Parapro Sp Ed - OI/Res/SC - Adapt/STRIVE

About the Role

Provide support to the instructional program within an assigned classroom, assisting in the supervision, care, and instruction of special needs students in various settings, including regular education classrooms, special education classrooms, and the community. Implement and reinforce Individual Education Program (IEP) objectives under the direction of the supervising teacher.

Responsibilities

• Adapt classroom activities, assignments, and materials to support and reinforce IEP goals and objectives, ensuring all special education students can participate in classroom activities.
• Administer immediate first aid and medical assistance as instructed by a health care professional, including diapering, tube feeding, colostomy bag care, and medication administration.
• Administer tests, homework, and make-up work to support teachers in the classroom.
• Assist medically fragile or physically disabled students with personal hygiene, including feeding, brushing teeth, toileting, diapering, and transferring to/from wheelchairs.
• Confer with special education and regular education teachers regularly to evaluate student progress and implement IEP objectives.
• Implement and collect data on behavioral plans designed by IEP teams under the supervision of the assigned teacher.
• Monitor special education students in various settings (classroom, field trips, lunchroom, playground, etc.) to ensure a safe and positive learning environment.
• Perform record-keeping and support functions, such as data collection, student files, checking papers, attendance, and maintaining daily logs.
• Provide instruction to students in individual and group activities (e.g., math groups, science experiments, reading, behavioral skills, daily living skills) to reinforce instructional objectives and IEP plans.
• Respond to emergency situations, including injured students, fights, and behavior problems, using physical de-escalation procedures and crisis intervention principles.
• Assist with monitoring duties in hallways, lunchrooms, restrooms, and during bus duty, ensuring appropriate student conduct.
• Escort students to designated activity areas.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Paraprofessional Educator certificate issued by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC).
• High School Diploma or General Education Degree (or equivalent) and passed the Praxis Parapro Assessment (prior to March 1, 2007) or the GACE Parapro Assessment.
• In lieu of assessments, 60 semester or 90 quarter hours from a PSC-approved college or university are required.
• Experience in a licensed child care environment (preferred).

Qualifications

• Knowledge of child development.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Effective interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of office and media equipment.
• Ability to act as a representative of Gwinnett County Public Schools.

Physical Demands

• Stand, walk, negotiate stairs, and climb ladders.
• Reach with hands and arms, talk, and hear.
• Manipulate tools and small items with hands.
• Lift and transport up to 50 pounds over short distances.
• Operate a motor vehicle in performance of duties.
• Specific vision abilities required: close vision, distance vision, and color vision.
• Work in a wide range of ambient temperature and humidity conditions, including overhead work and confined spaces.
• Potential hazards include working with electricity, heat and noise-producing machinery, elevated equipment, chemicals, and solvents.

Reasonable accommodations will be made for individuals with specific disabilities.