Paraeducator - Basic Education

Position Hours and Pay

• 8 hours per day at 205 days per year
• 7 hours per day for 4 days during the first year and 2 days each year following until certification is completed
• Position pay: PSE Salary Schedule Level 5 - $25.40
• Position is a 3-year position, will continue through the end of the 28-29 school year

Required Training

• Must complete Right Response Training within 3-5 months of hire
• Must successfully complete the Fundamental Course of Studies (FCS) and General Paraeducator Certificate of the state mandated Paraeducator Certificate Program per State requirements (Paraeducator Certificate Program is dependent upon State funding)

Minimum Employment Requirements

Must be 18 years of age; hold a high school diploma or its equivalent; and one of the following:

• Successfully passed the ETS Para Pro test
• AA degree
• Earned seventy-two (72) quarter credits or forty-eight (48) semester credits at an accredited institution of higher education
• Completion of registered apprenticeship program offered by the Washington State Dept. of Labor & Industries

You may provide unofficial transcripts in your application but will be required to provide official ones upon hire. Not providing required documents could significantly delay your official hire. Please contact HR with questions.

Para testing information: https://www.bethelsd.org/programs-departments/human-resources/career-opportunities/instructional-paraeducator-requirements

Job Summary

This position's responsibilities are to assist certificated staff with instructional and non-instructional activities for students, including instructing students individually or in small groups, supervising student behavior, and supervising student activities on the playground, in the lunchroom and halls.

Essential Functions

Depending upon individual assignment, the Paraeducator - Basic Education may perform all or a combination of several of the following:

• Instructs students individually or in small groups in a variety of learning activities to promote student understanding of materials presented
• Provides encouragement, reinforcement and achievement of educational objectives and goals defined by certificated staff
• May assist with the administration of objective screenings or other measurements
• Communicates with certificated staff concerning individual student progress; adjusts methods to meet the needs of a wide variety of students; consults with certificated staff concerning remediation or enrichment activities
• May assist professional staff in implementing a targeted program
• Assists teacher in maintaining records, logs, charts, assignments and other records for assessment of student progress
• May correct, score or grade tests, papers and assignments according to guidelines or instructions; may schedule appointments; may set up and run machines
• Supervises student behavior in classrooms, playgrounds, halls, at lunch or breaks, at bus boarding areas, on field trips and at other sites as assigned to promote safe, appropriate student behavior
• Models appropriate behavior; corrects behaviors and maintains discipline according to established policies and procedures
• Instructs students in behavioral rules and codes for student safety, socialization and individual growth
• Assists students with interpersonal and personal skills mastery
• Establishes and maintains effective communication with students, staff, parents and the public for student progress and safety, and community relations
• Monitors need for first aid for injured or ill students and refers for treatment as appropriate

Other Functions

• Alerts qualified district staff to student problems
• Locates, prepares and/or modifies materials for student use, enrichment activities and special projects under the direction of certificated staff
• Prepares, duplicates, collates and distributes materials; operates a variety of office equipment
• May coordinate parent volunteer programs for the schools as requested
• Maintains physical appearance of classroom, hallways and other assigned areas; maintains, assembles and stores playground equipment as assigned; maintains supplies as assigned
• May serve on various district committees and/or departmental work teams
• Models appropriate and cooperative behavior, including protecting confidential information, consistent with district ethical guidelines
• Performs related duties consistent with the scope and intent of the position

Reporting Relationships

Reports to the school principal. Receives guidance from assigned program administrator and assigned teacher or program specialist.

Mental Demands

May experience frequent interruptions; may be required to shift tasks and priorities; required to deal with a wide range of student behaviors and academic ability; may occasionally deal with distraught or difficult students.

Physical Demands

Potentially exposed to ordinary infectious diseases as carried by students; exposed to student noise levels; playground supervision requires working outdoors in inclement weather.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: Education, training, skills, and experience necessary to carry out the assignment, with experience working with school aged children and instructional experience preferred. Demonstrated proficiency in designated academic subjects may be required.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated skill in reading, writing and communicating
• Knowledge of basic subject areas, such as reading and math
• Ability to deal with students in a warm and confident manner
• Ability to remain flexible to changes in assignments
• Ability to organize activities
• Ability to follow and give instructions
• Ability to be fair and consistent when working with students
• Ability to learn and implement effective behavior management techniques
• Ability to learn and implement effective instructional techniques
• Knowledge of student safety rules and procedures
• Ability to learn the use of computers and various software packages for student instruction and record keeping
• Ability to learn the operation of general office machines
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students and staff

Licenses/Special Requirements

• Requires fingerprinting and background check to determine that there have been no convictions involving physical molestation, abuse, injury or neglect of a minor
• Must complete training in and adhere to district infection control plan

PSE UNIT AFFILIATION: Paraeducators/Special Services