Special Education Paraeducators beginning

Special Education Para educator

The Special Education Para educator will serve as an instructional assistant under the immediate supervision of the Special Education/Resource Room Teacher. A change in assignment and/or location may occur based on student specific needs and variances in school enrollment.

Immediate supervisors are the Building Principal and Special Education/Resource Room Teacher.

Required qualifications include:

• Completed at least 2 years of study (72 quarter credits or 48 semester credits) at an institution of higher education OR obtained an associate's (or higher) degree OR completed one of the following: ETS Para Pro Assessment with a score of 455 or higher, Pearson Paraprofessional assessment, or Master Teacher Inc. Para educator Online Training Program
• Possess or be willing to complete the 14 core competencies: 1-6 within the first 6 months and 7-14 within the first year of hire
• Possess or be willing to complete Right Response Training within 3-5 months
• Evidence of in-service training and/or successful experience working with students with special needs
• Ability to lift 50 lbs

Preferred qualifications include:

• Experience/training in special education
• Experience working with students with physical disabilities
• Experience/training in alternative communication
• Experience/appreciation of diverse student population

Essential job-related activities include:

• Instruct moderately to severely handicapped students individually or in small groups in a variety of learning activities to promote student understanding of materials presented
• Provide encouragement, reinforcement and achievement of educational objectives and goals defined by certificated staff
• Assist in the administration of objective tests or other measurements
• Work directly with students as defined by their individual programs
• Work in multiple settings, meet multiple demands in pressure situations and maintain high levels of quality work
• Attend to student physical and safety needs; monitor students for medical risks such as seizures and behaviors that may result in harm to themselves or others
• Correct behaviors and maintain discipline according to established policies and procedures
• Assist students with interpersonal and personal skills mastery; help feed students and teach social aspects of eating with others
• Assist students with basic living skills and pre-vocational activities
• Work with students to develop communication skills; facilitate integration of students with age-group peers to the extent possible
• Establish and maintains effective communication with students, staff and parents for student progress and safety, and community relations
• Possess and practice strong interpersonal skills with a wide variety of people both inside and outside the organization (staff, parents, community members, other agencies)
• Provide clerical and computer assistance to the special education personnel for record keeping and reporting; prepare, duplicate, collate and distribute materials; operate a variety of office equipment
• Work collaboratively under the direction of the Special Education/Resource Room Teacher
• Be a positive team builder who works in a collaborative manner
• Take directions and follow through without direct supervision
• Communicate with certificated staff concerning individual student progress; adjust methods to meet the needs of a wide variety of students; consult with certificated staff concerning remediation or enrichment activities
• Locate, prepare and/or modify materials for student use, enrichment activities and special projects under the direction of certificated staff
• Regularly demonstrate professionalism in appearance, actions, decisions, and overall performance
• Maintain confidentiality consistent with district ethical guidelines
• Maintain cleanliness and hygiene of classroom, implements and equipment; wash dishes, clean and disinfect tables and counters, and wash/dry clothes, towels, washcloths and bibs
• Assist certificated staff in maintaining records, logs, charts, assignments and other records for assessment of student progress
• Provide physical assistance to students such as lifting or positioning
• Use adaptive equipment to communicate with students; follow and document procedures established by physical/occupational therapist
• Assist students with toileting, which may include catheterization and diapering; attend to the personal hygiene needs of students, assists students in washing hands and face, brushing teeth and hair, and taking showers
• Work with minimal supervision and be flexible
• Willingness to be trained
• Perform related duties consistent with the scope and intent of the position

Reporting relationships are to the school principal or assigned administrator; receives guidance from certificated staff. Mental demands may include frequent interruptions, dealing with a wide range of student behaviors and academic abilities, and a wide range of physical or emotional disabilities. Physical demands may include exposure to ordinary infectious diseases carried by students,…