Department: School Based

Pay Grade: Instructional Support III

Work Calendar: 185 days

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

GENERAL PURPOSE

Under the supervision of a Building Administrator and with direction from one or more teachers, the Instructional Paraprofessional assists in achieving instructional objectives by working with individual students or small groups to promote their achievement and overall success.

MAIN JOB TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Provide student assistance

• Administer, score, and record such achievement and diagnostic tests as the teacher recommends for individual students.
• Work with individual students or groups of students to reinforce learning of material or skills initially introduced by the teacher.
• Guide independent study, enrichment work, and remedial work in collaboration with the teacher.
• Assist with the reasonable supervision or students during emergency drills, assemblies, play periods, field trips, and instructional activities.
• Assist with other school-wide needs.
• Read to students, listen to students read, and participate in other forms of oral communication with students.
• Assist students in the library or media center.
• Help students with daily living and self-help skills.

Provide teacher assistance

• Assist the teacher in devising special strategies for reinforcing material or skills based on an understanding of individual students, their needs, interests, and abilities.
• Operate and care for a variety of equipment used in conjunction with the instructional program.
• Assist with the collection and distribution of instructional materials.
• Assist with maintaining an appropriate classroom environment.
• Check notebooks, correct papers, and supervise testing and make-up work, in conjunction with the teacher.
• Assist the teacher with record keeping and documentation of student's performance.
• Work in conjunction with the teacher toward meeting the social and emotional needs of the students.
• Serve as the chief source of information and assistance to any substitute teacher assigned in the absence of the regular teacher.

Support and demonstrate core values of Stafford County Public Schools

• Engage in ongoing professional development relevant to position.
• Respond promptly and thoroughly to written and oral requests for information.
• Maintain a clean, neat appearance, appropriate to position.
• Maintain a record of appropriate attendance and punctuality.
• Serve as an optimal role model for students, colleagues, and the general public.
• Work in close harmony with colleagues, supervisors, and co-workers.
• Comply with all District and School policies and regulations, including but not limited to guidelines for confidentiality.
• Perform other related duties as required/assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• High school diploma, or G.E.D. or any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from high school.
• Associates degree, at least 60 semester college credits, or passing scores on ParaPro exam.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge
  • Basic curriculum expectations
  • Basic teaching strategies
  • Basic computer applications
• Skills
  • Basic reading and computation skills, and appropriate oral and written expression; thorough knowledge of English grammar and usage.
• Abilities
  • Work under the direction of the teacher(s) to whom assigned.
  • Work cooperatively in a team environment to meet goals
  • Organize and perform work independently
  • Work on multiple projects while meeting all deadlines
  • Show sustained effort and enthusiasm in quality and quantity of work

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Work environment is in a mixed environment, with moderate noise, temperatures that are controlled, and no exposure to chemicals or other negative air quality elements.
• The work is light/moderate work, requiring exertion of up to 30 pounds of force to move or lift objects.
• The following physical and mental abilities are representative of those expected to complete the essential functions of the job:
  • Standing for prolonged periods
  • Sitting for prolonged periods
  • Operation of motor vehicles or heavy equipment
  • Repetitive motions with the hands, wrists, or fingers
  • Repetitive motions with force on the back or lower body
  • Ability to feel, grasp, or hold objects by hand
  • Discernment of colors visually
  • Discernment of letters or numbers
  • Discernment of objects under low light or distant conditions
  • Understanding and communicating in spoken language
  • Understanding and communicating in written language
  • Perception of sounds
  • Making decisions using logic and rational thinking

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations shall be made, as required by law, to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties, just as though they were actually written out in this job description.

Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties, just as though they were actually written out in this job description.