Exceptional Children Instructional Assistant/Bus Driver (ECS IA) in Northwood

To provide support to the teacher in the instruction of students. A wide variety of technical and clerical tasks are performed to support the teacher in the teaching-learning process for students. The second aspect of this job is bus driving in which under general supervision, it is expected that an employee operate a school bus on assigned route(s) and schedule to provide safe and efficient transportation to students of the school system.

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

A High School diploma and one of the following is required: 48 Semester Hours, or an Associates Degree, or Workkeys Completed + (2 College Courses, or 96 Contact Hours). Employee should also have some experience in driving large vehicles with some experience transporting humans preferred; or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required skills, knowledge and abilities.

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assists teacher with executing instruction and evaluating its effectiveness.
• Monitors student behavior and helps maintain discipline in the classroom; records time out and in-class suspension; assists with crisis prevention; restrains students as needed.
• Monitors the safety and well-being of students; monitors student attitudes and encourages self-esteem; assists students with becoming increasingly independent.
• Assists students with learning; reinforces and clarifies instructions; conducts short sessions on improving study skills; provides one-on-one assistance as needed.
• Operates the assigned school bus on the route(s) and schedule.
• Obeys all traffic laws and school bus regulations while operating the school bus.
• Performs required post-trip inspection, to detect students who may still be on board the school bus asleep or incapacitated and to detect any other irregularities or vandalism to the bus interior.
• Observes all safety regulations and standards for school buses. This includes cleaning the school bus and evacuating students quickly in the event of an emergency.
• Maintains discipline of students assigned to ride the school bus.
• Establishes a discipline plan that is consistent with school disciplinary objectives, as stated by the principal, and which provides a clear, progressive plan of consequences for students who cause disciplinary problems and rewards for those who maintain proper school bus safety standards.
• Secures the assigned bus before leaving the vehicle at the conclusion of a run or route.
• Maintains acceptable relationships with parents/guardians of students transported and with school personnel.
• Performs other related tasks as required.

MINIMUM STANDARDS REQUIRED TO PERFORM RESPONSIBILITIES

• Must be able to use a variety of equipment and classroom tools such as computers, copiers, typewriters, calculators, pencils, scissors, equipment for children with special needs, etc.
• Must be able to exert a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
• Must be physically able to operate a school bus.
• Must be able to quickly decelerate the bus and firmly apply the brake in an emergency situation.
• Must be able to turn the steering wheel of the vehicle rapidly in an emergency situation.
• Must be able to begin in a seated position with seat belt fastened, parking brake released, and engine running, secure the bus (parking brake set, key removed), rise from the seat, exit through the rearmost emergency exit, and be in position to assist passengers in exiting the bus within 20 seconds.
• Must be able to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• General knowledge of activities performed by lead teacher.
• General knowledge of daily routines of the classroom.
• General knowledge of student handbook rules.
• General knowledge of procedures to follow in the event of an emergency.
• Some knowledge of the curriculum for the grade.
• Ability to motivate students.
• Ability to perform general clerical duties.
• Ability to maintain order and discipline in a classroom.
• Considerable knowledge of safe and efficient practices and procedures used in the operation of a school bus.
• Considerable knowledge of traffic laws and school bus regulations.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

Full-time for ten months. Salary: Grade 56 (Certified TAs move up 8 steps).