Special Education Para Educator

Special Education Para Educator – 7 Hours (4 Openings) Job Description

Assist in providing research‑based social‑skills instruction and intervention under the supervision of a certified teacher. This role supports students with a wide range of learning, behavior, physical, and cognitive needs, including those diagnosed with Autism and Spectrum Disorders.

• Provide academic assistance, behavior interventions, and instruction of social skills and daily living skills under the direction of the special education teacher.
• Attend field trips with students as necessary.
• Maintain regular attendance to meet IEP services and ensure FAPE.
• Analyze situations and respond appropriately to student needs.
• Interact positively with all students and serve as a team player across classroom, cafeteria, and hallway settings.
• Escort students to and from the bus, supervise in classrooms, lunch, school building, field trips, and work sites.
• Provide one‑on‑one or small group support as assigned by the special education teacher or principal.
• Assist students with restroom use, changing clothes, and hygiene needs.
• Support physical education and general education classes, following the student’s IEP.
• Manage classroom environment and protect students during the school day.
• Follow multiple behavior plans, implement changes when directed, and maintain care of each plan.
• Recognize and initiate appropriate activities with students.
• Adapt duties as directed by principals, teachers, or facilitators and maintain flexibility in the schedule.
• Use physical restraint when trained and as directed for student safety.
• Collect and graph data, complete paperwork accurately and timely.
• Support the district’s multi‑tiered system of supports (MTSS) for behavior and academics.
• Maintain confidentiality of student and school information.
• Pass a regular Medicaid Fraud background check prior to hire and continue to pass periodic checks.

The employee will routinely sit, stand, speak, hear, see, and walk. The job may require occasional lifting or moving of items up to 50 pounds, supervising students in all weather conditions, and performing crisis prevention and physical restraint as needed.

The work environment ranges from quiet to loud, indoors and outdoors, and may include non‑air‑conditioned rooms. The position is fast‑paced with constant contact with students, staff, and the public, requiring a tobacco‑ and alcohol‑free environment and constant supervision of student safety.

• Ability to work with students exhibiting significant academic, behavioral, and social skill difficulties.
• Demonstrated genuine care and willingness to help students succeed.
• Strong ability to follow directives of certified staff and work within a team.

All employers submitting a job opening for posting on the Teach Iowa system will not discriminate in hiring on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, age, physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, marital status, or status as a veteran. A bona fide religious institution may exercise the allowances in Iowa Code section 216.6.(6) d. Employers may have additional specific equal employment opportunity policies and procedures;

please check with employers.