Instructional Assistant Special Education I Resource Part Time Taft Elementary School

• Forbes named Mesa Public Schools in their list of Best Employers in Arizonafor multiple years.
• East Valley Tribune names Mesa Public Schools as Best Place to Work in East Valley for multiple years.

Job Summary:

To assist under direct supervision of certified teachers and specialists in themonitoring and instruction of special education students implementing the Individual Education Plans; to assist students in performingtheir academic daily living and health care activities; to relieve teacher of routine clerical tasks.

Key Responsibilities:

• Deliver under teachers direction classroom work/homework and/or reinforce classroom objectives tutoringand guided practice
• Assist the development of instructional materials and maintenance of the classroom.
• Assist in the collection of data on academic and behavior goals as instructed
• In collaboration with certified personnel implement positive behavior intervention plans for students who display challenging behaviors including verbal and physical aggression
• Respond to problem behaviors according to the students positive behavior intervention plan and district crisis intervention policy
• Transfer and/or lift non-ambulatory students to assist them in the performance of their daily activities
• Assiststudents with personal hygiene to provide for and/or develop students daily living activities and behavioral skills
• Assist students who need support in addressing personal care needs due to a severe medical condition and/or physical limitations (i.e. toileting feeding dressing suctioning etc) to ensure their functioning in a school environment
• Accompany students as they transition across campus
• Monitor individual and/or small student groups in classroom and/or on the playground to maintain asafe and positive learning environment; facilitate peer interactions
• Maintain classroom and student equipment to ensure a safe environment
• Model professional safe responsible and respectful behavior
• Perform general clerical tasks to support the teacher (i.e. copies materials billing)
• Participate in various meetings to share information and/or improve ones skills and/or knowledge
• Regular and on-time attendance required
• Perform other related duties as assigned to ensure the efficient and effective functioning of the work unit
• Assist other personnel as may be required for the purpose of supporting them in the completion of their work activities
• Assists with other assigned duties as appropriate to the area of assignment and Mesa Public Schools

Required Qualifications:

• Associates Degree or 60 college credit hours required at time of hire OR pass the ParaPro Test provided by the district free of charge

Preferred Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent preferred
• Experience working with children

Skills & Competencies:

• Models the attributes and skills of the MPS Portrait of a Graduate
• Demonstrates commitment to the MPS Promise that every student is known by name served by strength and need and graduates ready for college career and community
• Ability and willingness to work with special education students who may require specialized instruction to meet academic social and behavior goals
• Ability to work well with students staff and parents; good verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work well in stressful situations
• Computer proficiency to include use of basic software applications (Word Excel etc)
• Ability to operate standard office equipment
• Ability to organize and prioritizeand to followclassroom guidelines as put forth by classroom teacher

Work Environment & Physical Requirements:

• Works closely with special education teachers general education staff therapists and administrators
• May be resource rooms inclusion settings or self-contained classrooms
• Supports students with disabilities which may include intellectual developmental emotional or physical disabilities
• Each day can vary based on student needs schedules behavior and support plans
• Must be able to stand walk sit bend and kneel frequently throughout the day
• May need to lift or assist students who have physical disabilities including transferring students to and from wheelchairs standing frames or other equipment (commonly 2550 lbs but sometimes more)

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement:

Mesa Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal state and local laws regarding equal employment opportunity and anti-discrimination. The District strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees applicants or any other covered persons because of race color religion creed national origin or ancestry ethnicity sex (including gender pregnancy sexual orientation and gender identity) age physical or mental disability citizenship past current or prospective service in the uniformed services genetic information or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal state or local law.

Applicants and employees may contact Human Resources to request reasonable accommodations needed to perform the essential functions of this position.