Para Educator

Para Educator

Job : 5615508

Final date to receive applications: Posted until filled

Posted: Mar 30, 2026 12:00 AM (UTC)

Starting Date: Immediately

Vermont Permanency Initiative (VPI) – Para Educator Opportunity Year-Round!

Location: Bennington, VT

Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:00 AM-3:00 PM

Program: 12-Month Academic Program

Reports To: Assistant Director of Operations & Head of School

Salary: Starting at $17/hr and up based on experience

Join our trauma-informed education team at VPI, where we support youth through individualized academic programming. As a Para Educator, you’ll help ensure student safety, support learning, and contribute to a healing environment.

• Support instruction aligned with academic goals and IEPs
• Assist with classroom activities (PE, horticulture, etc.)
• Help with morning routines in the dormitory
• Provide behavioral support and substitute lessons
• Maintain documentation (attendance, service logs, etc.)
• Supervise transitions, lunch, and dismissal
• Participate in community-based activities and appointments
• Transport students and staff using school vehicles
• Attend required trainings and maintain CPR/First Aid, TCI certifications
• Uphold confidentiality and communicate effectively
• Represent VPI professionally to families and external partners
• Follow all company policies and procedures
• Perform other duties as assigned

• Age 21+
• High School Diploma or GED (Associate’s or higher preferred)
• 2+ years of experience working with youth (e.g., camp counselor, coach, babysitter)
• Strong confidentiality and communication skills
• Valid driver’s license and clean driving record
• At least 2 year(s) of relevant experience preferred.
• High School/Trade School degree preferred.
• Citizenship, residency or work visa required

Bennington is the largest town in southern Vermont, known for its historic charm, affordable living, and easy access to nature. Nestled near the Green Mountain National Forest, it offers hiking, biking, and skiing just minutes away. With a vibrant arts scene, local restaurants, and a strong sense of community, Bennington is a beautiful place to live and work.

• Competitive pay based on experience and education
• Up to 4+ weeks of paid time off in your first year
• Comprehensive benefits: medical, dental, vision, retirement plans, and more
• Professional development
• Career growth paths: many of our Para Educators advance into roles such as Lead Educator, Case Manager, or Clinical Support Specialist. We offer mentorship, training, and tuition assistance to help you grow within the organization.

Make a difference. Grow your career. Help youth thrive.

Position Type: Full-time

Job Categories: Instructional Support >
Paraprofessional / IA

VPI serves students ages 11 up to 21 including those with special needs and exceptionalities such as emotional disturbance, intellectual disability, hearing loss, multi-disability, other health impairment, specific learning disability, and speech or language impairment. Our programming also addresses the needs of students who are coping with symptoms of anxiety, mood disorders such as depression and bi‑polar disorder, deficits of attention and hyperactivity, disordered attachment, posttraumatic stress disorder and developmental trauma;

including symptoms of dissociation, and op positional defiant and conduct disorders. Our primary referral sources include State Departments of Children, Youth and Families, Mental Health, and Juvenile Justice, and Local Education Agencies. We offer self‑contained classrooms as well as opportunities for students to move through classroom rotations in our expansive school building which is centrally located and in close proximity to elective opportunities.

Our course of study is aligned with Common Core Standards and follows a standard curriculum including Middle and High School courses in Mathematics, Science, English and Social Studies. We offer small class sizes, differentiated instruction, specialized instruction in basic skill areas and other areas identified in Individual Education Plans such as adaptive behavior, self‑regulation and executive functioning. Our…