Teaching Assistant

Description:

Summary: Assist the Teacher(s) in the development, organization and implementation of an interactive/adaptive curriculum that provides an active, supportive, and positive learning environment. Assist the Teacher in the development of obtainable and measurable goals and objectives and engages and facilitates participation by each adult. Monitors and documents progress of each adult in relation to their individual goals and objectives. Responsible for ensuring the adults remain actively engaged in meaningful activities making adaptations as necessary. Provide and assist with personal care for adults as needed.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Assist the Teacher with individualizing and administering a curriculum that provides an encouraging and supportive learning environment.
• Ensure that all individuals remain actively engaged in meaningful activities according to their individual level of development and with the appropriate accommodations.
• Provide input into the development of the Individual Program Plan both verbally and written.
• Assist the Teacher in the classroom activities and lesson plans to ensure that all adults are actively engaged and making progress on their goals and objectives.
• Record accurate and detailed documentation regarding the individual's objectives, personal care, behavior reports and/or therapy goals to include all participating factors.
• Comply with and provide all program objectives, personal care, and medical instructions for each individual adult throughout the program day.

Assist and/or provides support to individuals served by using a variety of methodologies, best practices ranging from individualized instruction, small groups and/or classroom style training based on the needs of each individual.

• Assist with and/or develops training materials that can be adapted to each individual's learning style.
• Maintain a safe and organized training area that supports learning and personal growth.
• Ensure staff to adults served ratios (1-10) is maintained at all times in the classroom.
• Utilize positive behavior intervention techniques to manage and promote improved behavior, while remaining supportive of the adult's individuality.
• Monitor and know the location of all adults assigned to the group at all times.

Other duties as assigned to include but not limited to and are subject to change:

• Operate a passenger van to transport individuals to and from worksites, Easterseals and other community outings as assigned by Supervisor. Will adhere to all state and federal highway rules and laws.
• Comply with all policies and procedures included in the Easterseals Rules of the Road defensive driving manual.
• Monitor the need for assistance and/or behaviors for adults during paid meal period and breaks, will not congregate with other staff; will acknowledge a request for assistance from individual served, co-workers or supervisors.
• Demonstrate ability and flexibility to transfer professional knowledge, temporarily or permanently, to multiple training areas based on workload and organizational needs.

Compliance/HIPAA:

While performing the duties of this job, employee will comply with all federal, state and local laws and regulations pertaining to Easterseals Arkansas.

Employee has access to all client protected health information of the individuals directly served by this person, except psychotherapy notes. Employee will not attempt to access any other protected health information unless otherwise approved by Supervisor or Privacy Officer.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience:

High School diploma, preferred CNA Certificate, and two years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Language Skills:

Ability to follow, give and receive written and/or verbal instructions.

Mathematical Skills:

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, verbal, diagram, or schedule form.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

Valid Arkansas Driver's License

Other Skills and Abilities:

Ability to lift and transfer adults.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Requirements: