Special Education Paraprofessional

Special Education Paraprofessional

• Date Posted: 4/24/2025
• Location:
  
  MC RILEY EARLY CHILDHOOD (High-Needs School)
• Position Type:
  Para-Professionals

Under direct supervision of the assigned teacher, the paraprofessional assists in providing for the physical and instructional needs of one specific student with disabilities, including implementation of classroom programs, self‑help, behavior management, and support for the student IEP.

• Assists teacher(s) in preparation of student work, workstations, and classroom displays.
• Assists in maintaining a classroom environment favorable to learning and relevant to the physical, social, and emotional development of students.
• Assumes responsibility for learning, adapting, and working through teacher direction regarding each student's special medical, physical, communicative and emotional needs.
• Assists teacher(s) and/or other school personnel in implementing the student's IEP goals and objectives, modifications and adaptations of curriculum.
• Establishes as fully as possible a supportive relationship with the student(s) without intense emotional involvement; encourages student performance and interacts with each appropriately.
• Assists with the supervision of students during free time, including lunch, playground activities, and bus duty.
• Assists with managing the behavior of students and crisis intervention, including restraining disruptive or dangerous physical behavior as needed.
• Assists students according to their individualized needs, including transferring to/from wheelchairs, lifting, positioning, personal hygiene, feeding, and providing escort and/or other ancillary support as necessary.
• Assists the teacher in developing, implementing and monitoring strategies for reinforcing behavior or academic skills based on a sympathetic understanding of individual students' needs, interests, and abilities.
• Maintains data collection documentation related to student academic, social, and behavior progress as appropriate.
• Adjusts on-the-spot instruction without immediate teacher directions when necessary and provides daily communication and feedback to teacher(s) on student progress; alerts teacher to special needs of individual students.
• Provides orientation and assistance to substitute teachers assigned in the absence of the regular teacher.
• Assists teacher(s) in preparing and maintaining required reports, records and/or other documentation.
• Assists in inventory, care and maintenance of equipment.
• Participates in staff development training programs, faculty meetings, and special events as directed or assigned.
• Maintains high level of ethical behavior and strict confidentiality of student information; upholds and enforces school rules, administrative regulations, and adheres to local, state, and federal laws, policies, and guidelines as directed.
• Participates in district-sponsored paraprofessional training opportunities, school programs, in‑services, and staff meetings as required by the School Administrator or direct supervisor; required training may include such skills as CPR, first aid, feeding, lifting techniques, Nonviolent Physical Crisis Intervention, SAFETY CARE (for students with Autism), disability-specific trainings, Applied Behavior Analysis, and/or assistive technology (Total work week not to exceed 40 hours).

Performs other related tasks as assigned by the Principal, Superintendent, or other district office administrator as designated by the Superintendent.

Instructional Assistants must meet No Child Left Behind and District compliance for Paraprofessional Highly Qualified status:

• Associate’s degree (A.A.) or equivalent from a two-year college or technical school; OR
• 60 college credit hours from an accredited college or university; OR
• Satisfactory score on Educational Testing Service Para Pro Assessment.

Knowledge of basic computer operations and functions, use of the Internet, Microsoft Office applications, and skill in the use of general office equipment such as calculators, typewriters, copier, etc. Additional equipment includes wheelchair lifts, ramps, Hoyer lift, Gait…