Signing Education Assistant

Position Information

This position will serve Forest Lake Area School District, Forest Lake Area Middle School. This position is 7 hours/day, 183 days/year with an expected start date in August 2024.

Nature of Work

Incumbents are responsible for providing educational support following established procedures. Responsibilities may include: setting up and organizing individual or group activities; providing instructional support; monitoring students' behavior to ensure a safe and healthy environment; maintaining and preparing routine records and reports; and maintaining equipment.

Typical Class Responsibilities

• Assists teachers with the planning, preparation and implementation of differentiated instruction for individual students and groups. Prepares and organizes learning materials.

• Assists teachers with student record keeping including collecting and entering data for progress reports and other documents.

• Monitors students at all times including support of physical cares as needed

• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

Functional Class Responsibilities

• Ensures communication access via sign language and augmentative communication tools.

• Ability to expand functional Sign Language vocabulary and utilize basic sign expansion strategies when specific vocabulary is unknown.

• Demonstrates competency of expressive use of Sign Language for dialogues and short sentences, narratives and/or stories utilizing important ASL grammatical features.

Training and Experience Requirements

• Basic sign language skills required. Completion of ASL Level III coursework preferred

• High School Diploma or equivalent (G.E.D.)

• 1 to 3 years successful experience working with adolescents, and/or individuals with special needs. Other successful work experience can be considered

Preferred Qualifications

Two years of study at an institution of higher education (60 college credits), an Associate degree (or higher) or successful completion of the Paraeducator training and assessments (District funded)

Knowledge Requirements

• Applicable subject matter(s)

• Assistive learning tools

• Student support principles

• Recordkeeping principles

• Applicable local, state and federal laws, rules, and regulations

• Computers and related software applications

Skill Requirements

• Sign language

• Providing student support

• Using assistive learning tools

• 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, balancing, stooping, kneeling, 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.