Districtwide Special Education Paraeducator serving Garden Springs Elementary School FTE

Districtwide Special Education Para educator – Garden Springs Elementary School (1.0 FTE)

Location: Lexington, Kentucky

Start Date: July 1, 2026

Assist certified teachers in implementing instructional practices, transitional activities, and in maintaining a safe and supportive instructional environment. Collaborate with teachers and other professionals to ensure special education students receive quality instruction.

• Implement strategies and procedures developed by teachers to maintain safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environments.
• Promote student independence across all relevant educational settings.
• Assist with health‑related procedures for students with special health care needs, including tube feeding, catheterization, toileting, diapering, medication administration, feeding, positioning, and maintain appropriate records.
• Keep student data current and report concerns to teachers.
• Under teacher guidance, implement learning strategies, prompting procedures, and systematic instructional procedures in school and non‑school settings using various grouping arrangements.
• Implement teacher‑developed plans or strategies that enhance fluency, maintenance, and generalization of academic skills.
• Assist with community‑based instruction.
• Use grammatically correct language appropriate to age and context.
• Perform routine clerical duties such as preparing classroom materials, setting up student work areas, operating office equipment, and maintaining classroom and attendance records.
• Assist teachers in monitoring student progress—academic, cognitive, social, and behavioral.
• Maintain student records required by federal/state law and district policies.
• Implement behavior plans and techniques in accordance with legal and procedural safeguards, including safe crisis management; may lift up to 50 pounds and/or restrain students.
• Assist students in non‑academic learning environments such as lunchrooms, study halls, playgrounds, and buses.
• Direct group activities, assist in lunchroom duties, emergency drills, recreational activities, assemblies, and community participation.
• Assist in overseeing students in regular class, labs, and other activities, providing necessary materials.
• Follow teacher instructions and team decisions.
• Contribute objective information to support planning, problem‑solving, and decision‑making.
• Maintain confidentiality of student and family information.
• Perform duties under teacher supervision in a professional, ethical manner.
• Participate in professional development for paraprofessionals.
• Assist in administering diagnostic tests and record test information.
• Read, understand, and monitor assigned students’ IEPs.
• Assist students to and from activities, loading/unloading, and bus rides.
• Provide emotional support and a friendly, caring attitude toward students.
• Create a conducive learning environment and apply teacher‑given guidelines when behavior distracts students.
• Conference with teacher/case manager about program needs and discuss concerns with parents.
• Ensure health and safety of students by following PBIS, de‑escalation techniques, and necessary training.
• Demonstrate ability to communicate in more than one language or willingness to learn.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Maintain regular attendance.

Knowledge Of:

• Basic subjects taught in district schools: arithmetic, grammar, spelling, language, reading.
• Safe classroom and playground practices.
• Interpersonal skills using tact, patience, courtesy.
• Basic record‑keeping.

Ability To:

• Learn child guidance principles and practices.
• Communicate and maintain effective relationships with students, parents, staff, and public including ethnic communities.
• Perform routine clerical duties.
• Print and write legibly.
• Perform basic math accurately.
• Understand and follow oral and written directions.
• Learn procedures, functions, and limitations of duties.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Apply and explain policies and procedures.
• Work cooperatively with others.
• Observe and report student behavior.
• Operate instructional and office equipment.

Education and Experience:

• Minimum 48 college credit hours or successful…