Special Education Intensive Instructional Paraprofessional, Salem Early Childhood Center, Salem

Special Education Intensive Instructional Paraprofessional, Salem Early Childhood Center, Salem Public Schools, Salem, MA [SY ]

Starting Date: Aug 31, 2026

Salem is a small, diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history. Salem Public Schools is an urban public school district enrolling nearly 4,000 students in 10 schools. Our vision is to ensure that all students will be locally engaged, globally connected, and fully prepared to thrive in a diverse and changing world. We hold dear our core values of belonging, equity, and opportunity in everything we do.

We seek individuals who are passionate about urban education and understand the urgency of improving student achievement for all students, regardless of ability, economic status, gender/gender identity, language, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, or other backgrounds.

Paraprofessionals will assist teachers and/or other certified personnel in providing an innovative, high quality education program designed to meet the unique needs of children with disabilities in Salem Public Schools. They will work with school staff to create an educational environment in which quality and continuity are key factors. In addition to sound reasoning and good organizational skills, paraprofessionals are expected to contribute to a positive school culture and climate.

They are district-wide employees and subject to the negotiated Paraprofessional Contract, as well as the rules and regulations of Salem Public Schools.

The position may include some personal care, lifting, feeding, academic support, behavioral interventions, and the use of technology. The right person is eager to work with middle school children, is dependable, organized, flexible, and willing to learn through hands‑on experience, reading and workshop trainings, and consultation with clinicians and specialists.

• Demonstrate an understanding of assigned students’ profile and learning needs, read student IEPs and engage in related PD
• Support and collaborate with the general education and special education teachers on an ongoing basis
• Reinforce lessons with individual or small groups of students
• Assist with classroom management & supervision
• Administer behavior modification programs/point systems, including data taking and discrete trials under the direction of the classroom teacher
• Assist the teacher in implementing accommodations and specialized strategies for instruction and skill reinforcement
• Cover classroom during teacher absence
• Facilitate play and social interactions and model language between peers
• Escort and assist students as needed throughout the building, on community‑based experiences, during lunch/recess, and on/off the bus
• Follow direction of supervisor and assure safety of students at all times
• Assist with acclimating students to technology and personal learning devices to enable them to access remote instruction
• Other duties as prescribed by building administrative staff and PPS Executive Director, as described within the Paraprofessional contract
• Attend district and building professional development and training

We are looking for candidates who have diverse backgrounds and experiences, are inspired by our mission, and are highly motivated to change children’s lives through education. You’ll be at home here if you are a reflective practitioner who values collaboration with colleagues and pushes yourself, your work and the people around you to the next level.

• Hold a deep commitment to students and families and value diversity – The SPS community is vibrant, diverse in background, ethnicity, language, and perspective. You embrace and affirm the backgrounds of all members of the SPS community and view our diversity as a powerful resource that supports us each in learning and doing our best work.
• Hold high expectations for yourself, students, and colleagues – You see potential in all, especially our SPS students, and maintain high expectations for achievement, while providing the support necessary to meet that bar. You hold yourself to high expectations, modeling SPS values and seeking opportunities to continuously…