Special Education Instructional Assistant

Special Education Instructional Assistant – ALS (Adult Programs)
Terms of Employment: 10-month 
Exemption Status: Non-Exempt
Salary Scale: AFSCME UA3, Grade 3-7

OVERVIEW
The Adult Career, Community, Education & Enrichment (ACE) Program is a regional program in Charles County designed for students ages 18-21 who are working toward the Maryland Certificate of Program Completion and have met the Alternative Academic Achievement Standards and/or assessments. The ACE program emphasizes hands-on, real-world learning experiences to prepare students for successful transitions to employment, community participation, and independent living. Scaffolded instruction is provided in work readiness, community engagement, and activities of daily living, tailored to individual student needs through the IEP process. The program provides individualized instruction that prepares students for life after high school by focusing on:

•    Supported or competitive employment
•    Pre-vocational and daily living skills
•    Community access and navigation
•    Recreation and leisure
•    Self-advocacy and personal goal setting

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE
•    High school diploma required. 
•    Experience working with children required.

QUALIFICATIONS
•    Ability to work in an instructional support role with elementary, middle, or high school aged children. 
•    Excellent human relations skills. 
•    Excellent organizational and time management skills. 
•    Knowledge of developmental stages of children. 
•    Good oral and written communication skills. 
•    Ability to plan developmentally appropriate activities as directed by the teacher. 
•    Must be at least 18 years old to work in elementary schools.
•    Must be at least 18 years old and out of high school for at least 2 years to work in middle and high schools.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
•    Assists teacher in planning instructional activities and maintaining a safe and orderly environment. 
•    Works with individuals or small groups to provide instructional reinforcement after the teacher delivers the instruction. 
•    Assists the teacher in preparing for a lesson. 
•    Regular on-time attendance. 
•    Performs related duties as assigned by the principal. 
•    Required to provide substitute coverage as needed. 
•    May require toileting depending upon the area/program assigned.
•    Other duties as assigned by the principal.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
The environmental factors and/or physical requirements of this position include the following: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to have ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to visit other locations; and the ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and manipulate (lift, carry, move) light to medium weights of 10-50 pounds. Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard. The employee frequently is required to sit, reach with hands and arms, talk and hear.

Charles County Public Schools reserves the right to re-advertise and modify the content of vacancy announcements at any time; however, this may be the only notice for this position during the noted advertisement period.

The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Dr. Michael Blanchard, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; / For special accommodations call or TDD two weeks prior to the event.