EAST ORANGE SCHOOL DISTRICT
East Orange, New Jersey

Teacher Assistant for Special Education
Position

REPORTS TO: Building administrator and certified classroom teacher

JOB GOAL: Under the direct supervision of a certified staff member, to assist certified

professional staff by working with groups of disabled students to provide

them with physical help and emotional support as needed to gain

optimum benefit from the district’s special education program

RESPONSIBILITIES:

1) Assists in taking care of the physical needs of the special education student, including

putting on and taking off outerwear, moving from room to room, student hygiene, and

using the lavatory as needed. Assists with wash-up and toilet routings including

diapering when necessary

2) Assists with individualized instruction and works with small groups of students under the

supervision of the certified staff member to reinforce material initially introduced by the

teacher. Checks notebooks and supervises testing and make-up work as assigned by

the teacher. Assists the teacher in implementing the students’ goals as set by the IEP.

Serves as a resource person, if and when requested, to the Child Study Team conferring

about one of the students to whom assigned. Assists regular education teachers and

special education teachers in devising special learning needs, interests and abilities.

Assists the teacher in implementing behavioral management systems. Serves as a chief

resource of information and help to any substitute teacher assigned in the absence of

the regular teacher. Implements changes to a student’s program only in consultation

with the classroom teacher, Child Study Team, related services staff or administration

3) Alerts the teacher to special needs of individual students

4) Assists, where appropriate, in escorting students to arrival/departure areas, loading and

unloading the special education student from transportation buses or vans

5) Completes clerical duties as assigned by the classroom teacher, including collecting

behavioral data. Helps maintain individual records for each student. Refers parent

requests for information to the classroom teacher

6) Assists teacher in planning of the weekly schedule of activities and provides input in

terms of student progress

7) Assists students with various projects, crafts, simple tasks such as sharpening pencils or

carry lunch trays, and curriculum tasks. Guides independent study, enrichment work

and remedial work set up and assigned by the teacher. Helps students to master

equipment or instructional materials assigned by the teacher

8) Assists the teacher in maintaining learning centers/stations and study areas

9) Assists with the supervision of children during emergency drills, assemblies, field trips

and play periods. Assists in escorting students from one area to another. Assists in

playground supervision. Guides students in working and playing harmoniously with

other children. Assists during eating periods. Fosters good eating habits and table

manners in children.

10) Engages children in conversation to encourage language development

11) Establishes as fully as possible a supportive and sympathetic relationship with the

student without fostering intense emotional involvement

12) Aids physically disabled students, particularly those who rely upon appliances and

prosthetics

13) Maintains confidentiality in accordance with district policy and handbook. Handles

sensitive and confidential information, documents, communications, incidents, etc., with

discretion and in a conscientious manner

14) Participates in staff meetings, professional development and training sessions as

assigned

15) Participates in restraining disruptive or dangerous physical behavior as requested or

assigned

16) Performs such duties as assigned by the building administrator

17) Can be utilized as a classroom aide, one to one aide, or two to one aide; this job

description covers all of those roles

18) Must be able to perform all of the essential functions of the job with reasonable

accommodations, if necessary

QUALIFICATIONS:

1) Minimum of two (2) years of college or 60 college credits

2) NJDOE Substitute Credential

3) Demonstrated ability to assist with instructional activities and to communicate effectively

with students, parents and school staff

4) Knowledge of diverse needs of children with disabilities and appropriate special

education classroom practices

5) Minimum experience as determined by the board

6) Ability to work extended hours (as required by collective negotiations agreement)

7) Required criminal history background check, drug screening, and eligibility to work in the

United States

8) Ability to read, write, communicate effectively, understand and follow verbal and written

instructions

9) All applicants must meet NJ residency requirements as per the “New Jersey First Act”,

N.J.S.A. 52:14-7 (L. 2011, Chapter 70)

10) Alternatives to the above qualifications may be substituted as deemed appropriate by

the Board of Education

PHYSICAL ABILITIES AND WORKING CONDITIONS OF CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT

The Physical Abilities and Other Conditions of Continued Employment listed in this section are

representative but are not intended to provide an exhaustive list of Physical Abilities and Other

Conditions of Continued Employment, which may be required of this position. The East Orange

School District encourages persons with disabilities who are interested in employment in this

class and need reasonable accommodations to contact the Division of Labor Relations and

Employment Services.

Vision: (which may be corrected) to read small print; view a computer screen for

prolonged periods

Hearing: (which may be corrected) to answer telephones and tolerate exposure to noisy

conditions

Speech: to be understood in face-to-face communications; to speak with a level of proficiency

and volume to be understood over a telephone

Upper Body Mobility: use hands and fingers to feel, grasp, and manipulate small objects;

manipulate fingers, twist and bend at wrist and elbow; extend arm to reach outward and upward;

use hands and arms to lift objects; turn, raise and lower head

Strength: to lift, push, pull and/or carry objects, which weigh as much as 5 pounds on a

frequent basis

Environmental Requirements: encounter constant work interruptions; work cooperatively with

others; work independently; work indoors

Mental Requirements: read, write, understand, interpret and apply information at a moderately

complex level essential for successful job performance; math skills at a high school proficiency

level; judgment and the ability to process information quickly, learn quickly and follow verbal

procedures and standards; give verbal instruction; rank tasks in order of importance; copy,

compare, compile, and coordinate information and records

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

Qualified applicants are invited to file applications and credentials via Applitrack at:

https://www.applitrack.com/eosd/onlineapp/

SELECTION PROCEDURE:

1) Review of credentials filed with the Superintendent of Schools

2) An oral interview to determine an applicant’s personal qualifications and aptitude for the

position, as required

3) The appointment of a person to the position advertised is the responsibility of the Board

of Education and will be made in compliance with Board policies related to the

appointment of professional staff

TERM OF EMPLOYMENT:

Ten-month work year

SALARY RANGE:

Based on the negotiated agreement governing the employment of Teacher Assistants

Approved by the East Orange Board of Education: March 23, 2021

Rev. 3/1/2021