Forestview Special Educational Assistant ASD

Location: Forestview Middle School
Assignment: 2025-2026 School Year, ongoing
Hours: 30 hours per week, 173 duty days per school year

Pay

$16.50–$17.15 per hour (based on education and experience; wages outlined in the Education Assistant contract on the district website). Full benefits including paid sick/ESST and personal leave. Union: ED MN – Educational Assistant.

About the role

The ASD Special Education Paraprofessional assists and carries out the goals, objectives, and adaptations in the Individual Education Plan (IEP) of special-needs students in various settings: classrooms, physical education, lunchroom, bus loading area, cafeteria, and common spaces.

Responsibilities

• Carry out duties and responsibilities outlined in a student’s IEP.
• Assist student(s) in individual and group settings—resource room, inclusive educational setting, community, or volunteer setting.
• Provide specialized instruction, interventions, and accommodations as outlined in the IEP.
• Team with classroom and/or special education teachers to deliver instruction.
• Demonstrate and model appropriate developmental and behavioral skills through play or interaction.
• Assist students with self-help and independent living skills, including:
  • Dressing and undressing
  • Toileting (may include changing diapers, training pants, cleaning, and toilet training)
  • Supervising and assisting with eating skills (adapted feeding utensils, feeding tubes)
  • Supervising and assisting with assistive devices (prosthetics, braces, wheelchairs, communicative or assistive technology)
• Support students in Developmentally Adaptive Physical Education and Special Olympics events.
• Supervise students during lunch, recess, field trips, time-out situations, and emergencies or in the temporary absence of the teacher.
• Monitor classroom instruction to ensure student progress and a safe learning environment.
• Perform bus duty: riding the bus, following prescribed bus programs, meeting the bus, and reporting student behavior/needs to the case manager.
• Participate physically in activities being taught.
• Collaborate with special education teachers, classroom teachers, and related service providers to ensure student safety and success.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Develop effective working relationships with students.
• Support building and classroom discipline policies.
• Maintain good communication and a cooperative working environment with staff.
• Participate in assigned professional development.
• Maintain knowledge of building procedures and district policies.
• Work cooperatively with administrators, accepting constructive feedback.
• Address disagreements constructively and respectfully.
• Monitor student progress on assigned tasks.
• Follow district policy in reporting suspected abuse/neglect.
• Perform other duties identified by the IEP team or assigned by administrative authority.

Requirements

• Meet highly-qualified requirements for paraprofessional: two-year associate degree, 60 college credits, or para-pro/para e-link certification.
• Experience working with students with physical, cognitive, and/or mild behavioral needs.
• Handle with Care Training certification required within three months of hire and maintained during employment.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills; ability to work as part of a team.
• Flexibility based on program and student needs.
• Ability to assist students in individual or group settings, including resource rooms, inclusive education settings, and community job-coaching.
• Ability to implement and follow through on specific therapies and programs prescribed by the IEP, including lifting, transferring, positioning, and assisting with daily living activities (toileting, feeding, restrictive procedures).
• Ability to collect data on student progress as defined in the IEP.
• Ability to remain calm and patient in volatile situations and respond quickly.
• Ability to work under the supervision of a site principal and/or special education teacher.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and constant interruptions.
• Ability to work with students, families, professionals, and staff of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and professionalism.