Position Information

This position will serve Spring Lake Park Schools, Thrive - Life Skills Transition Program. This position is 7 hours/day, with 184 paid days per school year. Starting hourly pay is $28.74. This position is fully benefit eligible, please click here to review the full contract and benefits offered.

Nature of Work

Incumbents are responsible for providing daily support to deaf-blind students to facilitate learning. Responsibilities may include preparing educational materials and adapting them to facilitate learning; accompanying students and providing communication support; checking assistive equipment to ensure proper functioning; and providing various daily care.

Typical Class Responsibilities

Facilitates the interactions and visual/auditory communications for students who are deafblind; and develops an understanding of the individual functioning, communication, and learning styles of the deafblind students.
Assists teachers by determining applicable instructional approaches to use to engage students in independent work; and customizes the communication of the materials to the deafblind students to optimize the learning opportunity.
Adapts and prepares instructional materials for students.
Maintains documentation about the students for meetings and record keeping; communicates with home caregivers as directed by case managers or classroom teachers; and participates in planning and feedback meetings.
Assists students with health and personal need duties including checking assistive equipment for functionality, changing clothing, applying equipment (e.g. foot orthotics), bathroom assistance (e.g. washing hands, brushing teeth, and changing/toileting, etc.), eating, and transferring students to/from equipment.
Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

Training and Experience Requirements

High School Diploma or equivalent (G.E.D.)
Two years of study at an institution of higher education (60 college credits) OR an Associate degree (or higher) OR successful completion of the Paraeducator training and assessments (District funded)
1 to 3 years successful experience working with adolescents and/or individuals with special needs. Other successful work experience can be considered.

Knowledge Requirements

Applicable principles and practices needed to support deafblind students;
American Sign language;
Adaptive techniques such as tactile, raised print, large print, picture symbols, braille, etc.;
Applicable tools, specialized equipment, techniques, methods, and materials;
Understanding of the deafblind and the cultural awareness needed to support those students;
Customer service principles;
Recordkeeping principles;
Applicable local, state and federal laws, rules, and regulations;
Computers and related software applications.

Skill Requirements

Analyzing and synthesizing information to be able to determine an optimal approach to communicate with the deafblind student to enhance learning and communications with staff and peers;
Conducting needs assessments;
Providing health and personal care support services;
Providing customer service;
Preparing and maintaining records;
Applying local, state and federal laws, rules, and regulations;
Operating a computer and applicable software applications;
Communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with subordinates, coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

Physical Requirements

Positions in this class typically require: climbing, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions.
Medium Work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Commitment to Equity

At Northeast Metro 916, equity means that everyone has access to what they need in order to learn, grow and thrive.

Northeast Metro 916 will not discriminate against individuals based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, parental status, status with regard to public assistance, disability, age or sexual orientation.