Program Assistant

Education, Experience and Certification Requirements:

• High school diploma, G.E.D. or equivalent is required
• Related course work, Associates or Bachelor’s degree is preferred
• Minimum of one year of successful experience in special education, a psychiatric setting or other similar setting for children and adolescents is required
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) abilities are a plus

Key Job Functions:

• Assist with students throughout the school day in both the classrooms and hallways, and maintain required electronic and paper documentation regarding students’ behaviors and activities within assigned deadlines
• Assist teacher with the implementation of both individual and group classroom assignments, lesson plans, and the administration of tests and examinations; take direction from the teacher regarding delegated tasks
• Demonstrate basic knowledge of academic subjects and the ability to assist students with classwork; provide coverage and carryout lesson plans for teacher during absences or when they need to be away from the classroom during the school day
• Reinforce expectations for learning and set classroom structure to encourage student participation and appropriate behavior
• Help to promote a safe, structured, creative, and engaging learning environment; assist with preparation of classroom materials, distribution of books and supplies, and other basic clerical duties
• Assist with students’ transition between classrooms, during lunch periods, during students’ arrivals and departures or other unstructured times
• Demonstrate clear and professional boundaries with all students
• Demonstrate an understanding of how our students’ disabilities impact their behavior and ability to learn; display knowledge of students’ diagnoses and adapt intervention strategies accordingly to meet the requirements of the students’ IEPs and BIPs
• Effectively manage student behavior through the implementation of the behavior management system, school rules, policies, and procedures; model appropriate behavior for the students during the school day
• Proactively identify behaviors among all students that could lead to a crisis, an unsafe situation or disrupt the learning environment; use effective behavior management techniques to address these behaviors in order to limit the severity and length of disruption