UPPER MORELAND TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Instructional Paraprofessional
Reports To: Building Principal and/or Director of Special Education and/or Director of /Student Services/Supervisor of Secondary Special Education
FLSA Status: Non-exempt
Starting Rate: $18.00/hour
Revision Date: January 2024
MISSION STATEMENT:
The Upper Moreland Township School District is an educational institution working in partnership with the community to provide all students with educational opportunities to develop knowledge, skills, behaviors, and habits of mind necessary for excellence and success as critical thinkers, as caring and confident individuals, and as contributing members of society. The District reflects the shared values of a diverse community of stakeholders and focuses on student success socially, emotionally, physically, and academically. Students of the Upper Moreland Township School District will be provided with the foundation and skills necessary to excel in the exciting, complex, and interdependent world in which they live.
SUMMARY: Performs any combination of the following duties and responsibilities in the classroom to assist teaching staff in special needs areas:
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: This list of duties and responsibilities is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary.
- Discusses assigned teaching area with classroom teacher to coordinate instructional efforts.
- Assists students, individually or in groups, with lesson assignments to present or reinforce learning concepts.
- Assists teacher in devising strategies for reinforcing materials or skills based on a sympathetic understanding of individual students, their needs, interests and abilities.
- Guides independent study, enrichment activities, and remedial tasks set up and assigned by the teacher.
- Reads to students, listens to students read, and participates in other forms of oral communication with students.
- Keeps bulletin boards and other learning displays up to date.
- Operates and cares for equipment used in the classroom for instructional purposes.
- Assists students in mastering use of instructional materials assigned by the teacher.
- Distributes and collects workbooks, papers and other materials for instruction.
- Checks notebooks, corrects papers and supervises testing and make-up work as assigned by the teacher.
- Assists with arrival and dismissal of students.
- Assists student in personal hygiene needs, which may include dressing and/or toileting as necessary.
- Assists with ambulatory needs as necessary.
- Assists with feeding of student as necessary.
- Observes and reports unusual or atypical student behavior to teacher.
- Respects the confidential nature of pupil records and school reports.
- Ability to complete state reports (ACCESS) for reimbursement of state funded monies.
QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be 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 available to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
- Two years of Post-secondary study; Associate’s Degree or higher; or successful completion of the PDE Credentials of Competency.
- CPR and First Aid certification
- Department of Education requires that Instructional Assistants provide evidence of 20 hours of staff development activities related to their assignment.
REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.
COMPETENCIES:
To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:
- Customer Service - Responds promptly to student and teacher needs; responds to requests for service and assistance; meets commitments.
- Interpersonal Skills - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; maintains confidentiality; listens to others without interrupting; keeps emotions under control.
- Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; listens and gets clarification; responds well to questions; participates in meetings.
- Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; Able to read and interpret written information.
- Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit; puts success of team above own interests; supports everyone's efforts to succeed.
- Ethics - Treats people with respect; keeps commitments; inspires the trust of others; works with integrity and ethically; upholds organizational values.
- Judgment - Exhibits sound and accurate judgment.
- Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently; plans for additional resources; sets goals and objectives based on student and teacher needs.
- Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; reacts well under pressure; treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; accepts responsibility for own actions; follows through on commitments.
- Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality.
- Quantity - Completes work in timely manner; Strives to increase productivity; Works quickly.
- Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures; Determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; Reports potentially unsafe conditions to supervision immediately; Uses equipment and materials properly to ensure student and staff safety.
- Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; Changes approach or method to best fit the situation.
- Attendance/Punctuality - Is consistently at work and on time; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; Arrives at meetings and appointments on time.
- Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; takes responsibility for own actions; keeps commitments; completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.
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 use hands to finger, handle, or feel and is able to talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and taste or smell. The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. The employee may be required to push students in wheelchair/adaptive equipment.
ADA Statement:
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The position holder must be able to perform the essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation. It is the responsibility of the employee to inform the Director of Human Resources of any and all reasonable accommodations that will be required.
Upper Moreland Township School District shall not discriminate in their educational programs, activities or employment practices based on race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, religion, veteran status, ancestry, genetic information, or any other legally protected classification. This policy is in accordance with state and federal laws, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. Information relative to special accommodation, grievance procedure, and the designated responsible official for compliance with Title VI, Title IX, and Section 504 may be obtained by contacting the school district.