Paraeducator Preschool Special Education

This position is for 6.75 hours per day at 142 days per year and 3.5 hours per day at 8 days per year. First-year schedule: 7 hours per day for 4 days, then 2 days each year following until certification is completed.

Pay

• PSE Salary Schedule Level 5: $25.40 (2026-27 PSE Salary Schedule)

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 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
• Complete Right Response Training within 3-5 months of hire; renewal required annually prior to expiration
• Successfully complete the Fundamental Course of Studies (FCS) and General Paraeducator Certificate of the state-mandated Paraeducator Certificate Program (dependent upon State funding)
• Fingerprinting and background check to confirm no convictions involving physical molestation, abuse, injury, or neglect of a minor
• Complete training in and adhere to district infection control plan
• Obtain first-aid/CPR certification

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 to promote understanding of materials presented
• Provides encouragement, reinforcement, and support for educational objectives and goals defined by certificated staff
• Communicates with instructors and program specialists regarding individual student progress; adjusts methods to meet diverse student needs
• Assists professional staff in implementing targeted programs and keeps students focused on tasks
• Supervises student behavior in classrooms, playgrounds, bus areas, field trips, washrooms, and other sites
• Accompanies students to and during specialist activities; corrects behaviors and maintains discipline according to policies
• Instructs students in behavioral rules, safety, socialization, and personal 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 physical assistance to students with disabilities (e.g., lifting, positioning, personal hygiene, entering/exiting buses, chairs, wheelchairs, toilets, diapering)
• Monitors and provides first aid for injured or ill students; tracks and dispenses authorized medication
• Prepares and sets up snacks and lunches; prepares specialized food, sets up adaptive equipment, and teaches basic food preparation skills
• Assists students with eating and associated social behaviors; cleans and disinfects meal areas
• Teaches self-help skills (e.g., putting on/removing clothes, eating, toileting, personal safety, cleanliness, hygiene)
• Assists students with physical movement and exercise per therapist-developed regimens
• May accompany instructors on home visits; assists in documenting visits and recording observations
• Maintains cleanliness and order of classrooms, toys, and equipment; assembles and stores playground equipment
• Alerts qualified district staff to student problems
• Prepares, duplicates, collates, and distributes materials; operates office equipment
• May assist in maintaining logs, charts, and records for student progress assessment
• May serve on district committees or departmental work teams
• Models appropriate and cooperative behavior, including protecting confidential information
• Maintains logs of student transportation information
• Participates in meetings and training sessions
• May have flexible hours to participate in family/community activities related to program objectives

Skills

• Demonstrated skill in reading, writing, and communicating
• Ability to interact with students in a warm and confident manner
• Flexibility to adapt to changes in assignments
• Knowledge of physical disabilities and behavior disorders
• Ability to organize activities and follow/give instructions
• Fairness and consistency 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 computer and software use for instruction and record-keeping
• Ability to learn 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
• Deals with a wide range of student behaviors and physical/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 (50) pounds and move/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/disinfecting compounds
• Required to work in non-routine positions for extended periods