Para-Professional/Teacher Assistant

High School Diploma with a minimum of 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of college courses completed from an accredited educational institution with 30 semester hours in general education core curriculum, child development and/or psychology OR the successful completion of the Paraprofessional test with a license from the Professional Standards Commission. Experience with special needs students in a classroom environment is required. The IA/para will have the ability to use a variety of de-escalation techniques with students and work through specialized programs to assist them in developing coping skills and making better choices. The IA/para: will assist the teacher sand unit staff with transitions, individual and group instruction, planning and implementation of individualized student plans, documentation of data, and other educational responsibilities. The IA/Para will be responsible for the classrooms in the absence of a teacher, and the IA/Para may be expected to attend Treatment Team as the educational representative.   

Ability to exercise self-control in potentially volatile situations such as being verbally or physically confronted in a threatening or aggressive manner; must be able to work and concentrate amidst distractions such as noise, conversation and foot traffic; ability to handle interruptions often and be able to move from one task to another; must be flexible and not easily frustrated in dealing with differences of opinions. 

Ability to stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, stand, walk, push, pull, lift, grasp, and be able to perceive the attributes of objects such as size, shape, temperature, and/or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of the fingertips.  Ability to express and exchange ideas via spoken word during activities in which they must convey detail or important spoken instructions to others accurately, sometimes quickly and loudly.  Hearing to perceive the nature of sound with no less than 40 LB loss @ Hz, 1000 Hz, and 2000 Hz with or without correction; ability to perceive detailed information through oral communication and to make fine discriminations in sound.  Perform repetitive motions with wrists, hands and fingers. 

Individual must be able to exert up to 100 pounds of force occasionally and to be able to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.  Work requires a minimum standard of visual acuity with or without correction that will enable people in the role to complete administrative and clerical tasks and visually observe patients on the unit and in therapeutic activities.  While worker may possibly be subjected to temperature changes, the worker is generally not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions as the work is predominantly inside.