Special Education Instructional Assistants for Specialized Programs – Special Education Support

Job Description

Special Education Instructional Assistant, Learning for Life | Frederick County Public Schools

The Tone:
This is a full-time, 11-month waiver position at Frederick County Public Schools, located in Frederick, MD. Frederick County Public Schools is a public school system dedicated to providing quality education and services to students. This role is essential for supporting students with special needs in specialized programs, ensuring the implementation of their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and fostering their progress toward independence. The individual in this role will provide critical assistance, monitoring, and personal care support for students within specialized learning environments.

The TL;DR
• Role: Special Education Instructional Assistant
• Type: Full-time, Temporary (waiver position, 11-month / 208 days per year, 7 hours per day)
• Location: In-person, Frederick, MD
• Pay: $24.32 hourly
• Team: Reports to one or more certified classroom teachers and/or school administrator(s).
• Mission: To monitor, assist, and provide support for students with special needs in specialized programs to implement their Individualized Education Program (IEP).

What You’ll Actually Do
• Student Support: Support students under the direction of a Certificated FCPS staff member.
• IEP Implementation: Monitor and assist students in meeting their Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals and objectives.
• Personal Care: Assist student(s) with routine physical and/or personal care not required to be performed by a nurse.
• Material Adaptation: Set up and adapt materials, equipment, and assistive devices for use by student(s) as directed.
• Professional Development & Meetings: Participate in professional development trainings and attend IEP team meetings and staff meetings as directed.

The Must-Haves
• Background: High school diploma or equivalent (GED), or 48 college credits, or an Associate of Arts (AA) degree, or passing one of the following exams: ParaPathways, Pearson NES: Foundations of Classroom Support, or Pearson NES: Foundations of Classroom Support & Instruction.
• Experience: One to three years’ experience working with students with moderately to severe behavioral, communicative, and/or intellectual needs in a school or educational setting.
• Skills: Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and concisely in both oral and written form; working knowledge of English, spelling, vocabulary, and mathematics; capability of performing essential functions of the position; completion of CPR/First Aid Training, District approved Crisis Prevention training program, and Registered Behavior Technician Training within the first year of hire.
• Bonus: Associate of Arts Degree or college-level coursework related to child development; previous experience working with children in an educational setting, especially with students with disabilities; Bilingual-Spanish or knowledge of American Sign Language; knowledge of child development and instructional strategies; familiarity with FCPS policies, goals, and programs.