Results-Oriented Job Descriptions:
How Paraeducators Help Students Achieve

View These Sample Results-Oriented Job Descriptions for Paraeducators:

Instructional Assistant
Campus Monitor
Health Services Clerical Assistant
Special Needs Classroom Assistant

In the Lakota School District, West Chester, Ohio, a committee writing and implementing Results-Oriented Job Descriptions recognized and defined a list of 602 different tasks and skills for Instructional Paraeducators. In doing so, they created what they considered to be a meaningful and accurate description of the work an Instructional Assistant actually does.

It is the first of the following four sample Results-Oriented Job Descriptions. Each sample shows what a paraeducator ROJD might look like.They demonstrate the ROJD writing method and the difference between an ROJD and a traditional job description.

Sample Description for an Instructional Assistant

Essential Job Responsibilities

Complete classroom setup and take-down by:

• Creating bulletin boards, placemats, birthday signs, name tags, and teaching charts
• Creating sentence strips and artwork
• Designing room layout (placement of tables, etc.)
• Disinfecting equipment periodically - Cleaning equipment for summer storage
• Preparing the room for next day, including vacuuming, washing toys, setting up playground equipment, periodically cleaning refrigerator, watering plants

Complete room setup for daily activities by:

• Arranging chairs and other classroom furniture
• Readying classroom supplies, i.e. cutting, laminating, copying
• Setting up classroom for special activities including:
  • Carpet circles and chairs
  • Snacks and juice
  • Paints, glue, paper, etc.
  • Tabletime items, small group items, name tags, calendar
  • Sensory table, puzzles, books, games, mortar boxes, easel and paints, etc.
• Refilling soap and towel dispensers
• Decorating bulletin boards
• Changing children's artwork
• Decorating rooms according to season or upcoming holiday

Assist with the arrival and departure of children by:

• Monitoring and directing student traffic
• Greeting students at buses or cars
• Assisting with special needs equipment, including walkers, wheelchairs, pony, stander, etc.
• Helping children enter and exit school bus
• Escorting children into proper classroom
• Helping children remove and hang up coats, backpacks, etc.
• Instructing children on how to button, zip, put on and remove coats, hats, gloves, etc.

Maintain positive communication between parents and school by:

• Communicating with parents
• Identifying child's interests in order to use with instruction and to maintain contact
• Checking book bags for notes or any parent-to-school communication
• Checking for returned library books, special information, tuition, etc.
• Placing school announcements, notices, completed projects, etc., into children's backpacks
• Checking e-mail and voice mail for messages from parents
• Delivering notes to school office
• Preparing and distributing newsletter to parents and other teachers
• Taking attendance and assisting child in delivering roster to office
• Becoming familiar with simple sign language
• Attending family fun days or special evening events
• Participating in all school-wide activities, meetings, conferences, etc.
• Waiting with children for parent pick-up

Assist with the instruction of personal hygiene by:

• Maintaining the standards of personal hygiene
• Helping with toileting and toilet training
• Reminding children to wash hands
• Diapering using OSHA-approved methods
• Washing children's faces and wiping noses
• Changing soiled clothes when necessary

Provide appropriate food planning by:

• Planning the weekly meal schedule
• Providing the grocery shopping as necessary
• Preparing food for the next day (sometimes the night before)
• Wiping and cleaning the tables before and after snack
• Putting out placemats
• Serving the daily snack
• Instructing and encouraging positive table manners
• Helping children properly feed themselves
• Performing post-snack cleanup, washing dishes, bleaching tables, washing placemats, etc.

Monitor and provide positive discipline as necessary by:

• Supervising all playground activity
• Providing discipline for any behavioral issues firmly but positively
• Being available to assist teacher with any discipline problems

Provide assistance with all instructional activities, games, etc. by:

• Assisting with circle time (weather, story, calendar, songs)
• Assisting children with cutting, gluing, painting, etc.
• Reading stories to children
• Providing small group one-on-one instruction with cooking, games, arts, crafts, puzzles, etc.
• Conducting alphabet and numbers lessons
• Assisting with writing skills exercises
• Helping with written name recognition
• Providing instruction in use of computers
• Assisting children with musical instruments
• Assisting children with one-on-one interaction and modeling
• Encouraging speech and language concepts
• Performing whatever tasks the teacher requires

Assisting with special needs children by:

• Meeting and greeting special needs children at buses or transportation areas
• Preparing special needs classrooms
• Assisting with eating and nutritional needs throughout the day
• Assisting special needs students at locker areas
• Lifting and securing children safely as necessary
• Assisting children with mobility in the classroom and from area to area as needed
• Modifying activities appropriately for special needs children
• Taking individual children to special classes
• Assisting with speech and other social tasks
• Assisting special needs children in all self-help activities as determined by teacher supervisor
• Gathering parent contact information
• Instructing students in transitional skills -- playtime to nap time, one subject area to another, including material preparation
• Monitoring students in designated areas where necessary
• Monitoring students in special classrooms
• Removing students for behavioral disturbances
• Removing a student for emotional reasons
• Sorting parent communication regarding individual student needs
• Distributing parent-teacher communication
• Grading papers and tests
• Assisting special needs students with correction of work
• Making copies of material throughout the day
• Keeping informational charts pertaining to student behavior and academic progress
• Recording daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly student information
• Having the ability to use and maintain necessary special needs equipment and supplies as directed
• Assisting with field trip activities
• Assisting with cooking activities
• Assisting with assemblies and other special functions
• Assisting with Back-to-School Night
• Assisting with PTA presentations
• Training tutors and parent volunteers

Monitor and provide documentation of a child's performance by:

• Recording performance comments as directed
• Filing necessary documents and notes
• Completing all paperwork, timesheets, schedules, etc.
• Filing proof of special training, in-service hours, etc., with office for state inspector
• Maintaining strict confidentiality at all times

Monitor and assist with student behavior management by:

• Assisting in identification of student-related behavior problems
• Implementing behavior modifications as directed by classroom teacher
• Implementing behavior modification plans as directed
• Implementing and directing building safety and discipline procedures
• Maintaining student record confidentiality
• Communicating behavior classifications to administrators and parents as directed
• Communicating with other staff as directly appropriate regarding behavior issues
• Serving as liaisons between the program specialists and the classroom teacher

Provide student supervision in nonacademic areas by:

• Supervising activities on the playground at lunch and at recess
• Supervising students in the lunchroom as directed by principal
• Supervising students during bus arrivals and departures
• Supervising students on the bus as directed by the driver
• Escorting students to designated areas throughout the school for activities as directed by supervisor or teacher
• Accompanying students during fire drills and practice for emergency shutdowns
  

To next section: Sample Description for a Campus monitor