Paraprofessional  - Communications Program

Herscher Intermediate School

Reports to: Special Services Director / Building Principal

SUMMARY: This position is responsible for working closely with handicapped pupil(s) on a regular basis in an effort to provide them with the physical help and emotional support they need to gain as full benefits from the district’s special education program as possible.

DUTIES:

• Discusses assigned duties with classroom teachers in order to coordinate instructional efforts.
• Prepares lesson materials, bulletin board displays, exhibits, equipment and demonstrations as needed.
• Presents subject matter to students under the direction and guidance of teachers, using lectures, discussions, or supervised role-playing methods.
• Establishes as fully as possible a supportive and sympathetic relationship with the student(s) without fostering or encouraging intense emotional involvement.
• Serves as a resource person, if and when requested, to the student personnel evaluation team conferring about one of the students to whom assigned.
• Supervises students in classrooms, hall, cafeterias, school yards, and gymnasiums or on field trips.
• Conducts demonstrations to teach such skills as sports, dancing and handicrafts.
• Distributes teaching materials such as textbooks, workbooks, papers, and pencils to students.
• Distributes tests and homework assignments, and collect them when completed.
• Enforces administration policies and rules governing students.
• Grades homework and tests, and computes and records results using answer sheets or electronic marking devices.
• Completes required reports in a timely manner.
• Teaches socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification and positive reinforcement.
• Works with students with multiple physical, mental and developmental disabilities.
• Is familiar with and uses adaptive equipment including, communication equipment, wheel chairs, adaptive feeding tools, etc.
• Assists students with self-care, hygiene and feeding as necessary.
• May be required to perform tasks that students are no able to do i.e. taking notes, handing materials, holding books, etc.
• May work with/handle resistive students.
• Serves as the chief source of information and help to any substitute teacher assigned in the absence of the regular teacher.
• Maintains a high level of ethical behavior and confidentiality of information about students as is expected of fully licensed teachers.
• Enforce school regulations and policies in a professional manner.
• Assists the classroom teacher in other tasks necessary in maintaining a professional and positive classroom environment, and performs other teacher aide duties as may be assigned by the classroom teacher, administration or Board of Education.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Associate’s Degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education or completed 60 semester hours of college credit at a regionally accredited institution of higher education OR pass the ParaPro Assessment. This basic skills test is given on the first Thursday of each month at Kankakee Community College. The fee for the test is $65. Register to take the test at: paraprotest@kcc.edu
• Must have excellent oral and written communication skills to work with teachers, education support personnel, building administrators and the general public.
• Ability to maintain good working relationship with fellow employees and pupils.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to push/pull up to 10 lbs.
• Must be detailed oriented.