Paraprofessional Educator Special Education Special Programs Secondary

Paraprofessional Educator Special Education Special Programs Secondary

Anchorage School District

Job Summary

The Secondary Special Programs Paraprofessional Educator implements special education services and supports under the direction of a special education teacher. The para educator provides instruction assistance to special education students primarily in special education classrooms, as well as in other settings within the schools. The position has a retirement association with the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS).

Job Requirements

• A high school diploma or equivalent, or current enrollment in a GED program.
• Must meet paraprofessional requirements for the state of Alaska through one of the following methods: 48 college semester credits from a regionally accredited institution, OR a passing score of 459 or greater on the ETS Paraprofessional Assessment exam, OR passing the Work Keys by ACT assessment, OR passing the ASD provided Master Teacher paraprofessional training.
• Basic literacy skills in reading, writing, and math.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain a professional relationship with staff, parents, students, administrators, and the public.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and inspire confidence and cooperation of staff, parents, students, administrators, and the public.

Essential Job Functions

• Provides special education services and support for students individually or in small groups under the supervision of a special education teacher.
• Prepares or modifies instructional materials including assistive technology devices for student use.
• Collects data in accordance with student IEP goals and objectives as directed by certified special education staff.
• Collaborates and works cooperatively with colleagues and staff.
• Follows written and oral instructions and independently follows through on teacher directed programming/strategies.
• Implements and provides special education services and support for students as detailed in the IEP. Duties will include planning and implementing accommodations and modifications, behavioral and social interventions, and individual behavior improvement plans, providing instructional services, and assisting students to and from the bus.
• Attends to and provides for student's daily hygiene, personal, and health-related care including dressing, feeding, toileting/diapering, etc. as directed by certified special education staff.
• Provides detailed, explicit information on students functioning and progress that will assist teachers and related service personnel in developing appropriate learning and behavioral support.
• Assists in positioning/range of motion tasks for students such as lifting, repositioning, physically assisting, and transferring between apparatus.
• Assumes safety responsibilities for students when providing community-based instruction and vocational training. Assists students in participating in community, recreational, school, and leisure activities.
• Supports the Anchorage School District's position of valuing diversity, promoting respect, and maintaining standards of confidentiality.
• Implements ASD approved de-escalation techniques as required by district behavioral programs.
• Provides primary support in special education or regular education classroom environments. Provides additional support in other school settings per individual student need. This may include providing assistance/monitoring during lunch periods, breaks, and recesses as specified in the IEP.
• For Life Skills and Structured Learning classrooms:
  Provides support in special education classroom environments and also other school settings such as regular education classrooms, corridors, lunch room, gym, library, etc. Provides additional support in the community providing community-based and vocational instruction and participating in recreational activities.

Physical /Mental Demands

The physical demands of this job require frequent standing, walking, sitting, speaking and hearing. Specific visual abilities are also required. The employee is regularly required to reach with his/her hands and arms and occasionally lift items weighing less than 40 lbs. Additionally, the employee must be able to understand vague and implicit instructions, be able to readily recall facts and details, handle conflict and make effective decisions under pressure.

The employee must have the ability to effectively manage the stress of working with students, parents, and other employees representing diverse cultures, personalities, and work styles in a dynamic work environment. The Anchorage School District is committed to providing reasonable accommodations, according to applicable state and federal laws, to all individuals with a qualified physical or mental disability. Work Environment Work is performed in a professional environment with a wide variety of individuals having differing functions, personalities and abilities, including working with diverse groups of people in a variety of…