Program Manager Assistants

JOB TITLE

Program Manager Assistant- Paraprofessional (PEL)

CLASSIFICATION / STATUS

· Classification: Professional

· CFR: Program

· FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

REPORTING STRUCTURE

· Reports To: Classroom Teacher

· Works With: ALCA Staff and Students

CORE VALUES STATEMENT

Alexander Leigh Center for Autism, its Board and passionate staff hold each other to the highest level of honesty, safety, trust, and communication. We build strong relationships in our interactions with each other, students, parents, and the community as a whole. We choose the best practice for our students to govern our decisions and guide our way.

MISSION STATEMENT

Daily collaboration providing students with individualized educational excellence in a safe, dignified, respectful, and nurturing environment encouraging them to reach their maximum level of functional independence.

VISION STATEMENT

Helping children with autism and those who love them to THRIVE!

POSITION SUMMARY

The Program Manager Assistant (PMA) is the lead Instructional Assistant. This is a hands-on position within the classroom that provides instructional opportunities to the students in a variety of individual and group settings under the direct supervision of the classroom teacher. This role is responsible for daily implementation and data collection of students’ IEPs, fill in as primary substitute to other classrooms, participate in new student intakes, support trainings related to their student caseload and general classroom operations, and assist in the maintenance of the cleaning/systems of the classroom and other assigned school environments.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

· Work with and/or support all students in the classroom

· Follow and participate in the new student intake process

· Create and manage classroom cleaning/organizing schedule and assigned duties aligned with all-school cleaning procedures and classroom-specific systems as discussed with Classroom Teacher

· Create and manage other school cleaning schedule and assigned duties (e.g., Kevlar washing, community space cleaning/stocking) as needed

· Lead monthly rotation of classroom materials (e.g., manipulatives, books, file folders, put-ins, toys)

· Assist teacher in the creation and implementation of general classroom programming and curriculum

· Participate in and take notes during meetings (e.g., classroom late nights, student-specific meetings, PCM practice, team meetings, implementations)

· Support staff trainings on students in classroom (e.g., new staff trainings, substitute debriefings) under supervision of teacher

· Primary substitute to other classrooms, when needed and available to do so

· Work directly with students in a variety of teaching environments (one-on-one, small group, large group) as assigned by supervising teacher

· Implement students’ IEPs; including plans/protocols, goals, and programs

· Collects data on students’ IEPs; including plans/protocols, goals, programs, and behavior data

· Record anecdotal information throughout student’s day (e.g. home logs, daily notes)

· Collaborate with members of the student’s IEP team (e.g. Teacher, Program Manager, ST, OT, MT, Vocation, BCBA, PCM Instructors) regarding student performance and IEP progress

· Create and maintain student-specific and general classroom materials/systems

· Complete and submit incident reports within 24 hours when required

· Implement personal safety and crisis intervention procedures as needed

· Follow dress code and wear ALCA-issued protective equipment during student hours

· Maintain confidentiality of student, parent, staff, and organizational information

· Maintain regular, consistent, and punctual attendance

· Perform other duties as assigned

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS (MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS)

Education / Certification

· Paraprofessional Certification from ISBE or

· Illinois State Board of Education Substitute Teacher Certification (Type 39 or higher)

Skills & Competencies

· Ability to lead by example

· Strong attention to detail

· Ability to problem-solve and multitask in a fast-paced environment

· Effective communication in a collaborative, team-based setting

· Professional conduct with students, families, coworkers, and community members

· Ability to remain calm in challenging situations

· Willingness to learn with a solution-focused mindset

· Ability to receive and respond appropriately to feedback

Required Training & Compliance

· Ability to obtain and maintain CPR/First Aid certification

· Completion and maintenance of PCM certification, including annual recertification and practices

POSITION EXPECTATIONS

· Exhibit professional conduct with school colleagues, students, parents, school districts, and the community-at-large in accordance with ALCA policies, procedures and work rules

· Contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed

· Maintain employee confidence by keeping all employee, organization, and student information confidential

· Desire to work with individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other disabilities

· Commitment to ongoing professional development through trainings, in-services, and educational opportunities

· Adherence to ALCA policies, procedures, organizational chart, and chain of command

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

While performing the duties of this position, the employee regularly uses hands, stands, sits, walks, runs, talks, hears, stoops, kneels, crouches, crawls, climbs, balances, and reaches.

Additional requirements include:

· Ability to lift or move students or materials up to 100 lbs.

· Ability to stoop, crouch, or kneel for extended periods (20+ minutes)

· Ability to use PCM procedures daily

· Ability to work indoors and outdoors in all weather conditions

· Ability to work with physically aggressive students and prevent or reduce injury

· Ability to participate in strenuous physical activity for at least 20 continuous minutes

· Ability to visually scan environment when moving throughout the building, within the classroom and outdoors

WORK ENVIRONMENT / OSHA NOTICE

This position may involve handling human body fluids, exposure to biological agents, cleaning chemicals, hazardous materials, and/or elevated noise levels.

ADA STATEMENT

Reasonable accommodations will be made in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.