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Job Title: Special Education Assistant - Speech-Language Pathology - Bilingual (Spanish) and Requisition ID number: 57627
Close Date: No established closing date; open until filled
Organizational Unit: Speech Language Clinicians (10000604)
Site: Davis Center (0001)
FTE: 0.75; this is based on full-time equivalency with 1.0 being full time
Union: ESP(28)
Functional Area: Paraprofessional
Resume and Cover Letter are mandatory to apply for any position.

Internal candidates, please note the following: Following July 15th, current MPS Special Education Assistants are ineligible for voluntary transfers within their job title through the end of the school year. The SEA transfer process for the following school year will reopen in early spring.

SUMMARY
Under general supervision, Special Education Assistants (SEA) provide a variety of services to assist students with special needs in a learning environment; assist Minneapolis Public School (MPS) staff to develop and implement appropriate individualized lessons and activities for students with disabilities; and help students to meet their therapy and education goals. This is a bilingual Spanish-English SEA position, in which the SEA works directly with a bilingual speech-language pathologist to serve ECSE preschool children with speech-language disabilities. Key responsibilities include supporting the speech-language pathology curricula, transportation needs of the children, and self-care needs of the children.
Positions are fully eligible for benefits, including:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Paid Sick Leave, Vacation Time, and Holidays
• PERA Retirement Pension
• Union Membership
• Paid Training
• Starting Pay of $17.15/hour & Opportunity for Career Advancement
• & More!

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Principal responsibilities of SEAs include:
Providing support services to children with moderate to severe disabilities and assisting MPS staff to facilitate educational functions and other services that maintain a safe and productive learning environment, sensitive to the needs and legal rights of special education students.
Working with students to improve personal skills and reinforcing classroom learning.
Assisting students in learning processes through reinforcement of positive behavior, individual instruction, socialization, and good communications.
Monitoring student activities, promoting respect, explaining social norms and disciplinary consequences, and de-escalating personal confrontations.
Maintaining behavior documentation, written observations and anecdotal information files for Support and Advocacy for Independent Living Program (SAIL), Individualized Education Program (IEP), and Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBA).
Monitoring work, correcting papers, and transitioning students for medications, meals, buses, and classes.
Attending to and providing for students' daily hygiene, personal and health related cares, as directed by licensed staff. Assisting students in community, recreational, school, and vocational training. Providing assistance to students in classrooms and after-school programs.
Providing support in the least restrictive environment so that students can be successful in resource settings and ensuring that behavior support plans are being implemented with fidelity for students in special education resource settings.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

• Bilingual Spanish-English proficiency is needed, as all children who attend the speech-language program speak Spanish as a primary language.
• Successful applicants will meet the criteria listed in the three (3) bullet points below:

- Sixty (60) semester or Ninety (90) quarter college credits.
OR
A high school diploma/GED and a passing score of at least 460 on the ParaPro Assessessment. (For more information on the ParaPro Assessment, contact Educational Testing Service at 1-800-772-9476 or www.ets.org/parapro.)

- Two (2) years of experience working with children. Additional education or training may substitute for experience, at the discretion of Human Resources. Related experience may also be considered, at the discretion of Human Resources.

- Ability to secure personal transportation for travel.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Associate's degree in Child Development or a related field.
Experience in working with indivdiuals with disabilities.

ADDITIONAL LICENSE AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
First Aid/CPR/AED, Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) training, and Special Education Orientation is required within one year.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT
A job in this category may require walking or standing to a significant degree, and working with special needs children. Must be able to frequently lift up to 50 pounds.

Final candidates may be invited to interview with a committee. Final appointment to this position will be contingent upon passing a criminal background check.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY:

Diversity is one of Minneapolis Public Schools core values and is essential to our goal of putting children first and making them college-ready. Diversity of our workforce provides us with a competitive advantage and allows us to better understand, communicate with and educate our diverse student body. Minneapolis Public Schools will not deny anyone the opportunity for training or employment because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender or gender identity, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, disability, sexual orientation, age, family care leave status, or veteran status.

Minneapolis Public Schools strongly encourages diverse candidates to apply.