State of Maryland

An Instructional Assistant I is the intermediate level of paraprofessional work assisting a Teacher in a classroom setting at a State-operated facility or program.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive moderate supervision from a Teacher, Principal, or other professional educator.  The work is performed at a correctional institution, a juvenile facility, a Maryland Department of Health residential facility, or in a vocational rehabilitation program.  The work in this class may require travel to various locations for events such as field trips, workshops, seminars, and recreational activities.  Employees may be subjected to students displaying violent, abusive or emotionally unstable behavior.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Instructional Assistant I and Instructional Assistant II are differentiated on the basis of degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The Instructional Assistant I performs duties under close supervision at times and with general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed.  The Instructional Assistant II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Assists a Teacher with the instruction of students who are emotionally, intellectually or physically impaired, socially maladjusted or exhibit learning disabilities;

Assists students with individual assignments or in small groups under the direction of a Teacher in order to facilitate and reinforce learning;

Administers informal tests to determine student eligibility for specific programs, such as pre-vocational workshops, pre-GED or GED programs, or the Test of Adult Basic Education;

Monitors student behavior and helps maintain discipline in the classroom;

Provides input regarding student progress and behavior observations to Teachers based on work with individual students for the purpose of completing educational objectives and constructing educational management plans, individual education plans and student progress reports;

Performs various duties to establish and maintain an orderly classroom, such as arranging bulletin boards, caring for the physical equipment in the classroom, and preparing the classroom for daily use;

Assists the Teacher in the supervision of recreational activities, field trips, and physical education activities;

May participate in the development of educational activities and workshops;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the subject areas taught in basic skill, secondary and GED programs;

Knowledge of principles and methods of teaching individuals and groups;

Ability to learn and implement accepted practices and procedures utilized in working with adolescents or adults with learning, emotional, social and behavioral problems;

Ability to interact constructively with students who may become aggressive or violent;

Ability to work with students one to one or in small groups;

Ability to follow instructions;

Ability to communicate effectively and exhibit good judgement;

Ability to implement student behavior modification and education plans.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: One year of experience assisting a Teacher in a classroom setting.

Note: Candidates may substitute 30 credit hours at an accredited college or university for the required experience.

Title I of the Federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act requires that paraprofessionals working as Instructional Assistants meet at least one of the criteria prior to an offer of employment:

1. Completion of two years of study at an institution of higher education.

2. Possession of an Associate of Arts degree.

3. Demonstrate through a formal state or local assessment process, knowledge of and the ability to assist in instructing reading, writing and mathematics.

Applicants that do not possess the necessary post-secondary education may obtain additional information about the assessment process from the employing agency.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit B- Administrative, Technical and Clerical classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.   An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime, as provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance level in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class, as defined by the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.