow oral and written directions.
• Perform routine clerical duties.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• Educational Assistant PreK-12 Level 3 License-required.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and talk or hear. The employee is required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in inside environmental conditions. The employee frequently works with a video display terminal for prolonged periods. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

THE DEMING PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF RACE, NATIONAL ORIGIN, RELIGION, AGE, SEX, MARITAL STATUS, OR HANDICAP IN COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS.