Teacher Assistant

POSITION TITLE: Teacher Assistant
STATUS: 175 Days, 7 hours per day
FLSA STATUS: Non- Exempt
REPORTS TO: Building Principals
POSITION SUMMARY: Responsible for assisting teacher in achieving instruction objectives by working with individual students or small groups.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
The list of Essential Functions is not exhaustive and may be supplemented.

1. Works with individual students or small groups of students to reinforce learning of material or skills initially introduced by the teacher.
2. Assists the teacher in devising special strategies for reinforcing material or skills based on a sympathetic understanding of individual students, their needs, interests, and abilities.
3. Assists students with achieving established goals, with personal care and mobility; preparing and maintaining files and records.
4. Guides independent study, enrichment work, and remedial work set up and assigned by the teacher or principal. Checks notebooks, corrects papers, and supervises testing and makeup work, as assigned by the teacher.
5. Serves as the chief source of information and help to any substitute teacher assigned in the absence of the regular teacher.
6. Alerts the regular teacher to any problem or special information about an individual student.
7. Participates in staff development programs, as assigned.
8. Assists the classroom teacher in arranging the learning environment, including assembling and putting materials on bulletin boards and/or other classroom learning displays and in keeping such displays current.
9. Under supervision of certificated teacher, prepare for classroom activities by distributing and collecting papers and other instructional materials for classroom instruction.
10. Assists students in completing classroom assignments, homework, and projects. Ensures student understanding of classroom rules and procedures and assist students by answering questions, providing proper examples, emotional support, friendly attitude, and general guidance.
11. Reads to students, listens to students read and observes students reading abilities as assigned. Assists students with letter and word pronunciation and recognition. Assists students with math, spelling and writing exercises and assignments.
12. Assists teacher with the implementation of lesson plans. Administers various tests as directed. Prepares mandated reports and documentation as required.
13. Tutors individuals or small groups of students, reinforcing instruction as directed by the teacher. Monitors and oversees student drills, practice, and assignments in various subjects. Confers with the teacher concerning lesson plans and materials to meet student needs and assists with the implementation of lesson plans.
14. Performs a variety of clerical duties in support of classroom activities, such as preparing, typing, copying, and filing instructional materials. Grades student tests and assignments, records grades and attendance, lunch reports, and maintains student records and files as assigned.
15. Operates and cares for instructional equipment and materials as assigned by the teacher. This includes preparing the room for the activity, obtaining the required materials and equipment, operation of the equipment, and the return of all materials and equipment to storage.
16. Assists the certificated teacher with the supervision of students during non-instructional times, such as emergency drills, assemblies, cafeteria, restrooms, field trips, hallways, playground, and bus loading / unloading activities.
17. Assists with lunch, snacks, and other clean-up duties, as assigned.
18. Assures the health and safety of students by following established practices and procedures and maintaining the learning environment in a safe, orderly, and clean manner.
19. Observes and controls behavior of students in the classroom according to approved procedures, monitors students during outdoor activities as directed, and reports progress regarding student performance and behavior to supervising teacher.
20. Performs other duties as assigned.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

1. Ability to effectively communicate, verbally and in written form, with a variety of clienteles.
2. Ability to exercise sound judgment and confidentiality on sensitive issues.
3. Ability to work effectively with all stakeholders.
4. Calm demeanor for handling stressful situations.
5. Ability to accomplish tasks that are often interrupted by persons with special and/or immediate needs.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

1. Completed 60 college credit hours or passing score on ParaPro exam.
2. If qualified, the employee will be required to get and maintain current Missouri substitute or teacher certification.
3. Knowledge of standard office equipment.
4. Knowledge of basic record-keeping techniques.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, talk, hear, and utilize manual dexterity. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms, to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Occasionally may be required to lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, the ability to adjust focus, and depth perception.