QUALIFICATIONS

Must hold an Associate's Degree (or completed 2 years of college coursework) or have passed the Paraprofessional Exam.  Must have a good knowledge of and understanding of child growth, development and paraprofessional instructional procedures and practices. Considerable patience and the ability to work effectively with children with diverse needs, young adults, and faculty members are essential.

DESCRIPTION

The Elementary Teacher Assistant performs a variety of paraprofessional instructional support tasks which assists teachers and/or other professional staff working with children in the elementary school setting.  The teaching assistant provides instructional support to teachers in the daily management and instruction of students, and is responsible for performing instructional and clerical tasks to support the teacher in routine activities and to help carry out daily classroom activities.  As a paraprofessional, non-licensed classification Teacher Assistants may, with supervision from a teacher or a principal, assist with the preparation of lesson plans, implement lesson plans, and initiate new lessons as instructed. However, they may not have final responsibility for assessment, evaluation, and grading of students.

GENERAL DUTIES (May not include all duties performed)

• Assists assigned classroom teacher(s) in conducting instructional programs, directing games and fine-motor activities, physical exercise programs, or otherwise works with the teacher to provide instructional or developmental activities for the elementary setting.
• Distributes and collects materials, sets up classroom, learning centers, etc. for instructional projects, and sets up and operates audio-visual equipment.
• Works with students requiring individual or close attention in math, reading or other subject or activity areas, individually or in small “pull-out” groups.
• Monitors groups of students engaged in instruction and/or activities.
• Participates in the assessment of individual students’ needs and progress and assists the teacher in developing appropriate individualized programs.
• Participates in monitoring, teaching computer-assisted instructional programs and activities; assists in computer maintenance activities.
• Assists in providing a safe environment by monitoring students during arrival and dismissal.
• Continues instruction and activities during the teacher's absence from the classroom.
• Assists with classroom management, including crisis intervention.
• Supervises students in halls and classrooms, during lunch period, and student breaks; may eat lunch with students and provides physical and instructional assistance as needed.
• Monitors students' daily schedules and behavior plans (e.g. class schedule, toileting, medication, appetite, etc.) for the purpose of maintaining a safe and positive learning environment.
• Supervises playground activities, monitors students in cafeteria, during rest period, coming on and off busses, or as they go to and from classes.
• Participates in staff meetings, work-shops, in-service training sessions as assigned.
• Monitors students engaged in independent study, or similar work while teacher is otherwise occupied; oversees small student groups away from classroom or whole class while teacher is temporarily away from classroom as needed.
• Performs other classroom or school wide clerical tasks, such as preparing, compiling, or making copies of instructional materials and reports, typing and filing classroom or student records, or distributing and inventorying textbooks and other instructional materials as assigned.
• Performs other related work as assigned.

SUPERVISION

Employee reports directly to the School Principal and Assistant Principal.

WORK CONDITIONS

Duties performed are typically in the school setting.  Performs professional work providing support and consultative services for assigned department/program. Work requires frequent standing, sitting, walking, and light lifting.  Some assignments are subject to deadlines inherent in tailoring and delivering programs to meet the needs of diverse groups. Employees may be required to perform emergency and non-emergency health-related services for students as needed.