Instructional Assistant I

This position provides assistance to Preschool Teachers in the daily management and instruction of students. The work involves observing and reporting on the behavior and learning of students, in a pre-kindergarten classroom, closely monitoring the needs of children.

• Implements instruction activities as prescribed by the teacher for individual children's programs.
• Attends to daily record keeping tasks such as attendance and collecting lunch money.
• Prepares classroom materials in accordance with needs of children; assumes partial responsibility for arranging and decorating the classroom environments to fit the needs and interests of young handicapped children.
• Observes and records data in child's progress and behavior including solid interactions and emotional behavior.
• Insures the safe transfer of students on and off the school buses; removes and replaces braces and splints; lifts children from and into strollers and other specialized adaptive equipment.
• Helps facilitate personal care and hygiene of students including diapering, nose wiping and body cleaning. Follows safe procedures for appropriate handling of body fluids and wastes.
• Takes appropriate action in instances of special medical needs including seizures, respiratory arrest, broken bones, postural drainage, and airway obstruction.
• Maintains the safety of the children in the absence of the teacher by continually observing safety precautions.
• Assists with daily activities including snack and stories as per teacher's lesson plans.
• Escort children as needed to classroom activities.  Responsible for safe exiting of children from building in case of an emergency.
• Participates in school based and system wide in-services and workshops designed to improve skills and expand theoretical knowledge.
• Models the WJCC Strategic Plan Values: Individualism, Integrity, Innovation, Accountability and Collaboration.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• High school diploma or GED certificate required.
• Experience in nursing, childcare, or special education preferred.
• Demonstrate the ability to supervise and teach students.
• Maintain confidentiality with records to student records and information.
• Ability to communicate clearly and properly orally and in writing to students, staff, and parents under the direction of and in collaboration with teacher.
• Basic computing and spelling skills required. Patience, flexibility, dependability, interest, punctuality, and ability to follow directions.

Responsible for individual or small groups of students as assigned by supervising teacher.

Reports to the Supervisor of Early Childhood Programs and receives direction from the teacher and works under general supervision of Principal.

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, pushing, or moving students and equipment weighing at least 50 pounds. Must have the ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time; see and read a computer screen and printed material with or without vision aids. Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written and oral form. Ability to deal with problems as they arise and make quick decisions based on sound judgments.

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