Paraeducator - Preschool Special Education

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

Pay: PSE Salary Schedule Level 5 – $25.40 per hour.

About the role

This position assists 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 activities as assigned.

Responsibilities

• Provides instruction and 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.
• Assists professional staff in implementing a targeted program; keeps students focused on specific tasks.
• Supervises student behavior in the classroom, on the playground, at bus areas, 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 regarding 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 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 students in their home settings; assists in documenting the visit and recording observations.
• Maintains cleanliness and order of classroom, toys, and equipment; maintains, assembles, and stores playground equipment as assigned.
• Alerts qualified district staff to student problems; prepares, duplicates, collates, and distributes materials; operates a variety of office equipment.
• May assist instructor in maintaining logs, charts, and other records for assessment of student progress; 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.
• Maintains log of students’ transportation information according to program requirements; participates in a variety of meetings and training sessions.
• May have flexible hours to allow participation in family and/or community activities related to program objectives.

Requirements

• Must be 18 years of age.
• Hold a high school diploma or its equivalent.
• Meet one of the following:
  • Successfully passed the ETS ParaPro 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 a registered apprenticeship program offered by the Washington State Dept. of Labor & Industries.
  • Successful completion of The Master Teacher Inc. Paraeducator Online Training Program.
• Provide proof of passing TB (tuberculosis) test prior to official hire.
• MMR vaccine required.
• Must complete Right Response Training within 3–5 months of hire; renewal required annually prior to expiration date.
• Must successfully complete the Fundamental Course of Studies (FCS) and General Paraeducator Certificate of the state-mandated Paraeducator Certificate Program per State requirements.
• Fingerprinting and background check to determine no convictions involving physical molestation, abuse, injury, or neglect of a minor.
• Must complete training in and adhere to district infection control plan; Hepatitis-B immunization is offered.
• Required to obtain first-aid/CPR certification.

Skills

• Demonstrated skill in reading, writing, and communicating.
• Ability to deal with students in a warm and confident manner; remain flexible to changes in assignments.
• Knowledge of physical disabilities and behavior disorders; ability to organize activities.
• Ability to follow and give instructions; be fair and consistent when working with students.
• Ability to learn and implement effective behavior management and 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; learn the operation of general office machines.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students and staff.

Working Conditions

• Frequent interruptions; required to shift tasks and priorities.
• Deal with a wide range of student behaviors and physical and emotional disabilities; may occasionally deal with distraught or difficult students.
• Potentially exposed to ordinary infectious diseases carried by students; exposed to student noise levels.
• Required to lift students weighing up to fifty pounds (50 lbs), move and position students and equipment.
• Playground supervision and bus loading requires working outdoors in inclement weather.
• Required to attend to students’ personal hygiene; may be exposed to biting behavior.
• May need to take precautions to avoid exposure to student bodily fluids and cleaning or disinfecting compounds.
• Required to work in non-routine positions for extended periods.