Living Skills Assistant Self Contained Lowell Elementary School

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

Job Summary:

Under the direct supervision of the classroom teacher the assistant will work with students with unique medical needs that require a higher level of support and intervention. They will act as active members of the educational team in providing services to students.

Key Responsibilities:

• Transfer and/or lift students to assist them in the performance of their daily activities
• Assist students to follow individual daily schedules
• Assiststudents with personal hygiene to provide for and/or develop students daily living activities and behavioral skills
• May be required to 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 assist and monitor students as needed in all other areas of school program outside of classroom (i.e. mainstream classes community vocational transportation to and from home as appropriate etc.)
• Evaluate specific needs/problems of students using equipment and/or aids to meet special needs for supporting health social and behavioral goals
• Monitor individual and/or small student groups in classroom and/or on the playground to maintain asafe and positive learning environment
• Maintain classroom and student equipment to ensure a safe environment
• Perform general clerical tasks to support the teacher in the maintenance of student files and to provide classroom materials
• Regular and on-time attendance required
• Assists with other assigned duties as appropriate to the area of assignment and Mesa Public Schools

Required Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Working with individuals with disabilities (students with intellectual developmental or behavioral challenges)

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 to work with special needs students who may require specialized health care needs along with monitoring social and behavioral goals
• Ability to work well with students staff and parents good verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to manage and respond in stressful situations
• Ability to operate standard office equipment including basic software applications (Word Excel etc.)
• Ability to organize and prioritizeand to followclassroom guidelines as put forth by classroom teacher

Work Environment & Physical Requirements:

• Works closely with special education teachers therapists and other support staff
• Can take place in classrooms life skills labs or community-based instruction settings
• May involve students with cognitive physical emotional or behavioral needs
• Tasks change based on students needs throughout the day
• Assisting students with mobility (including pushing wheelchairs or guiding walkers)
• May need to lift or physically assist students (usually up to 50 lbs.)

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.

Required Experience:

Junior IC