Job Description

Position: Instructional Assistant - Connections Program
Department: Special Education
Reports to: Principal
Affiliation: Watertown Educators Association, Unit D
Salary range: As determined by CBA Salary Schedule, Unit D
SUMMARY: Watertown Public Schools seeks an outstanding Instructional Assistant to support students with disabilities in accessing their education.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Under direction from the school administration, general education teacher, special education teacher, and related service providers, provide needed supports to students during instructional periods as well as non-instructional activities

• Maintain student data as directed by teachers / related service providers
• Follow and implement behavior support plans as provided by teachers / related service providers
• Assist students, if/ as needed, with completion of personal care needs such as eating, organizing materials, toileting, etc.
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: 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. The Superintendent may waive or modify the qualification requirements. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Flexibility with respect to age groups, assignments
• Ability to follow through with directions
• Experience working with students at the elementary level who have significant learning and social/emotional needs
• Experience implementing Behavior Intervention Plans and an understanding of functions of behaviors
• Must have experience with or ability to learn ABA methodology and techniques
• Ability to take initiative to complete tasks and to assist students with de-escalation techniques and executive functioning skills
• Ability to work collaboratively as a part of a team
• Experience with, or ability to learn to utilize, assistive technology and PECS functional communication systems in support of students

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelors Degree preferred
• Experience supporting students with disabilities in a public school setting preferred

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Instructional Assistants may be required to supervise students in a variety of settings, which requires the ability to stand for extended periods of time. This position may require staff to intervene with students who are in behavioral crisis, which requires a normal degree of flexibility; the ability to stand, walk, run, and shuffle for at least several minutes; the ability to kneel on one knee and two knees and then stand up; to bend the trunk at 45 degrees and twist to either side; to grasp firmly; to raise the hands above the head, and to learn and correctly demonstrate multi-step physical skills. Instructional Assistants may need to assist students with toileting needs, which may require the ability to lift and pivot.
SENSORY REQUIREMENTS:
Most tasks require visual perception and discrimination and the ability to distinguish color. The employee must be able to read printed matter with or without visual aids. The employee must be able to visually supervise students in small and large group settings as well as vocational or community settings. The employee must be able to communicate effectively with other staff members in order to exchange accurate information.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The noise level in this environment may be quiet to loud depending on the activity and the particular time of the day and location. The activity level in a classroom, school and community-based settings is often busy. The employee interacts with other staff members and occasionally must meet multiple demands from several people.
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. This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee, and is subject to change by the employer, as the needs of the employer and the requirements of the job change.