Paraprofessional

 

Job Goal

The job of Special Education Paraprofessional was established for the purpose/s of assisting in the supervision, care and instruction of special needs students in the regular classroom, interrelated resource rooms or in a self-contained classroom; assisting in implementing plans for instruction; monitoring student behavior; providing information to appropriate school personnel; and performing classroom clerical tasks.

 

 

 Performance Responsibilities Include:

•  Adapts and provides accommodations of classroom activities; assignments and/or materials under the direction of the teacher for the purpose of providing an opportunity for special education students to actively participate in classroom activities.
•  Aids students in and out of classroom (e.g. packing backpacks, note taking, relationship building, field trips, social skills, etc.) for the purpose of providing assistance to students' needs and social growth.
•  Assists students requiring support in addressing personal care needs due to medical condition and/or physical limitations (e.g. lavatory, nutritional, etc.) for the purpose of allowing students to function in the school environment.
•  Attends meetings and in-service presentations (e.g. CPR, education strategies, specific disability education, etc.) for the purpose of acquiring and/or conveying information relative to job functions to meet established annual State requirements.
•  Collaborates with staff for the purpose of providing necessary support and information related to the student's progress as established in their Individual Educational Program.
•  Implements behavioral plans for students as designed by the IEP team for the purpose of assisting in meeting special education students' needs and providing a consistent environment under the direction of certified staff.
•  Implements educational and behavioral programming under the supervision of the classroom certified staff for the purpose of developing new skills for students.
•  Instructs students in a variety of activities in individual and group settings (e.g. academic subjects, social skills, daily living skills, etc.) for the purpose of meeting Individual Educational Program goals under the direction of certified staff.
•  Maintains instructional materials and data sheets for the purpose of ensuring availability of instructional materials and/or providing reliable information regarding student progress.
•  Monitors students during assigned periods within a variety of school environments (e.g. rest rooms, playgrounds, hallways, bus loading zones, fire drills, assemblies, cafeteria, parking lots, etc.) for the purpose of providing a safe and positive environment conducive to learning.
•  Performs various administrative support and record keeping functions for the purpose of providing documentation to conform to established State and Federal program standards.

Other Functions

 

• Performs other related duties, as assigned, for the purpose of collecting significant amounts of data and managing significant behavior.

 

Job Requirements: Minimum Qualifications

 

SKILLS are required to perform multiple tasks with a potential need to upgrade skills in order to meet changing job conditions. Specific skill-based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include:

• adhering to safety practices;
• operating standard office equipment including using pertinent software applications;
• preparing and maintaining accurate records;
• using district-approved crisis intervention

 

KNOWLEDGE is required to perform:

• basic math;
• read and follow instructions;
• understand complex, multi-step written and oral  Specific  knowledge-based  competencies  required to  satisfactorily  perform  the  functions  of  the job include: instructional procedures and practices; age appropriate student activities; safety practices and procedures; conflict resolution; and stages of child development/ behavior; and safe handling of blood-borne pathogens and crisis de-escalation techniques.

 

 

ABILITY is required to schedule activities and/or meetings; gather and/or collate data; and use job-related equipment. Flexibility is required to work with others in a wide variety of circumstances; work with data utilizing defined but different processes; and operate equipment using standardized methods.  Ability is also required to work with a diversity of individuals and/or groups; work with a variety of data; and utilize a variety of job-related equipment. Problem solving is required to analyze issues and create action plans. Problem solving with data may require independent interpretation; problem solving with equipment is limited to moderate. Specific ability-based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include: adapting to changing work priorities; communicating with diverse groups; maintaining confidentiality; working as part of a team; and working with constant interruptions.

 

Working Environment

The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions may require the following physical demands: significant lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; some climbing and balancing; some stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling.

 

Experience          Job related experience is desired.

 

Education            Targeted job related education that meets organization's prerequisite requirements.

 

Certificates & Licenses     High School Diploma

                                                     Title I Buildings – require sixty (34) college credit hours or Praxis for Para Educators

 

Qualifications:

 

Reports to:       Building Principal

 

Term of Employment:

 

Evaluation:      Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of the Board of Education 

                              policy on Evaluation of Support Personnel.