Special Education Assistant

Para educator

* Position does not begin until mid-August*

The Para educator provides direct support to students in classroom and school settings to promote academic achievement, social and emotional growth, and independence. Working under the direction of teachers and other professional staff, the Para educator assists in implementing instructional and behavioral support plans, reinforcing learning, and ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for all students.

• Provide instructional, behavioral, and personal support to assigned student(s) during classroom activities, transitions, and throughout the school day.
• Assist students in accessing the curriculum by reinforcing lessons, adapting materials, and providing one-on-one or small-group support as directed.
• Support students in developing appropriate social skills, independence, and positive classroom behaviors.
• Assist with personal care needs (e.g., eating, toileting, hygiene, mobility) as required.
• Monitor student safety during all school activities, including arrival/dismissal, lunch, recess, and field trips.
• Implement behavior support strategies and interventions as directed by teachers or related service providers.
• Maintain accurate documentation of student progress, challenges, and relevant observations for communication with the supervising teacher.
• Uphold confidentiality of student and staff information in accordance with district policies and legal requirements.
• Participate in required training sessions, workshops, and professional development to support instructional and behavioral best practices.
• Collaborate effectively with teachers, therapists, administrators, and other staff to promote student success.
• Demonstrate flexibility and a team-oriented approach by assisting with additional duties as assigned by school administration.

Full-time, permanent position aligned with the student school calendar.

• High School Diploma or GED
• PA Department of Education Form 6004:
  Arrest/Conviction Report and Certification – Act 24
• PA State Police Criminal History Clearance – Act 34
• Federal Criminal History Clearance – Act 114
• Child Abuse Clearance – Act 151
• Sexual Misconduct/Abuse Disclosure Release – Act 168
• Tuberculosis Test/Physical

When you apply for a position with ESS, we collect personal information such as:

• Contact details (name, email, phone, address)
• Application materials (resume, work history, education, references)
• Information you choose to provide during the hiring process (interviews, assessments, background checks, as permitted by law)

We use this information to:

• Evaluate your candidacy and qualifications
• Conduct interviews and background checks
• Manage our recruitment and hiring processes
• Comply with applicable legal obligations

We do not sell or share applicant personal information. We retain it as long as necessary for recruitment, compliance, and potential future opportunities.

You may have rights under U.S. state privacy laws, including to request access, correction, deletion, or limitation of your personal information.

For details about our practices and your rights, please review our full Privacy Notices below.

About ESS

As leaders in the education staffing space since 2000, ESS specializes in placing qualified staff in daily, long-term, and permanent K-12 school district positions including substitute teachers, paraprofessionals, and other school support staff. Over the last 23 years, we have innovated education staffing to provide dynamic solutions to school districts and professional opportunities to passionate educators. Our team serves over 5 million students with a pool of 92,000 substitute and permanent employees throughout 34 states.

Internally, the ESS team is comprised of 650 individuals with a passion for education working together to ensure our 900 partner districts experience valuable education every day.

We provide our employees with the ability to work in school districts across the country in addition to benefits, comprehensive training, flexible work schedules, and professional development.

ESS continuously works to create an environment where all its employees - regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexuality, age or abilities - can work to the fullest of their potential in a fair and welcoming space. Believing that a diverse company is more innovative and successful, we have embraced diversity to ensure that we are empowered to make sure that "Every day counts" for our employees, the students, and the schools we serve nationwide.

ESS is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.