Paraprofessional, Emotional Behavioral Disabilities

About the role

Under supervision of an ESE teacher, the Instructional Paraprofessional for Special Needs assists with classroom instruction, discipline, and childcare needs for at least 80% of the workday. Additional duties such as classroom clerical work, cafeteria duty, etc. may be assigned for the remaining portion of the day.

Responsibilities

• Provide assistance with individual/group tutoring in academic areas, introducing and monitoring instructional activities, monitoring testing situations, and planning instruction with the teacher according to students' IEPs.
• Create and use alternative instructional materials; assist with electronic aids (Braille, reader programs, tape recorders, audio readers/trainers, adapted computer programs, communication programs) based on student needs.
• Perform note taking, continuous planned prompting to initiate/maintain/complete learning activities, and individual use of low vision/hearing aids/materials.
• Provide individualized communication assistance including interpretive/translation (ESOL) services, communication board assistance, Braille transcribing, and other adaptive devices for instructional purposes.
• Assist the teacher with planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating complex individualized student behavior management programs; collect behavioral data, identify problem behaviors, and implement strategies per IEPs.
• Participate in social skills training through individual/group counseling, role‑playing, and structured behavioral programming (proximity control, prompting, contingencies, coaching, cuing, planned ignoring).
• Under supervision and after appropriate training, may provide physical crisis intervention to prevent self‑harm, harm to others, or property damage.
• Support child and health care needs: assist with daily living, self‑care, physical/occupational therapy, orientation and mobility, and student safety per IEPs (lifting, positioning, diapering, feeding, physical restraint).
• Monitor health status, assist with prosthetic devices, mobility training, and help students with self‑monitoring health care activities (catheterization, blood glucose monitoring, skin care for braces, etc.).
• Perform additional related classroom clerical duties, cafeteria duty, etc. as assigned for a minor portion of the workday.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Successful completion of 60 semester hours or a passing score on the ETS/Praxis Paraprofessional examination.