Paraeducator Special Education - Emotional/Behavioral Disabilities (EDGE)

Employment Type: Full-time, 6.5 hours/day

Pay

Minimum entry rate: $19.01/hour (Grade 109 – Support Hourly).

• New-hire experience credit: 1% per year for full-time, paid experience in like duties within the previous 10 years, up to a 5% maximum.
• New-hire education credit: 1% for an associate degree or higher in a related field, combined with experience not to exceed 5%.
• Performance pay: up to $600 available annually.

Schedule

• Full-time: 1902 hours / 184 work days (9-month calendar).
• 11 paid holidays.

Benefits

• Paid time off (PTO) and holidays.
• Matched retirement through the Arizona State Retirement System.
• Health and life insurance.
• Wellness programs.
• Professional-growth credit.

About the Role

Provide instruction under the supervision of the special-education teacher in a special-education environment or as required by an individualized education plan (IEP). Support students with social needs similar to those identified with autism-spectrum disorder.

Responsibilities

• Student Support & Instruction: Reinforce material by providing one-on-one or small-group instruction; assist with academic, physical, and emotional needs following each student’s IEP guidelines.
• Personal Care & Medical Assistance: Support activities of daily living (toileting, feeding, dressing); administer basic first aid and emergency-rescue medications.
• Facilitate Communication: Serve as translator for oral and written communication between parents, students, and staff when necessary.
• Social-Emotional Development: Assist students with social and emotional needs, helping them build positive behaviors and navigate social situations.
• Behavioral & Safety Management: Implement behavioral plans to modify behaviors and maintain a positive classroom environment; supervise students during school activities and report concerns to the teacher.
• Collaboration & Administrative Duties: Assist with assessments and data collection under the supervision of the certified teacher; participate in meetings and training; translate for students, parents, and staff as required.
• General Operations: Help maintain a quiet and orderly classroom; operate and care for instructional equipment; perform all duties safely and prudently following district policies and supervisor directives.

Core Values

• Excellence: Excellence in all parts of the organization is valued, expected, and our most important product.
• Equity and Fairness: Education is the great leveler; all students, staff, and patrons should have the opportunity, tools, and ability to succeed.
• Collaboration: An effective decision-making and morale-enhancing model.
• Integrity: Honesty, integrity, and reliability are non-negotiable foundations of the organization.
• Efficiency: The essence of being a good steward of public trust and resources.

Professional Qualities

• Respond to all internal and external customers in a prompt, efficient, friendly, and patient manner.
• Function effectively as a team member.
• Be responsible, reliable, and punctual.
• Be flexible and adaptable to change; positively accept direction.
• Establish and maintain courteous, cooperative working relationships with students, staff, and parents.
• Direct constructive criticism toward improving the district.
• Exercise positive problem-solving behavior and conflict-resolution skills.
• Adhere to the dress code appropriate to the site and job.
• Share sensitive student and staff information on a need-to-know basis only.
• Be a positive role model for students.
• Work with a large cross-section of people in a professional and non-judgmental manner.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent plus one of the following:
  • Associate degree or 60 semester hours from an accredited university, or
  • Satisfactory results on an AZ state-approved competency exam.
• CPR/First Aid certification (provided if needed).
• Ability to operate standard office equipment, including a computer and related software.
• Satisfactory criminal background check.

Physical Requirements

• Mobility and Movement: Must be able to stoop, kneel, crouch, stand, walk, and sit; repetitive finger and manual dexterity required.
• Sensory and Communication: Ability to speak, hear, and see (with correction) to perform essential job functions.
• Physical Exertion:
  • Occasionally: lift or move objects up to 50 pounds.
  • Frequently: lift or move objects up to 20 pounds.
  • Constantly: lift or move objects up to 10 pounds.
• Work Environment: May be exposed to odors, dust, poor ventilation, workspace restrictions, bloodborne pathogens, and loud noises.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.