LINKS SPED Para Educator

About the Role

The Special Education Paraprofessional holds primary responsibility for overseeing the implementation of effective, rigorous academic and behavior intervention systems with a small caseload of students. This individual will work closely with students who need additional supports to be successful in the classroom, supporting those students, their families, and their teachers to fundamentally change the successes they are realizing.

Responsibilities

• Work alongside an experienced special educator to support a small caseload of students, driving the academic achievement of students with moderate to severe need.
• Implement an effective, rigorous academic and behavior intervention system with a small caseload of students.
• Provide consistent and high academic and behavioral expectations.
• Support student mastery of state, city, and school academic and behavioral standards.
• Lead daily individual and small group tutoring sessions.
• Communicate effectively with students, families, and colleagues.

Qualifications

• A passionate belief in Springfield Public Schools' mission, values, and educational model.
• An extraordinarily high bar for student behavior and expectations.
• An eagerness to set ambitious, challenging, and tangible goals, and a relentless drive to achieve them.
• An ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment and a capacity to remain calm and focused when faced with unexpected challenges.
• Proven track-record of high achievement.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including strong public speaking skills.
• A sense of humility in the face of success.
• Drive to improve the minds and lives of students in and out of the classroom.
• A high-school diploma or GED.
• Sixty (60) credit hours of college coursework or an Associate's Degree, or a passing score on one of the following formalized standardized assessments:
  • ParaPro Assessment
  • WorkKeys Certificate of Proficiency for Teacher Assistants
• Current authorization to work in the United States by the first day of employment.
• A passing score on the WorkKeys Exams in the following areas:
  • Reading: 5
  • Math: 4
  • Writing: 3

Benefits

• Competitive wages
• Paid sick leave
• Professional Development opportunities, including a robust Para to Teacher Pipeline program

About Our District

Springfield Public Schools is a cultural gem in Western Massachusetts committed to providing a learning environment that opens the doors of infinite possibilities to our approximately 24,000 students and staff. We strive to equip each student with learning experiences that enhance knowledge and critical thinking skills. Our district is the 3rd largest in Massachusetts, with over 44 languages spoken and over 60 countries represented by both students and staff.

We foster a positive and professional environment where people feel valued, respected, supported, seen, and heard. Our students and staff share their ideas and perspectives, learning from and appreciating each other. We are committed to equity and excellence.

In addition to offering competitive salaries and benefits, we provide numerous cutting-edge professional development opportunities for all staff. Our data shapes relevant and actionable professional development. We support our teaching staff with mentors such as instructional leadership specialists and effective educator coaches to work with them throughout the year in lesson planning, data analysis, and management. Our district offers career advancement opportunities and invests in "Grow Our Own" and educational pipeline programs to help staff achieve a college degree or certification pathways.