Elementary Paraeducator - Special Education

Elementary Para educator - Special Education

Starting Date: Aug 21, 2025

Elementary Para educator

Special Education

The Burlington School District believes a diverse and culturally proficient faculty and staff are pivotal to the creation of a strong learning and working environment that supports student achievement and success. BSD administrators lead inclusive school communities with our vision: “Cultivating caring, creative, and courageous people.

- Join the journey.”

The Mission of the Burlington School District is to graduate students who:

• Value different cultures;
• Engage with the community;
• Communicate effectively;
• Think creatively;
• Skillfully solve problems; and
• Achieve at their highest academic, intellectual and personal potential.

Burlington School District is seeking a Para educator—under the direction of an assigned supervisor, assist a certificated teacher in providing instruction to individuals or small groups of students in an assigned educational program; assist children with meeting the goals and objectives of their Individualized Education Plan (IEP); attend to the physical and health needs of students; monitor and report student progress regarding educational performance;

perform a variety of clerical and supportive duties related to classroom activities and classroom management.

The essential functions of this position include:

• Support the developmental growth of each child:
  Facilitate children's engagement in play activities by asking open‑ended questions and offering suggestions to add more complex materials and ideas.
• Facilitate language development by describing to children their activity as well as the adult’s activity as it happens.
• Use motivation/positive behavior management technique.
• Understand young children, their behaviors and motivation.

Work Collaboratively with Teaching Team:

• Assist professional staff in supervising students across environments.
• Assist professional staff in the maintenance and operation of classrooms by prepping materials and classroom for daily activities.
• Assist professional staff with the collation, collating and recording of data.

Education:

• Minimum
  
  Required:
  
  At least two years post‑secondary education or successful completion of the Praxis exam.
• Preferred:
  Coursework in a childhood‑related field (e.g., psychology, education, human development, etc.);
  Associate or Bachelor’s degree.

Experience:

• Preferred:
  Experience working with children that have special needs.

The working conditions of this position include:

• Work environment:
  Regular office, classroom, outdoor, community preschool or other school setting.
• Occasional exposure to weather extremes.
• Ability to tolerate extremes in noise levels.
• Strength and stamina to safely restrain a student (lifting and carrying up to 50 lbs).

Qualifications:

Qualifications include, but are not limited to: high school diploma plus at least two years additional education; minimum of two years experience in education or related field; ability to communicate effectively and respectfully with students, parents and school staff.

Salary:

As per the Master Agreement between the Burlington Board of School Commissioners and the Paraeducators of the Burlington School District. Intensive Needs Paras will receive a premium for hours worked directly with intensive special needs (ISN) students of $4.00 per hour.

Benefits:

Health and life insurance benefits are available after a 45‑day waiting period. Dental benefits are available after one full working year.

Equal Opportunity: The Burlington School District provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. The district will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

Position Type: Regular Full‑Time

Salary: $18.74 to $19.20 per hour

Job Categories: Instructional Support >
Paraprofessional / IA

Burlington School District is committed to a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Minority candidates are encouraged to apply.

• Citizenship, residency or work visa required.

• John Fontaine, Associate Director Human Resources
• 150 Colchester Ave.
• Burlington, Vermont 05401
• Phone:
• Email: jfontain