Student Support Para

Job Description

Holyoke Public Schools is a PreK-12 public school district serving nearly 5,100 students, of whom 80 percent are Latino/Latina, in 11 schools. We employ nearly 1,300 people who together educate and support a richly diverse community of learners. We are committed to recruiting and retaining top-quality educators who believe all children can and will learn and who strive daily to make school a joyful place of discovery, support, and belonging.

Holyoke Public Schools’ strategic plan, “Moving Forward Together,” builds on the strengths of our past while serving as a call to action to accelerate student learning by thinking differently about how we teach, how we work together, and how we support students’ well being. Our Equity Commitments are pledges we are making to address systemic equity challenges.

We intentionally build a community that is anti‑racist, inclusive, and culturally responsive. We ensure that students, families, and staff get the support they need to be successful. We seek out and incorporate the voices of those impacted, with a commitment to include those who have been excluded in the past. We promote access and inclusion for all students, staff, and families.

We respect, embrace, and honor the diversity of our students, families, staff, and community. We reflect on our own behavior to minimize harm to others. We create a culture of acceptance and empathy so that everyone feels valued and is able to contribute to our community’s success.

• Works with individual students or small groups of students to reinforce learning of material or skills initially introduced by the teacher.
• Operates and cares for equipment used in the classroom for instructional purposes.
• Helps students master equipment and/or instructional materials assigned by the teacher.
• Assists in the implementation of behavioral modification programs as directed and supervised by the teacher. Keep behavioral logs and data (daily and weekly).
• Assists with the supervision of students during emergency drills, assemblies, play periods, and field trips.
• Assists students with mobility and personal care. Assists with lunch, snack and cleanup routines.
• Dress for physical education activities so you can assist students.
• Meets the buses and assist students in breakfast and lunch routines.
• Assists with wash‑ups and toilet routines, diapering and tooth brushing.

• Trabaja con estudiantes individual es o pequeños grupos de estudiantes para reforzar el aprendizaje de material o habilidades introducidas inicialmente por el maestro.
• Opera y cuida el equipo utilizado en el aula para propósitos de instrucción.
• Ayuda a los estudiantes a dominar el equipo y/o los materiales de instrucción asignados por el maestro.
• Asiste en la implementación de programas de modificación del comportamiento según lo dirigido y supervisado por el maestro. Mantener registros y datos de comportamiento (diario y semanal).
• Ayuda en la supervisión de estudiantes durante simulacros de emergencia, asambleas, períodos de juego y excursion es.
• Ayuda a los estudiantes con movilidad y cuidado personal. Ayuda con almuerzos, refrigerios y rutinas de limpieza.
• Se viste para actividades de educación física para poder ayudar a los estudiantes.
• Conduce los autobuses y asiste a los estudiantes en rutinas de desayuno y almuerzo.
• Ayuda con lavados y rutinas de baño, cambio de pañales y cepillado de dientes.

• Associate’s Degree or higher; OR completing at least two years, or 48 credit hours of study at an institution of higher education; OR taking and passing a formal assessment measuring one’s knowledge of and ability to assist classroom teachers in reading, writing, and mathematics (Parapro Assessment and Work Keys).
• Training or experience working with Special Needs students preferred.
• Experience working in an urban setting preferred.
• Experience working with diverse student populations preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; excellent teamwork skills.
• Bilingual applicants (Spanish) strongly encouraged to apply.

Position Type: Full‑Time

Salary: $18.50 to $23.50 per hour

Holyoke Public Schools is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of a person's race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, genetic information, military or veteran status, gender identity or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally, we prohibit retaliation against individuals who oppose such discrimination and harassment or who participate in an equal opportunity investigation.