Paraeducator - Preschool Special Education

About the role

This position's responsibilities are to assist certificated staff in a variety of activities for preschool special education students, including instructing students individually or in small groups, and supervising student behavior and supervising student activities as assigned.

Responsibilities

• Provides instruction and other assistance to special needs preschool students ages 3 to 5 in a partially self-contained/partially integrated program.
• Works with 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.
• Communicates with instructor and program specialists concerning individual student progress; adjusts methods to meet the needs of a wide variety of students.
• Assist professional staff in implementing a targeted program.
• Keeps students focused on specific tasks.
• Supervises student behavior in the classroom, on the playground, at bus area, on field trips, in washrooms, and at other sites as needed.
• Accompanies students to, from, and during specialists activities.
• 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, and parents for student progress, safety, and community relations.
• Assists with parent and student volunteers in program activities.
• Provides assistance to physically handicapped students, such as lifting and positioning or assistance with personal hygiene.
• Maintains physical safety and well-being of students; assists students with entering and exiting buses, getting in and out of chairs or wheelchairs, getting on and off a toilet, diapering, and in other forms of personal and interpersonal conduct.
• Monitors need for first aid for injured or ill students and refers for treatment as appropriate; tracks and dispenses authorized medication as required.
• Prepares and sets up snacks and lunches for children; prepares specialized food and sets up adaptive equipment, orders snack items and paper products.
• Maintains inventory of food service supplies; teaches children basic food preparation skills.
• Assists children with eating and associated social behaviors.
• Cleans up after meals; wipes and disinfects tables and counter areas.
• Assists students with self-help skills; teaches them to put on and remove clothes, eat properly, use the toilet, and care for other aspects of personal safety, cleanliness and hygiene.
• Assists students with physical movement and exercise; follows specific regimen developed by therapist.
• May accompany instructor when visiting the students in their home settings.
• Assists in documenting the visit and recording observations.
• Maintains cleanliness and order of classroom and toys and equipment.
• Maintains, assembles and stores playground equipment as assigned; maintains supplies as assigned.

Requirements

• Must be 18 years of age
• Must hold high school diploma or its equivalent
• Must meet one of the following requirements:
  • Successfully passed the ETS Para Pro test or Pearson Paraprofessional assessment
  • AA degree or higher
  • 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
  • Successful completion of The Master Teacher Inc. Paraeducator Online Training Program
• Must provide unofficial transcripts in application, and official ones upon hire
• Must provide proof of passing TB (tuberculosis) test prior to official hire
• Must complete Right Response Training within 3-5 months of hire, and renew annually
• Must complete the Fundamental Course of Studies (FCS) and General Paraeducator Certificate of the state mandated Paraeducator Certificate Program

Qualifications

Education, training, skills, and experience necessary to carry out the assignment, with experience working with preschool students and special needs students preferred.

Skills

• Demonstrated skill in reading, writing and communicating
• Ability to deal with students in a warm and confident manner
• Ability to remain flexible to changes in assignments
• Knowledge of physical disabilities and behavior disorders
• 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

Pay

Position pay: PSE Salary Schedule Level 5 - $25.40

Schedule

This position is for 6.75 hours per day at 146 days per year, and 7 hours per day for 4 days for the first year, and 2 days each year following until certification is completed.