Special Education Paraeducator

Special Education Para educator I

The Special Education Para educator I provides assistance to special education teachers, assisting in the implementation of students' Individual Education Plans (IEPs). The position works with students with a variety of physical, emotional, and learning disabilities and may work with an individual student or groups of students, both in a separate classroom facility or facilitating inclusion into a regular classroom. The position may be assigned to either an elementary or secondary school.

The principal duties of the position are performed in a classroom environment and may include exposure to body fluids and some personal injury risk from student behaviors.

Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or its recognized equivalent;
• Associates degree, or two years of study at an institution of higher education (48 credits), or Para Educator State Test Certificate;
• Red Cross First Aid and CPR certification preferred.

Knowledge of:

• Basic educational procedures and objectives, including classroom instruction and presentation, preparation of teaching materials and aids, behavior management and modification, testing, tutoring, and student-teacher relations and interactions;
• Basic special education methods and procedures for dealing with students with a variety of physical, emotional, and/or learning disabilities;
• Operation of classroom instructional equipment;
• Operation of standard office equipment;
• Operation of a personal computer and job-related software.

Ability to:

• Follow written and oral instructions and observe District policies and procedures;
• Interpret and modify classroom instructions, materials, and presentations to the appropriate learning level of the assigned student;
• Prepare and provide basic classroom services for special needs students, including but not limited to, instruction, tutoring, student evaluation, curriculum implementation, materials preparation, and classroom management;
• Maintain a calm personal demeanor and remain focused in situations of high stress;
• Prepare and maintain required records, files, reports, logs, statistics, and documentation;
• Perform basic office tasks including keyboarding, copying, and filing;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, parents, teachers and staff members, and other District personnel;
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
• Perform multiple tasks simultaneously, including handling interruptions, and return to and complete tasks in a timely manner;
• Perform time management and scheduling functions, meet deadlines, and set task priorities

Essential duties include providing assistance to special education teachers in a separate or regular classroom environment, assisting teachers in implementing students' Individual Education Plans (IEPs), and performing other duties as assigned.

Physical demands include communicating effectively on the telephone and in person, preparing and reviewing documents, comprehending situations involving the care and safety of special needs students, operating a keyboard or type, handling materials, operating standard office equipment, lifting or moving objects, physically restraining a student, and performing repetitive hand movements. Related job tasks may require walking, standing, sitting, lifting, stooping, squatting, kneeling, bending, crouching, pushing, grasping, and reaching.

Condition of employment includes being an "at will" employee, employment contingent upon Board approval, successful completion of a federal background check, and a pre-employment drug-free workplace screen.