Substitute Personal Care Assistant - PCA

Garfield, NJ

Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support

About the position

The Substitute Personal Care Assistant (PCA) is responsible for assisting the teacher by monitoring and assisting special needs students in the classroom and during other activities to ensure the provision of quality instruction in a safe environment. This role involves following all rules, policies, and procedures of Garfield Public Schools, along with state and federal regulations pertaining to special education. The PCA will work closely with individual students or small groups to reinforce learning and assist with daily living skills as needed.

Responsibilities

• Follows all rules, policies, and procedures of Garfield Public Schools, along with state and federal regulations pertaining to special education.
• Administers scores and records achievement and diagnostic tests as recommended by the teacher.
• Works with individual students or small groups to reinforce learning of material or skills initially introduced by the teacher.
• Assists the teacher in devising special strategies for reinforcing material or skills based on an understanding of individual students.
• Operates and cares for equipment used in the classroom for instructional purposes.
• Helps students master equipment used in the classroom for instructional purposes.
• Monitors student behavior and helps maintain discipline in the classroom.
• Records time-out and in-class suspensions; assists with crisis prevention and de-escalation techniques.
• Assists with the delivery of special services and daily living skills.
• Monitors the safety and well-being of students and employs strategies to protect them from injury.
• Collaborates with teachers to incorporate information from parents, doctors, nurses, and therapists.
• Performs various clerical duties as needed, including maintaining records of student progress.
• Maintains confidentiality of student information.
• Strives to maintain and improve professional competence.
• Assists with the supervision of students during emergency drills, assemblies, play periods, and field trips.
• Alerts the regular teacher to any problem or special information about an individual student.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience working with physically and/or behaviorally disabled children.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of student information.
• Ability to follow detailed written and oral instructions.
• Ability to read a variety of correspondence, reports, handbooks, forms, lists, etc.
• Working knowledge of effective methods of dealing with children.
• General knowledge of methods of adapting instruction, equipment, and tools for students with special needs.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Physical ability to frequently or constantly lift, carry, push, toilet, diaper, and feed assigned students.

Nice-to-haves

• Successful prior experience working with children.

Benefits

• This position does not offer benefits.