Exceptional Children Instructional Assistant/Bus Driver (ECS IA)

NATURE OF WORK

To provide support to the teacher in the instruction of students. A wide variety of technical and clerical tasks are performed to support the teacher in the teaching-learning process for students. The second aspect of this job is bus driving in which under general supervision, it is expected that an employee operate a school bus on assigned route(s) and schedule to provide safe and efficient transportation to students of the school system.

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

A High School diploma and one of the following is required: 48 Semester Hours, or an Associates Degree, or Workkeys Completed + (2 College Courses, or 96 Contact Hours). Employee should also have some experience in driving large vehicles with some experience transporting humans preferred; or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required skills, knowledge and abilities.

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assists teacher with executing instruction and evaluating its effectiveness.
• Monitors student behavior and helps maintain discipline in the classroom; records time out and in-class suspension; assists with crisis prevention; restrains students as needed.
• Monitors the safety and well-being of students; monitors student attitudes and encourages self-esteem; assists students with becoming increasingly independent.
• Assists students with learning; reinforces and clarifies instructions; conducts short sessions on improving study skills; provides one-on-one assistance as needed.
• Operates the assigned school bus on the route(s) and schedule.
• Obeys all traffic laws and school bus regulations while operating the school bus.
• Performs required post-trip inspection, to detect students who may still be on board the school bus asleep or incapacitated and to detect any other irregularities or vandalism to the bus interior.
• Observes all safety regulations and standards for school buses. This includes cleaning the school bus and evacuating students quickly in the event of an emergency.
• Maintains discipline of students assigned to ride the school bus. Establishes a discipline plan that is consistent with school disciplinary objectives, as stated by the principal, and which provides a clear, progressive plan of consequences for students who cause disciplinary problems and rewards for those who maintain proper school bus safety standards.
• Secures the assigned bus before leaving the vehicle at the conclusion of a run or route. This includes parking the vehicle properly, making a visual inspection of the bus to check for damage and the possibility of remaining passengers, and securing all windows and doors to protect the interior of the vehicle.
• Maintains acceptable relationships with parents/guardians of students transported and with school personnel.
• Performs other related tasks as required.

MINIMUM STANDARDS REQUIRED TO PERFORM RESPONSIBILITIESPhysical Requirements: Must be able to use a variety of equipment and classroom tools such as computers, copiers, typewriters, calculators, pencils, scissors, equipment for children with special needs, etc. Must be able to exert a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Due to amount of time spent standing and/or walking, physical requirements are consistent with those for Light Work. Must be physically able to operate a school bus. Must be able to quickly decelerate the bus and firmly apply the brake in an emergency situation. Must be able to turn the steering wheel of the vehicle rapidly in an emergency situation. Must be able to begin in a seated position with seat belt fastened, parking brake released, and engine running, secure the bus (parking brake set, key removed), rise from the seat, exit through the rearmost emergency exit, and be in position to assist passengers in exiting the bus within 20 seconds. Must be able to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are for Medium Work.
Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or composite characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
Interpersonal Communication: Requires the ability to speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving instructions, assignments and/or directions from superiors, and communicating information and instructions to students and other persons.
Language Ability: Requires the ability to read a variety of correspondence, reports, handbooks, forms, lists, etc. Requires the ability to prepare correspondence, simple reports, forms, instructional materials, etc., using prescribed format. Requires the ability to speak to people with poise, voice control and confidence.
Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply rational systems to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists; to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule form.
Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in standard English.
Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract; and to utilize decimals and percentages. Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract totals.
Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• General knowledge of activities performed by lead teacher
• General knowledge of daily routines of the classroom
• General knowledge of student handbook rules
• General knowledge of procedures to follow in the event of an emergency
• General knowledge of the principles of organization and administration
• Some knowledge of the curriculum for the grade
• Ability to motivate students
• Ability to perform general clerical duties.
• Ability to maintain order and discipline in a classroom
• Ability to maintain a clean and orderly environment
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions
• Considerable knowledge of safe and efficient practices and procedures used in the operation of a school bus
• Considerable knowledge of traffic laws and school bus regulations
• Considerable knowledge of safety regulations and standards for school buses
• General knowledge of Transportation Department Operating Instructions
• Ability to physically inspect the bus according to Transportation Department Operating Instructions

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

Full-time for ten months
Salary: Grade 56 (Certified TAs move up 8 steps)

DISCLAIMER

The preceding job description was designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees to this job.