Position Type: Support Staff/Special Ed Assistant

Date Posted: 8/11/2025

Location: Forsythe Middle School

Closing Date: Until Filled

District: Ann Arbor Public Schools

POSITION TITLE: Special Education Teacher Assistant for VI (Visually Impaired) Student

POSITION LOCATION: Forsythe Middle School

SALARY AAEA/P Salary Schedule

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP: Classroom Teacher/Building Principal QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The following is a list of qualifications for the position, any one of which may be waived by the Board in exercising its prerogative to determine qualifications.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: High school diploma or equivalent and at least one of the following: • Associates or Bachelor's degree. • 60 credit hours from approved post secondary institution, or CDA certificate with the ability to complete additional 30 hours. • Have passing score on one of the following state approved academic assessments: i. Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) ii. ETS ParaPro Assessment Experience working with special education students Must be able to perform academic work at the level of assignment (K-8 or secondary) CPI training or willingness to be trained ABA training desired

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES: Maintenance and disciplinary activities in lunchroom and in other school settings Assist students with bus arrival and departure Provide assistance with behavior management, physical management and social skills Work with teacher to modify and create instructional materials Work together as a team with teacher(s) and other support staff Assist students with self-care needs, which will include personal hygiene and toileting Facilitate communication between students, staff and family members Maintain accurate records monitoring student progress Monitor activities to ensure safety of student, classmates and other staff Accompany students on field trips Willingness to be trained in the areas of: seizure protocol, administering medications, asthma/allergy care, oral feeding protocols, Gastrostomy tube feedings, orthotics and other areas as needed Meal preparation and feeding assistance to students Willingness to be trained on and implement the use of communication devices, apply technology to students academic, social and functional activities. Regular and reliable attendance Other duties as assigned This is a full time position, requiring regular reliable and predictable attendance on site to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Responsibilities of a Teacher Assistant/Paraprofessional working with a Blind or Visually Impaired Student TA is provided with the necessary technology, equipment, and supplies to produce Braille for the student at the local school PC Laptop Scanner Software Duxbury, JAWS, OCR software, TeamViewer

Braille embosser for computer Perkins manual embosser Workspace and equipment storage space Training in Braille and other specialized VI equipment and VI trainings Braillenote Touch, JAWS, Zoomtext, CCTVs, WISD VI workshops

TA is provided with time to prepare materials (example: while student is independently working or with other Special Ed support instruction)

Minimum Qualifications (District minimum qualifications...) Student focused: Understands the needs of the student(s) and works to ensure those needs are met within their control and capacity. Technology skills including email, word processing and editing, email, teleconferencing software, Google Drive and apps, copiers and scanners. Ability to respond quickly to, and anticipate, emergent student needs. Examples: translate unanticipated inaccessible documents, verbally describe visual documents presented in class, or last minute assignments from teachers.

Willing to be trained in VI technologies and skills including assistive technology and Braille. High communication skills, including between teachers, school staff, TCVI and COMS. Organizational skills: Keep records, organized files, and other documents. Independent: Anticipate and respond to student needs without constant oversight. Problem solving: Generate solutions to problems as they arise. Time management: Able to independently complete tasks on time. Ideal Qualifications At least one academic year of experience working with a blind or visually impaired student. Two years preferred. Proficient in Braille (including Nemeth code). Proficient with assistive technology for the blind and visually impaired Braille embossers, Perkins Brailler, Braille notetakers, screen reader software, screen magnification software, CCTV and magnifiers, scanners, OCR, PDF editing, annotation apps, text to speech and speech to text.

Proficient in creating tactile adaptations such as tactile images and graphs. Proficient in Cranmer abacus for math. Proficient in use of tactile and low vision tools such as Braille rulers and protractors. Duties Communicating daily with classroom teachers, school staff, and TCVI regarding VI-specific student needs. Attends classes, including specials and field trips as needed to support student. With classroom teachers and school staff, identifying curricular materials in need of transcription or adaptation. Prepares adapted materials in Braille and/or other formats such as enlarged or digital print. Produces daily student work such as: worksheets, presentation slides, and other daily assignments and materials. Transposing materials that are presented in inaccessible formats, online platforms and applications. (Schoology, Pair Deck, etc.)

Transposes Braille produced by students into print. Reinforce skills being taught by the TCVI and COMS, including Braille reading skills, mobility skills, independence, assistive technology devices, features, and software, and use of online platforms and distance learning educational tools. Encourage independent work and problem solving by the student and support when appropriate. Transporting adapted materials from WISD TLC to students' school or home in a timely manner.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Read, write and comprehend basic instructions, short correspondence, and memos Effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to staff, parents, students and administrators Communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Add, subtract, and multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

REASONING ABILITY: Apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form Deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES: Work with parents and children of diverse cultural backgrounds Develop effective working relationships with students, staff, and the school community Perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and Board of Education policies

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand and talk or hear and sometimes walk and sit. The employee will bend or twist at the neck more than the average person While performing the duties of this job, the employee will lift up to 50 lbs frequently every day. The employee will be lifting, transferring and positioning students multiple times throughout the day, every day. The employee is directly responsible for safety, well-being, or work output of other people. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision such as to read handwritten or typed material, and the ability to adjust focus. The position requires the individual to meet multiple demands from several people and interact with the public and other staff.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud. The employee is frequently required to interact with public and staff and is directly responsible for the safety, well-being or work output of students.

METHOD OF APPLICATION: All applicants must complete the online application at A2schools.org -> District Links -> Job Postings