Paraeducator-Middle Bucks County
Job Description Summary/Objective
A Paraeducator is responsible for assisting the teacher/therapist in providing instruction and support to assigned students in an educational setting, which is designed to promote intellectual, behavioral, emotional, and social growth. Paraeducators can be assigned to individual students or to multiple students. All functions are performed under the direction of the teacher/therapist. The position requires the employee to support students with a variety of needs, which may include individuals who exhibit aggressive behaviors and/or self-injurious behavior. The Paraeducator will be trained to meet the individual needs of the students that they are assigned to with the classroom or setting. In some cases, the Paraeducator will serve as an itinerant and work in homes and community settings within Bucks County.
Essential Functions
- Provide one-on-one tutoring (if such tutoring is scheduled at a time when a student would not otherwise receive instruction from a teacher).
- Aid in classroom management, such as organizing instructional and/or other materials.
- Act as a liaison in communicating with teacher and other IU and district staff regarding ongoing needs of students.
- Support parental involvement activities.
- Provide support across all educational settings; escort and supervise students to various locations across all educational settings.
- Aid in the use of equipment and augmentative communication devices.
- Aid in the ambulation, positioning, and transfer of students.
- Support students in range of motion and other exercises.
- Aid in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) (e.g., feeding, grooming, bathing, toileting, diapering, etc.).
- Monitor the incidence and prevalence of designated health problems or medical conditions (e.g., seizure precautions or extreme lethargy).
- Accompany student on school bus or other vehicle.
- Cue, redirect or monitor to ensure that the student performs ADL tasks when a cognitive impairment prevents a student from knowing when or how to carry out the task (e.g., a student may not be able to dress without instruction on how to do so or need reminders of what to do and when).
- Observe/monitor and redirect/intervention to assist with completion of ADL’s.
- Cue the student to pay attention, participate in activities and complete tasks.
- Aid in the implementation of each student's IEP (Individualized Educational Plan) and C.E.Rs (if applicable).
- Aid in data collection of student performance.
- May be trained, when qualified, to occasionally transport students.
- Follow any individualized support plans that may be a part of a student's educational program (e.g., behavior, communication, health, transportation).
- Track information about each student including needs, strengths, gains and problem areas.
- Aid in setting up educational environment and preparing materials for instruction.
Other Duties
- This position description neither expresses nor implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the incumbent in this position. The employee will be required to follow any other job related instructions and perform other job related duties as requested by the immediate supervisor.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Physical Demands
- Sit
- Use hands
- Reach with hands and arms
- Talk or hear
- Sit for long periods
- Climb or balance
- Stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl
- Lift and/or move up to 10 pounds
- Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
This is a full-time, 185-day calendar position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday. Hours are dependent on assignment, work location and the needs of the district. A typical, full-time work day is 7.5 hours. Occasional evening and/or weekend work may be required as job duties demand.
Travel
Travel or transport may be expected for this position.
Education And Experience
- Meet the designation of a Bucks IU “Highly Qualified” Paraeducator by showing evidence of at least one of the following: Associate or Bachelor Degree, at least 48 college/university credits, or a high school diploma or equivalency and successfully pass a local assessment.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Experience working with students with disabilities is preferred.