Special Education Assistant, #917: Ingenium Charter School, Canoga, CA

Special Education Assistant

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Special Education Assistant                           FLSA Status: Non-exempt

Schedule: 40 hrs/week, 11-months/year                     Reports to: Principal

Job Type: Full-time, At-will                                             Pay: Min. $19.00/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 

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. More specifically, a Special Education Assistant assists teachers by caring for the physical needs of students with disabilities. The Special Education Assistant also helps in students’ training and education through the presentation of educational materials or exercises.

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 Duties:

• Assist special education teachers in supporting students with disabilities in the general education  setting
• Provide services, supports and interventions directly to students under guidance and daily supervision of special education teacher, to ensure students meet academic and behavioral IEP goals; i.e., providing support to student in classroom, explaining instructions to students, modeling appropriate behavior, communicating regularly with classroom teacher
• Help provide testing accommodations; 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
• Upon request/need, assist student with toileting, catheters, and/or other special physical needs
• Enter minutes served into appropriate database(s) as determined by the director of student services and site administrative team
• Assist general education students as needed or required
• General student supervision, as needed or required
• 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

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 are 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