Job Summary

Position provides assistance to general education and/or special education teachers in the daily management and instruction of students in classrooms located at Northumberland Elementary School. All important aspects of the work are subject to detailed and specific procedures which employees follow closely.  Must be able to assist students in mastering the content of the applicable Standards of Learning. 

Essential Duties

1. Follows instructional schedule developed by personnel working with the assistant.
2. Prepare instructional materials as requested; performs designated learning tasks with students covering lessons, topics and exercises; demonstrates or explains lessons, asks questions and prompts students for answers; uses supplementary learning materials.
3. Monitors activities in drawing, writing, independent study and other classroom activities.
4. Observes and reports students' progress to teachers.
5. Works with students requiring individual or close attention and those experiencing difficulty; reinforces skills taught by the classroom teacher to small and large groups.
6. Assists with instructional activities.
7. Performs basic clerical duties in support of office activities; operates office equipment.
8. Escorts students on field trips and at school; escorts and assists students in physical and playground activities; accompanies children to restrooms.
9. Maintains bulletin boards, student records for daily attendance, lunch tickets, health charts and classroom supplies.
10. Models non discriminatory practices in all activities.

Other Duties

1. Performs any other related duties as assigned by the Principal or other appropriate administrator.

Job Specifications

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 accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities, who are otherwise qualified, to perform the essential functions.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills and/or Abilities Required)

Must possess a high school diploma or general education degree (GED) and six months related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of stakeholders or employees of Northumberland County Public Schools. 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 and to draw and interpret bar graphs. Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

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 accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand and reach with hands and arms; walk; sit; stoop or kneel; crouch or crawl. Duties may involve risk resulting from attending to students’ physical or sanitation/hygiene needs. Must be physically capable of frequently lifting or moving up to 50 pounds. Specific vision requirements include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to focus. Must have the ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time; exhibit manual dexterity to dial a telephone, to enter data into a computer terminal/typewriter, and to perform; see and read a computer screen and printed material with or without vision aids; hear and understand speech at normal levels and on the telephone; speak in audible tones so that others may understand clearly in person and on the telephone; ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Duties are normally performed in a school/classroom environment. Duties may be occasionally performed on field trips away from school. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.

This job description in no manner states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee. The Instructional Assistant will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other related duties as assigned by the Principal or appropriate administrator. Northumberland County Public Schools reserves the right to update, revise or change this job description and related duties at any time.

Qualifications

In order to meet the "highly qualified" requirement, paraprofessionals hired after January 2002, working in an instructional capacity in a program supported with Title I, Part A, funds, must meet one of the following options:

1. Complete two years of study at an institution of higher education;
2. Obtain an associate’s (or higher) degree; or
3. Meet a rigorous standard of quality through a formal state or local academic assessment covering reading, writing, and mathematics.

*This position is open until filled.