school-street Work Opportunities ∙ Page 1

Rate of Pay: $17.78/hour
Follows the 180-day school calendar.
Even Pay Schedule for Aides: Divided into 20 even pays like a "salary". Multiply the rate of pay by the number of hours per day and then the number of days worked per school year. Then divide by 20 even pays.

Full-Time Special Education Aide at School Street Elementary 
Position is for 7.25 hours per day and may include time on a bus run.

JOB SUMMARY: Performs any combination of the following duties and responsibilities in the school setting to assist students with special needs and provide instructional support to members of the professional staff in the Bradford Area School District. 

 ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Include the following. Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Activities, duties, or responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice. 

• Discusses assigned duties with classroom teacher to coordinate instructional efforts for life skills, multi-handicapped students, and other student with special needs.  

• Assists the classroom teacher by introducing and reinforcing teacher directed curriculum to students, utilizing a variety of methods and techniques under the direction of the classroom teacher.  

• May administer examinations, assist students individually or in groups, with lesson assignments to present or reinforce learning concepts, physically assist students, assist in the preparation of instructional materials, adapt activities and assignments under the direction of the classroom teacher, assist with record keeping charts and graphs, etc.  

• Must possess the ability to complete an approved cardio-pulmonary resuscitation program, an approved first-aid program.  

• May need to possess an approved student restraining/carry/protection program, as provided by the District.  

• May need to cover as a bus aide before and/or after school. 

SPECIFIC USER-DEFINED DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• Exhibits a keen interest and positive attitude in the welfare and achievements of children through an ability to work with children of varying ages, skill levels, educational levels, and personalities.  

• Demonstrates the ability to react to stressful situations involving students, parents, and/or staff in a rational, calm, and equitable manner. For the purposes of this job description, the term parent/s includes guardian/s.  

• Exhibits a work ethic based on self initiative and/or incentive and a high level of satisfaction in the accomplishment of the task at hand. 

• Responds to student, staff, parental, and/or public inquiries in an efficient, professional manner ensuring the accurate dissemination of appropriate information and attempts to promote effective parental involvement. 

• Maintains confidentiality in accordance with State and Federal Laws and District policy involving matters of staff, students, and the public. 

• Possess the ability to use office equipment, e.g., keyboarding/computer, copier, etc.  

• Exhibits knowledge of the proper grammar usage for both the written and spoken English language, including spelling.  

• Exhibits a “team” sense of operation and cooperation with management and staff. 

• Accepts positive criticism as a means of self-improvement. 

• Exercises restraint and judgment in the area of student discipline. The basis for dealing with students is set forth in District Policy, e.g., nos. 218, 233, 235, 248 and 806. It is recognized that all building personnel share the responsibility for the safety and welfare of all students and for the care and treatment of school property. However, to the extent that any formal discipline is necessary, administrative/professional staff members must carry out such actions.  

• Participates in scheduled in-service programs aimed at improving the abilities of the aide in the areas of educational support services and/or student health and safety. It is the employee's responsibility to complete 20 hours of job specific training each year as per the Collective Bargaining Agreement.  

• Assists students in prescribed drills as set forth by the reading specialist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, or any other qualified professional specialist under the direction of the classroom teacher, e.g., to assist the student in experiences relative to normal movements, sensations and exercises, encouraging independence in both education and self-help activities.  

• Reinforces teacher-taught lessons through various exercises, such as drills, storytelling, listening to students read aloud, and other educational programs.  

• May assist in the preparation of materials prior to the arrival of a subject specialist in the classroom, e.g., art. Also may assist in the preparation of materials for a special subject lesson within the classroom setting.  

• Assists teachers and students in the use of the technology to include assistive technology. 

• Possess the ability to assist, when assigned, with the following areas.  

1. Behavioral training exercises and the awareness of proper responses to student actions.  

2. Transportation, safety and regulations dealing with non-ambulatory student devices, e.g., walkers, wheelchairs, ambulation belts and travel between work stations, classes and to-and-from school.  

3. Non-verbal communications, including signing and applied behavior analysis and verbal behavior techniques where applicable, with verbally handicapped students.  

4. Community-based educational support services.  

5. Assistance and reinforcement for educational programs as set forth in the respective student’s IEP.  

Note: The above description is illustrative of tasks and responsibilities. It is not meant to be all inclusive of every task or responsibility. 
 

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be certified as highly qualified and able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions. 

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:  

• High school diploma, Associates Degree or certified as Highly Qualified with No Child Left Behind Regulations. 

• Experience working with children in an educational setting. Prior experience working with special needs children with multiple disabilities preferred. Trained in Verbal Behavior or willingness to become trained in Verbal Behavior. Certified in SCM or willing to become certified in SCM. 
   

LANGUAGE SKILLS:  

• Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to students and other staff members of the organization. Ability to learn signing language and verbal behavior techniques for purposes of communicating with students with auditory disabilities. 

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:  

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio and percent.  

REASONING ABILITY:  

• Ability to apply common sense and understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.  

• The employee frequently is required to stand; use hands (to finger, handle or feel objects, sign, tools or controls); and reach with hands and arms.  

• The employee is regularly required to walk; sit; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.  

• The employee must normally exert up to 50 pounds of force and occasionally assist in lifting and/or moving up to 150 pounds.  

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision and the ability to adjust focus.  

WORK ENVIRONMENT:  

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The job operates in a professional environment. 

• The role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines. 

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. 

POSITION TYPE AND EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK: 

• The number of hours worked, including overtime, assigned per day, week, month, or  year, to an employee will be determined by the employer. The normal workweek will be five (5) consecutive days, commencing on Monday of each week and shall not exceed forty (40) hours in any one week. 

• All employees are expected to report to work as scheduled, on time, and prepared to start work. Employees are also expected to remain at work for their entire work schedule. 

WORK AUTHORIZATION / CLEARANCES: 

• Submission of pre-employment medical examination (Section 148 of the Pennsylvania School Code) and pre-employment drug test. 

• Submission of a report of criminal history record from the Pennsylvania State Police (Section 111 of the Pennsylvania School Code).  Submission of an FBI Criminal History Record if employed after April 1, 2007 in accordance with Act 114 of 2007. 

• Submission of a child abuse clearance report from the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare in accordance with Act 151 of 1994. 

• Submission of Act 24, Act 168 record checks. 

• Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate and acceptable. 

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: The person working in this position does not have line authority or decision-making responsibilities relative to the educational program for the children in the school; the program/building administrator and professional staff within the building are assigned the responsibility for the overall instructional program, student discipline and all parent/guardian communications. The teacher aide shall report and be responsible to the respective classroom teacher(s) and program/building administrator.