Qualifications:          

• High School diploma or equivalent.


• Qualifications required under the provisions of “No Child Left Behind”
  
  
  
  • Associate’s Degree, or
  
  
  • Completion of 48 semester hours of college credits, or
  
  
  • Successful completion of a series of Work Keys Tests plus 96 contact hours of appropriate staff development
  
  
  
  


• Valid Driver’s License with a good driving record


• CDL License with passenger school bus endorsement and current Bus Drivers Pocket Card

 

Nature of Work

An Instructional Assistant/Bus Driver provides support to the teacher in the instruction of students.  A wide variety of tasks are performed to support the teacher in the teaching-learning process for students.  The work is directed by specific instructions, precedents and established policy.  The employee operates small, medium-sized, or large capacity vehicles transporting children on established or special routes.   The work is performed under the limited supervision of the teacher and/or principal.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

 

• Working knowledge of effective methods of dealing with children.


• Working knowledge of the core subjects at the grade level to which employment assignment is made.


• Some knowledge of the school organization and its community.


• Some knowledge of expected behavior of children, that is, basic characteristics of ages and stages.


• Skill necessary to operate audiovisual equipment and common office machines.


• Skill to make learning aids which will strengthen lesson plans.


• Ability to comprehend the purpose of teacher designed strategies as a fulfillment of the instructional objective.


• Ability to discern significant student behavior and refer this to the supervisor.


• Ability to impart information to the child’s level of comprehension.


• Ability to apply impartially and consistently proper methods of recognition, reward and punishment.


• Ability to solve independently most minor problems.


• Ability to follow minimally detailed written and oral instructions without constant supervision.


• Ability to record and store data accurately.


• Ability to maintain confidentiality of student information.


• Considerable knowledge of safe and efficient practices and procedures used in the operation of a school bus.


• Considerable knowledge of traffic laws and school bus regulations.


• Considerable knowledge of safety regulations and standards for school buses.


• General knowledge of Transportation Department Operating Instructions.


• Ability to physically inspect the bus according to Transportation Department Operating Instructions.


• Ability to detect and report observable mechanical defects or failures on the school bus.


• Ability to maintain discipline of students assigned to ride the school bus.


• Ability to maintain a clean school bus.


• Ability to complete required reports.


• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.


• Ability to exercise independent judgment and initiative in applying standards to a variety of work situations.


• Ability to exercise tact and courtesy in contact with parents/guardians or students and with school personnel.


• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.

Essential Job Functions:

 

• Gives group instruction as prescribed by teacher.


• Provides individualized instruction.


• Demonstrates various instructional activities


• Monitors work assigned by teacher.


• Checks and corrects students’ work while in progress.


• Keeps students on task


• Praises and reinforces achievement of students.


• Reports student progress to teacher.


• Arranges classroom furnishing and equipment.


• Prepares visual aids.


• Duplicates materials.


• Reorganizes materials at the end of day.


• Scores students’ papers as instructed by teacher.


• Distributes and collects instructional materials.


• Attends workshops


• Checks and reports attendance


• Enters data in health record.


• Records student behavior.


• Files data according to regulatory requirements


• Supervises students in the classroom and other locations


• Creates and distributes awards for positive behavior


• Promotes student self esteem.


• Teaches citizenship, social skills and respect for others.


• Reconciles minor student conflicts.


• Participates in development of discipline policy.


• Disciplines misbehavior through approved methods.


• Reports discipline problems to teacher or principal.


• Reports to supervisor significant changes or lack of change in student behavior.


• Administers routine first aid and request assistance for non-routine injury or illness.


• Observes all safety regulations and standards for school buses. This includes clearing the school bus and evacuating students quickly in the event of an emergency.


• Has a copy of the current Handbook for the School Bus Driver and the Safety Assistant; refers to it periodically for guidance and to answer questions.


• Maintains discipline of students assigned to ride the school bus. Establishes a discipline plan that is consistent with school disciplinary objectives, as stated by the principal, and which provides a clear, progressive plan of consequences for students who cause disciplinary problems and rewards for those who maintain proper school bus safety standards.


• Reports undisciplined students to the responsible school principal.


• Discharges students only at the authorized school or bus stop locations.


• Transports only authorized students.


• Keeps the school bus clean and free of papers, bottles, cans food wrappers and other items which may present a safety problem.


• Reports all accidents as required by Transportation Operating Instructions and remains at the scene of the accident until released by the on-scene transportation supervisor.


• Completes personal time card and required reports, including reports required in the event of an accident or incident aboard the school bus.


• Remains in charge of all students aboard the bus at the time of an accident, determining the existence and extent of any injuries and maintaining the safety of all passengers.


• Secures the assigned bus before leaving the vehicle at the conclusion of a run or route. This includes parking the vehicle properly, making a visual inspection of the bus to check for damage and the possibility of remaining passengers (replace All-Out Flag or turn off child minder alarm), and securing all windows and doors to protect the interior of the vehicle.


• Maintains acceptable relationships with parents/guardians of students transported and with school personnel.


• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned by supervisor.