Teacher Assistant (Oakwood Elementary School)

JOB TITLE:     Teacher Assistant

REPORTS TO:     Teacher/Principal

SALARY:     Salary Grade 56

STATUS:             10 months

SUMMARY:  

The job of Teacher Assistant was established to provide support to the teacher in the instruction of students.  A wide variety of tasks are performed to support the teacher in the teacher-learning process for students.  The work is directed by specific instructions, precedents, and established policy.  Problems are solved through the exercise of judgment in selecting the best course of action to be taken.  Errors are expected to be recognized promptly by the supervisor and corrected.  The work is performed under the limited supervision of the teacher and/or principal. 

RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

Academic Assistance

• Gives group instruction as prescribed by teacher
• Provides individualized instruction
• Demonstrates various instructional activities
• Monitors work assigned by teacher
• Checks and corrects students’ work while in progress
• Keep students on task
• Praises and reinforces achievement of students
• Reports student progress to teacher

Instructional Preparation/Support

• Serves as substitute teacher
• Arranges classroom furnishings and equipment, if necessary
• Prepares visual aids
• Makes copies of materials
• Serves as proctor during testing
• Attends workshops
• Scores students’ papers as instructed by teacher
• Distributes and collects instructional materials

Reports and Records

• Checks and reports attendance
• Enters data in health record
• Records student behavior
• Files data according to regulatory requirements

Monitoring Student Behavior

• Supervises students in the classroom and other locations
• Creates and distributes awards for positive behavior
• Promotes student self-esteem
• Teaches citizenship, social skills, and respect for others
• Reconciles minor student conflicts
• Participates in development of discipline policy
• Disciplines misbehavior through approved methods
• Reports discipline problems to teacher or principal
• Reports to supervisor significant change or lack of change in student behavior

MINIMUM EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND REQUIREMENTS:

• Obtain an Associate’s degree from an IHE or complete 2 years (48 semester hours of college credit at an IHE or pass a formal assessment that demonstrates knowledge and ability to assist in instructing, reading, writing and mathematics

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Working knowledge of effective methods of dealing with children
• Working knowledge of the core subject at the grade level to which employment assignment is made
• Some knowledge of the school organization and its community
• Some knowledge of expected behavior of children, that is, basic characteristics of ages and stages
• Skill necessary to operate audiovisual equipment and common office machines
• Ability to comprehend the purpose of teacher designed strategies as a fulfillment of the instructional objective
• Ability to discern significant student behavior and refer this to the supervisor
• Ability to impart information to the child’s level of comprehension 
• Ability to apply impartially and consistently proper methods of recognition, reward, and punishment
• Ability to solve independently most minor problems
• Ability to follow minimally detailed written and oral instructions without constant supervision
• Ability to record and store data accurately
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of student information
• Participates in professional development opportunities
• Performs other related work as required

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, talk and listen.  The employee is occasionally required to use hands to fingers, handle, or feel: reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds or more at times.

DISCLAIMER:

Statements of the job descriptions are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by an employee in this category.  The description does not contain an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills and other requirements necessary of employees to perform in this position.