Job Objectives:

Acts in the capacity of an aide with the ability to work with students exhibiting special needs.

Minimum Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Provides documented evidence of a clear criminal record.
• Holds or is qualified to obtain an Educational Aide Permit.
• Ability to learn appropriate skills for the position.
• Ability to physically manage students with disabilities.
• Ability to learn and use basic sign language techniques when needed.
• Demonstrates maturity and the ability to work with students and their families.

Responsibilities and Essential Functions:

The following skills and duties are representative of performance expectations. A reasonable accommodation may be made to enable a qualified individual with a disability to perform essential functions.

• Learns the purpose and proper procedures to perform all assigned duties. Seeks advice when expectations are unclear.
• Works with individual and/or small groups of students. Receives instructions and follows a prescribed procedural guideline as directed by the Director of Discipleship.
• Helps students participate in classroom activities and choir.
• Reinforces materials introduced by the teacher. Supervises independent study or remedial activities. Helps maintain a learning environment that stimulates interest, enthusiasm, and inquisitiveness about subjects and events.
• Nurtures students who require alternative approaches to learning. Collaborates with staff to ensure that services are provided in the least restrictive educational environment.
• Helps with the preparation of classroom materials. Distributes supplies.
• Cleans up and organizes work and storage areas. Helps keep the classroom orderly (e.g., store equipment, shelve books, clean spills, etc.).
• Supports student progress with appropriate emotional development and interpersonal relationships. Helps students change attitudes and behaviors.
• Encourages a positive outlook, cooperation, active participation, accountability, dependability, consistent attendance, punctuality, etc.
• Offers help when students ask for or their behavior suggests they need assistance. Avoids being intrusive. Allows students to seek their highest degree of independence. Solves student concerns discreetly.
• Works with the classroom teacher to address persistent behavior problems. Carries out behavior modification plans to help students achieve performance objectives.
• Reports evidence of suspected child abuse as required by law.
• Supports an inclusive educational environment. Provides opportunities for students with disabilities to participate in appropriate peer group activities.
• Helps students with medical and/or physical needs as trained by a licensed health care professional (e.g., personal hygiene, toileting, catheterization, transfers, mobility, lifting, carrying, etc.). (Special education assignments)
• Helps position students to take full advantage of each learning environment (e.g., line-of-sight, proximity to equipment, height of working surfaces, etc.).
• Observes all personal hygiene requirements for the preparation and handling of food.
• Helps feed students. (Special education assignments)
• Actively participates in recreational and leisure activities associated with the assigned student's educational program.
• Monitors ill students until a parent/guardian arrives, or as directed.
• Helps students with clothing, cleanup, and toileting routines.
• Helps with arrivals and departures (e.g., student supervision, physical assistance, operating the wheelchair lift, etc.).
• Provides close supervision and takes reasonable precautions to ensure student safety. Does not leave students unsupervised.
• Monitors and controls student behavior during assigned activities.
• Helps communicate rules to students. Maintains high standards for student conduct. Protects the due process rights of students.
• Strives to develop rapport with students, volunteers, parents, and the congregation. Responds to requests and complaints promptly and tactfully. Offers and accepts constructive suggestions diplomatically. Respects the personal confidences and privacy needs of individuals.
• Promotes the proper use and care of church property. Helps keep track of church supplies and equipment assigned to students.
• Follows standard sanitation procedures to maintain clean classroom equipment.
• Encourages parent organizations and supports student activities as time permits.
• Serves as a role model for students. Demonstrates personal integrity, responsibility, impartiality, respect, and courtesy.
• Performs other specific job-related duties as directed.

Abilities Required:

• Demonstrates professionalism and exemplary personal conduct.
• Displays an interest in students and enthusiasm for Christian education.
• Works cooperatively to support a successful team effort.
• Expresses ideas effectively using verbal, nonverbal, and writing skills.
• Carries out prescribed actions efficiently with limited supervision.
• Lifts, moves, and/or positions children. Helps students use mobility devices (e.g., wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, etc.) and adaptive equipment.
• Performs activities that may require stooping, kneeling, and/or crouching.
• Intervenes to avert problem situations and resolve conflicts. Restrains distraught students.
• Lifts, carries, and/or moves classroom supplies and equipment.
• Maintains an acceptable attendance record and is punctual.

Working Conditions:

Exposure to the following conditions may range from remote to frequent based on circumstances and factors that may not be predictable.

• Potential for exposure to blood borne pathogens and communicable diseases.
• Interaction with disruptive and/or unruly individuals.
• Exposure to student commotion.
• Exposure to adverse weather conditions and seasonal temperature extremes.
• Duties may require dispensing medications and exposure to personal hygiene products, cleaning solvents, and chemical vapors.
• Duties may require wearing protective clothing and/or safety equipment.

Performance Evaluation:

Job performance is evaluated according to the policy practices of Westminster Presbyterian Church. Westminster Presbyterian Church is an equal opportunity employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability. This job description does not imply that these are the only duties and responsibilities to be performed. This job description is subject to change in response to funding variables, emerging technologies, improved operating procedures, productivity factors, and unforeseen events.

Pay:

$18.00 per hour Expected hours: 3.0 per week

Work Location:

In person