Job Description

BOONE COUNTY SCHOOLS

Position Title

ECCAT / Instructional Aide / Bus Aide

Employment Term 200-Day Contract

Hours: Approximately 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Classification

Service Personnel – Aide Classification

Reports To

Building Principal, Assigned Classroom Teacher, Director of Exceptional Children, and/or Director of Transportation

Job Goal

To support the academic, developmental, behavioral, physical, and safety needs of students by assisting the classroom teacher with instructional and non-instructional activities and providing supervision and assistance to students while being transported on a school bus. The employee shall help maintain a safe, orderly, supportive, and inclusive learning environment.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Must be at least 18 years of age.
2. Must possess a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
3. Must meet all requirements for the appropriate aide classification established by West Virginia law and Boone County Schools.
4. Must have successfully completed the West Virginia State Competency Examination for aides or qualify through an approved alternative pathway.
5. Must hold or be eligible to obtain the appropriate temporary or permanent Early Childhood Classroom Assistant Teacher authorization when assigned to a Pre-K or kindergarten classroom.
6. Must meet Aide II or higher classification requirements when assigned to a special education program.
7. Must successfully complete all required criminal background checks and employment screenings.
8. Must complete required county and state training related to student supervision, confidentiality, student behavior, emergency procedures, transportation safety, and the education of students with exceptionalities.
9. Must be able to follow written and verbal directions and communicate effectively with students, parents, employees, and administrators.
10. Must demonstrate patience, dependability, sound judgment, professionalism, and the ability to work cooperatively with others.
11. Must be physically, mentally, and emotionally capable of performing the essential duties of the position.
12. Must possess current CPR, first aid, AED, medication-administration, specialized health care, or other certifications when required by the student assignment or Boone County Schools.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Classroom and Instructional Responsibilities

1. Work under the direction and supervision of the classroom teacher and building administrator.
2. Assist the teacher in implementing instructional activities, classroom routines, and student learning experiences.
3. Provide individual or small-group assistance to students as directed by the classroom teacher.
4. Reinforce skills and concepts previously introduced by the classroom teacher.
5. Assist students with classroom assignments, learning centers, educational technology, and instructional materials.
6. Prepare, organize, distribute, collect, and maintain instructional materials and classroom supplies.
7. Assist with clerical duties, recordkeeping, copying, filing, and preparation of classroom materials.
8. Observe student performance and behavior and provide relevant information to the classroom teacher.
9. Assist in implementing accommodations, modifications, behavior plans, individualized education programs, health plans, and other student-support plans as directed.
10. Support the development of students' communication, social, emotional, academic, and independent-living skills.
11. Assist students with personal care, feeding, toileting, mobility, positioning, and other daily living needs when required by the assignment.
12. Perform basic or specialized health care procedures only after receiving appropriate training and authorization.
13. Assist students in safely using adaptive equipment, mobility devices, classroom technology, and other specialized materials.
14. Promote student independence while providing the level of support required by each student.
15. Maintain an organized, sanitary, safe, and developmentally appropriate classroom environment.

ECCAT Responsibilities

1. Assist the classroom teacher in providing a high-quality early childhood learning environment.
2. Support developmentally appropriate learning activities in language and literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, physical development, and creative expression.
3. Assist with learning centers, play-based instruction, small-group activities, meals, rest periods, arrival, dismissal, and transitions.
4. Support positive interactions, social-emotional development, self-regulation, and age-appropriate classroom behavior.
5. Assist with observations, documentation, portfolios, and other early childhood records as directed by the classroom teacher.
6. Participate in required ECCAT coursework, professional learning, and authorization-renewal activities.
7. Follow all requirements established by West Virginia Board of Education policies governing Pre-K, kindergarten, and early childhood programs.

Student Supervision and Safety

1. Supervise students in classrooms, hallways, cafeterias, playgrounds, restrooms, assemblies, field trips, loading areas, and other assigned locations.
2. Maintain active supervision and remain attentive to students at all times.
3. Assist with arrival, dismissal, transitions, emergency drills, and evacuation procedures.
4. Apply school and classroom rules consistently and reinforce positive student behavior.
5. Use approved de-escalation, behavior-support, and crisis-response procedures.
6. Immediately report accidents, injuries, suspected abuse or neglect, safety concerns, bullying, harassment, or other serious incidents to the appropriate administrator.
7. Protect the dignity, privacy, and individual rights of every student.
8. Exercise appropriate authority and control over students as permitted by West Virginia law and Board policy.

Bus Aide Responsibilities

1. Report to the assigned bus or designated work location at the scheduled time.
2. Assist students while boarding, riding, and exiting the school bus.
3. Help students safely use steps, handrails, seat belts, safety vests, child-restraint systems, wheelchair lifts, wheelchair securements, and other transportation equipment.
4. Ensure that students are properly seated and secured before the bus moves.
5. Remain in an assigned location that allows effective supervision of students throughout the route.
6. Monitor student conduct and reinforce school bus safety expectations.
7. Assist the bus operator in maintaining a safe, orderly, and distraction-free environment.
8. Provide additional supervision and assistance to students with disabilities or specialized transportation needs.
9. Follow all student transportation plans, health plans, behavior plans, and emergency procedures.
10. Assist students during emergency evacuations, breakdowns, accidents, or other transportation emergencies.
11. Conduct visual checks of the student area as directed to help ensure that no student remains on the bus.
12. Report student behavior, safety concerns, injuries, equipment problems, and unusual incidents to the bus operator and appropriate administrator.
13. Maintain confidentiality regarding student information discussed or observed during transportation.
14. Refrain from using a personal electronic device while responsible for supervising students, except during an emergency or as authorized by a supervisor.
15. Perform transportation-related duties in accordance with county procedures, state requirements, and the directions of the bus operator and Director of Transportation.

Professional Responsibilities

1. Maintain regular and punctual attendance.
2. Follow all federal and state laws, West Virginia Board of Education policies, Boone County Board of Education policies, administrative procedures, and employee codes of conduct.
3. Maintain confidentiality of student records and personally identifiable information in accordance with FERPA and other applicable laws.
4. Communicate respectfully and professionally with students, parents, coworkers, administrators, and members of the public.
5. Participate in required meetings, training sessions, professional development, and emergency drills.
6. Work cooperatively as a member of the instructional, student-support, and transportation teams.
7. Avoid discussing confidential student matters with unauthorized individuals or in public areas.
8. Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with students.
9. Use school equipment, supplies, technology, and vehicles responsibly.
10. Perform other duties related to the position as assigned by the superintendent or designated administrator.

Physical Requirements

The employee must be able to:

1. Stand, walk, sit, bend, kneel, stoop, reach, push, pull, and climb bus steps throughout the workday.
2. Move safely throughout classrooms, school facilities, playgrounds, loading areas, and school buses.
3. Assist students with mobility, transfers, positioning, personal care, and emergency evacuation.
4. Lift or assist with lifting students, equipment, instructional materials, and supplies, with reasonable accommodation when appropriate.
5. Operate wheelchair lifts, securement systems, safety restraints, adaptive equipment, and classroom equipment after receiving required training.
6. See, hear, speak, and respond effectively to students, employees, alarms, traffic conditions, and emergency situations.
7. Work in varying temperatures, weather conditions, noise levels, and road conditions.
8. Respond quickly and appropriately during student, medical, behavioral, or transportation emergencies.

Work Environment

The employee will work in classrooms, school buildings, school buses, playgrounds, loading and unloading areas, and other locations where students participate in school-sponsored activities. The position may involve exposure to inclement weather, vehicle movement, traffic, moderate-to-high noise levels, communicable illnesses, challenging student behaviors, and bodily fluids.

Evaluation

Performance shall be evaluated by the building principal and/or designated supervisor in accordance with Boone County Board of Education policies and applicable West Virginia laws and regulations.

Terms of Employment

1. Contract: 200 days
2. Salary: In accordance with the West Virginia State Minimum Pay Scale, Boone County Schools salary schedule, verified classification, and years of experience.
3. Work Schedule: As established by the superintendent or designated administrator. The daily assignment may include both classroom and student-transportation responsibilities.
4. Assignment: The employee may be assigned to a specific student, classroom, school, program, bus route, or combination of duties based upon student and district needs.

Acknowledgment

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by an employee assigned to this position. It is not intended to contain a complete list of every responsibility, duty, qualification, or activity required. Duties and assignments may be modified to meet the needs of Boone County Schools, consistent with applicable laws, policies, and the employee's classification.

Boone County Schools is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, genetic information, or any other status protected by law.