Title: Staff Assistant II

Classification Title: Special Education Job Coach

Calendar: A, School Days

ESP Salary Schedule: Range 30 Step 1
Hours: 5.5/Day, 27.5/Week

Location: Education Service Center

General Purpose

Responsible for tutoring, testing, assisting, instructing, and caring for handicapped students. The range of activities includes individual in-class tutoring to assistance in obtaining and performing in a job.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

• Provide input to the teacher regarding (outline of job responsibilities) for each student and job.
• Direct instruction of vocational skills and instruct students in performance of job tasks (prompt, correct, reinforce).
• Implement a behavior program prescribed by the teacher, for each student at community based job sites (programs changed frequently).
• Supervise students (2 to 6) to ensure that tasks are completed and that the performance standards set by employers are met.
• Communicate with the teacher, regarding work assignments, student problems, etc.
• Coordinate with the teacher, regarding work assignments, working conditions.
• Assist students with community-based transportation needs.  Show them how to use bus tickets; determine bus routes; which bus to get on; how to transfer; etc.  May require that the job coach ride with the student.
• Instruct and assist students with personal management skills (money management, scheduling, hygiene, etc.).
• Schedule and provide assistance with student leisure/recreational programs (shopping, cooking and other learning experiences).
• Occasionally drive students to activities or to their home.
• Occasionally participate in IEP meetings.

Other Duties as Assigned

• Instruct children in small groups, and/or tutor individual students in reading, math, writing, music, etc., as assigned by the Special Education Teacher.   
• Rotate groups periodically during the school day with teachers and other staff assistants. 
• May be required to assist students with his/her physical needs, such as feeding, diapering, toileting, pushing wheelchairs, lifting on and off bus, etc.
• Assist in maintaining classroom calendars, bulletin boards, and other room arrangements.  (Elementary)
• Provide reinforcement as prescribed by the Special Education Teacher or by the Speech Therapist.
• Provide hand over hand assistance for students as needed.
• Assist regular education teachers and special education students in mainstreaming (when special education students mainstreamed into regular education classrooms).
• Record data on individual student performance; and input student information on the computer.
• May instruct and coach students in life skills.  
• May take children out in the community to participate.
• Assist in lesson preparation and presentation such as cutting, laminating, coping, die cutting, coloring, gluing, bulletin boards, room decorations and snack preparation.
• Use a data sheet to record progress of students on classroom simulations (money, shopping, banking, etc.).
• Provides prescribed behavioral support.
• Record engaged time for students.
• May assist students in traveling to job sites; learn required job tasks; instruct the student; and observe student’s job performance.  (Secondary)
• Instruct severely disabled students in reading, math, spelling, etc. and record student’s answers to assignment problems.
• Monitor life support equipment; keep detailed records on suctioning, ventilation settings, number of days students are absent, etc.
• Administer medication to the student as required.
• Apply behavior modification techniques to assist students in learning.
• May be trained on life support equipment, suctioning, catheterization, etc.
• Attend conferences and training as recommended  
• Follow the lesson plan outlined by the Speech Therapist, according to the student’s individualized educational plan; drill individual students on words, phrases, specific sounds, etc.  
• May work with both regular education and special education students.
• Conduct exercises with individual students or small groups of students to reinforce speech training.
• Record student activities for use by the Speech Therapist; documents progress of students.
• Prepare materials to supplement Therapist’s assigned activities; make own files to refer to student’s progress.
• May team-teach elementary school students in the classroom in language skills and listening comprehension.
• May be required to conduct language lessons for the entire class independently.
• Assist with sanitation of classrooms and bathrooms.
• Provide a consistent atmosphere for children and teachers by being in attendance daily.  
• Take over teaching responsibilities when the teacher is unavailable.

Education and Experience

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• One (1) year of related experience preferred

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

• The job occasionally requires light physical exertion including walking, standing, motor vehicle operation and other forms of light physical activity.
• The job occasionally requires a moderate level of physical exertion such as handling medium weight materials (11-50 pounds), extensive standing, walking, crawling, bending, stooping or climbing, or assisting special education students with their physical needs.
• Work is carried out in an agreeable environment as generally represented by normal office conditions and little or no unpleasant elements.
• Work is occasionally carried out in mildly disagreeable conditions.  Work involves exposure to unpleasant elements such as noise, ventilation, crowded nature of work, exposure to outside weather conditions, pressures related to sensitive situations, sitting;/standing in one position for an extended period of time, etc., that yield a perceptible level of discomfort.
• Typically involves contact with students, parents, teachers, principal, assistant principal and/or other staff members.