El Monte City School District Position Description Position: Instructional Support Specialist I Position Number: Department/Site: FLSA: non-exempt Reports to/Evaluated by: Salary Grade: 8 Summary Assists one or more teachers in the direct care and supervision of the children in a classroom or infant care facility. Maintains and prepares classroom materials, attendance records, health forms, and student files. Provides instructional assistance to individuals or small groups of students. Distinguishing Career Features The Instructional Support Specialist I provides instructional assistance to general education classrooms where activities can be carried out by an incumbent who meets minimum NCLB requirements, namely the passing of a competency exam. This position may require 6 semester units. It is the first and entry level in the career path. Advancement to levels II-IV requires additional units, advanced knowledge, skill, and ability to work with special student populations, projects, or in specially recognized skill areas. Instructional Support Specialists II are typically assigned to Special Education RSP students or the equivalent who will rotate from special education to general education classrooms. Instructional support specialist II and above also possess the required educational background for NCLB. Instructional Support Specialists III are found in areas such as labs, cued speech translation, or special day class where additional specialization through education or certification is required and where work assignments have additional physical requirements. The Instructional Support Specialists IV are trained specialists, often in special education where health care skills are needed. The Instruction Support Specialists V specialize in district-wide programs and/or special subjects or disciplines such as but not limited to, math, music or sciences, where the incumbent will prepare materials and deliver in-service demonstrations. Instruction Support Specialists V will also use assistive and adaptive technologies to reinforce learning. Again, the Instructional Support Specialist career path requires as a minimum, completion of 48 college transfer credit hours or successful completion of a rigorous academic assessment exam in order to comply with “no child left behind” requirements. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Assists an instructor to implement lesson plans by providing positive learning experiences for children. Assists the instructor in maintaining classroom discipline by observing the activities of the children and maintains order. These activities may be in or out of the classroom setting. Monitors classroom activities when a teacher is absent from the classroom. Accompanies students going from one location to another. Observes, monitors, and controls behavior of students within approved procedures. Gives each child individual and special attention each day. Responds to each child’s particular needs and characteristics. Insures that all children receive equal attention. Assists instructor with attendance recording. May contact parents concerning child’s attendance. Reports to the instructor any signs of illness or distress observed in the children. Aids in dealing with the situation, as appropriate. Depending on assigned grade level, performs a variety of infant/child care duties such as preparing meals and bottles, changing diapers, facilitating rest periods as well as planning and setting up learning activities. Sets up and arranges supplies and equipment in the classroom as directed. May translate learning and related materials to a second language for students, parents, and teachers, in both classroom and conference environments. Performs clerical duties such as, but not limited to, preparation of correspondence, teaching aids, labels, charts, bulletin boards, and displays. Performs other duties as assigned that support the overall objective of the position. Qualifications Knowledge and Skills The position requires basic knowledge of the principles and practices of age appropriate child development and guidance applicable for an educational setting. Requires working knowledge of the basic subjects taught in the District schools, including arithmetic, grammar, spelling, language and reading, with sufficient competency to assist students with individual or group studies. Requires a basic knowledge of teaching and instruction methods. Requires knowledge of basic clerical and record keeping processes. Requires knowledge of and skill at using personal computers, audiovisual, and other equipment to support learning, record information, and send communications. Requires sufficient human relation skills to work productively and cooperatively with teachers, students, and parents in formal and informal settings, to exercise patience when conveying information, and demonstrate sensitivity to the needs of students. May require knowledge of and competency in a second language. Abilities Requires the ability to assist teaching staff with implementation of instructional goals and activities. Requires the ability to assess the needs of individual students and develop programs to meet those needs. Requires the ability to interact with teachers, parents, and specialists in order to carry out assigned duties. Requires the ability to oversee students, administer assignments and tests, and perform general clerical tasks. Requires the ability to make informal presentations to individual and small groups of students and assist with demonstrations of assigned subject matter to classroom sized groups. Requires the ability to relate positively to students in a teaching/learning environment in a way that builds confidence and recognizes socioeconomic and cultural differences among children. Requires the ability to balance emotional support and discipline and deal with common behavior problems. Physical Abilities Requires the ability to perform indoors in an office and/or classroom/laboratory environment engaged in work of primarily a sedentary to a moderately active nature. Requires near visual acuity to read and write printed materials and computer screens. Requires hearing and speech ability for ordinary and telephonic conversation, to speak to groups, and to hear sound prompts from equipment. Requires ambulatory ability to move about office, classroom/laboratory, and school grounds, to tutor, assist with presentations, and reach work materials. Requires sufficient manual and finger dexterity to demonstrate teaching aids, to point out important words/figures to students, and to operate personal computers. Requires the ability to lift, carry, push, and move supplies, furniture, etc., of light-to-medium weight (under 50 pounds) on an intermittent basis. Education and Experience The position requires the equivalent of a high school diploma plus experience working with students in a classroom or equivalent environment and successful completion of a rigorous competency exam resulting in a certificate, plus completion of 6 college units. Incumbents who have completed 12 or more college credit hours that are degree eligible, will be assigned to Instructional Support Specialist II or higher. Licenses and Certificates May require a valid driver’s license. Approved competency examination. Working Conditions Work is performed indoors and outdoors with some, yet infrequent exposure to health and safety considerations.