Intervention Specialist - Autism Classroom

Position: Intervention Specialist (Elementary Autism Spectrum Disorder)

Reports to: Building Principal/Special Education Director

Employment Status: Regular/Full-time

NOTE: The below lists are not ranked in order of importance

Essential Functions:

• Ensure safety of students
• Plan, implement, and evaluate daily learning activities based on student Individual Education Plans
• Follow the scope and sequence of the instructional program as defined in the Board of Education approved courses of study
• Ensure that lesson plans are developed to the satisfaction of the supervisor and that instruction and activities are appropriately reflective of the needs of the students
• Ensure that students are supervised in a manner appropriate for their age and disability and based on the students’ IEP requirements
• Develop behavior management plans where necessary for the habilitation and education of MD students
• Participate in team approach for development of Individual Education Plans and behavior management approaches to student behavior
• Develop plans for and implement functional community training through the use of educational field trips and other community activities
• Provide physical care necessary for maintenance of health and welfare of students
• Maintain a safe, clean, and organized classroom environment
• Communicate with parents and support agencies in an effort to involve them in the educational progress
• Produce, manage and complete necessary documentation and paperwork for charting educational progress
• Provide direction and training to teaching assistants in classroom setting
• Interact in a positive manner with staff, students and parents
• Maintain respect at all times for confidential information, e.g., student grades
• Promote good public relations by personal appearance, attitude and conversation
• Attend work regularly and punctually
• Demonstrate a positive work ethic
• Work cooperatively with others in small groups
• Observe ethics of the teaching profession; exhibit professional behavior, emotional stability and sound judgment
• Appropriate licensure required
• Autism certificate preferred
• Knowledgeable in treatments and methodologies for educating children with Autism.
• Superior organizational skills
• Work effectively and delegate instruction to paraprofessional staff.
• Willing participant for training in methodologies relating to autism.
• Superior communication skills with all stakeholders – students, staff, families, community agencies
• Experienced with environmental supports and modifications that will ensure structure, predictability and routine.
• Experienced with visual supports to maintain attention, aid in stability, improve language comprehension and processing, and assist in prompting to increase independence.
• Experienced with appropriate sensory supports to enable the student to process information and adapt to environmental stimuli.
• Experienced with expressive communication supports and/or devices that will meet the diverse needs of students.
• Experienced with behavior supports that ensure appropriate understanding of behaviors as they relate to the intentions of the student with autism.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• Attend staff meetings at the request of the supervisor
• Attend training sessions as determined by state or county policies and procedures
• Schedule parent conferences, home visits or team meetings with other school staff
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Building Principal and/or Special Education Supervisor

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in education from an accredited college or university
• Current Education of the SWD, K-12, Certification or State of Ohio K-12 Intervention Specialist License
• Meet the applicable requirements of a “highly qualified” teacher under the No Child Left Behind Act within the appropriate timelines
• Education and/or training which evidences a thorough knowledge of instruction of students with multiple disabilities, curriculum development and implementation, classroom management, parent education and involvement, teaming with other education specialist and the ability to supervise classroom assistants
• Training in Crisis Intervention
• Alternatives to the above qualifications as the Superintendent and/or Board of Education may find appropriate

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to work effectively with others
• Ability to communicate ideas and directives clearly and effectively both orally and in writing
• Effective, active listening skills
• Organizational and problem solving skills
• General computer skills
• Knowledge of IDEA and rules
• Knowledge of public school policies and practices
• Ability to operate various office equipment
• Commitment to education
• Knowledge and abilities to work with children who may exhibit violent behavior

Equipment Operated:

• Copier
• Computer/printer
• Calculator
• CCSD Technology/Software
• Telephone
• Cassette player/tape recorder
• Overhead projector
• Laminator
• Paper cutter

Additional Working Conditions:

• Occasional requirement to travel daily and overnight
• Occasional interaction among unruly children
• Occasional exposure to blood, bodily fluids and tissue
• Frequent requirement to sit, stand, walk, talk, hear, see, read, speak, reach, stretch with hands and arms, crouch, kneel, climb, and stoop
• Frequent operation of a vehicle in inclement weather conditions, i.e., being prepared to come to work on all scheduled work days, except calamity days
• Weekend/evening/summer work
• Requirement to lift and/or carry up to a maximum of 50 pounds, and push/pull up to a maximum of 100 pounds, various supplies and/or equipment

This job description is subject to change and in no manner states or implies that these are the only duties and responsibilities to be performed by the incumbent. The incumbent will be required to follow the instructions and perform the duties required by the incumbent’s supervisor, appointing authority.