Assistant, Exceptional Child -Personal Needs (24-25)

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools - Charlotte, NC

Full-time

Charlotte, NC

Educational Services

About the position

The Exceptional Child - Personal Needs position at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is designed to support teachers in working with Exceptional Children (EC) to help them achieve their Individual Education Program (IEP) goals. This role is crucial in providing access to general education for students with special needs, ensuring that they receive the necessary assistance to thrive in their educational environment. The position requires a dedicated individual who can work closely with both students and teachers to facilitate learning and support the unique needs of each child. In this role, the assistant will be responsible for instructing individual EC students or groups of EC students across various curricular areas as directed by the teacher. This includes collecting data to document student progress on IEP goals, planning instructional strategies in collaboration with the teacher, and operating and caring for classroom equipment and materials. The assistant will also play a vital role in supervising students during emergency drills, assemblies, play periods, and field trips, ensuring their safety and well-being in various settings. Additionally, the assistant will act as a bus monitor when special needs are identified by the IEP team, alerting the teacher to any issues or important information regarding individual students. Participation in in-service training programs for professional growth is also a key aspect of this position, as it allows the assistant to stay updated on best practices in special education. The role involves various administrative tasks, such as checking materials and portfolios, correcting papers, supervising testing, and maintaining bulletin boards and learning centers. The assistant will also assist with school routines and transitions, student attendance procedures, record keeping, and other assigned duties. Physical assistance is a significant part of the job, including helping students with self-help tasks, toileting, and providing support during occupational and physical therapy sessions. The assistant may also need to lift, position, and push wheelchairs as required to ensure that all students can participate fully in their educational experience.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the instruction of individual EC students or groups of EC students in all curricular areas as directed by the teacher.
• Collect data to document individual student progress on IEP goals.
• Plan and work with the teacher in devising instructional strategies.
• Operate and care for equipment and materials for both classroom and individual students.
• Assist and supervise during emergency drills, assemblies, play periods, field trips, and to other designated places.
• Act as a bus monitor when special needs of an EC student(s) are identified by the IEP team.
• Alert the teacher to any problem or special information about an individual student.
• Participate in in-service training programs for professional growth.
• Assist in checking materials and portfolios, correcting papers, supervising, and testing as directed by the teacher.
• Assist in keeping bulletin boards and other learning centers current.
• Assist in school routines and transitions.
• Assist with student attendance procedures, record keeping, collecting money, ordering materials and other duties as assigned.
• Provide physical assistance to students as needed in the areas of self-help, clothing, toileting (including accidents and catheterization).
• Provide physical assistance to therapists and teachers as needed in duties related to occupational and physical therapy and mainstreaming classes.
• Provide physical assistance as needed to students by writing assignments under the direction of the teacher.
• Provide physical assistance as needed to students by lifting, positioning and by pushing wheelchairs.

Requirements

• Ability to assist in the instruction of students with exceptional needs.
• Experience working with children, particularly those with special needs.
• Strong communication skills to effectively interact with students, teachers, and parents.
• Ability to collect and document data on student progress.
• Familiarity with Individual Education Programs (IEPs) and special education practices.
• Physical capability to assist students with mobility and self-help tasks.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in a school setting or with special education programs.
• Certification in first aid or CPR.
• Training in behavior management techniques.

Benefits

• Professional development opportunities through in-service training programs.
• Supportive work environment focused on student success.