Paraprofessional (Instructional)

Position Purpose

The instructional paraprofessional assists teachers with students in the classroom to meet academic and other goals and objectives in students' individualized educational plans.

Essential Job Functions

• Assists and guides students to reinforce reading, language arts, mathematics, computer instruction, and other skills.
• Works with students individually and in small groups to reinforce basic learning and implement assigned programs.
• Affords assistance in classroom preparations and strategies for reinforcing instructional materials and skills according to individual student needs.
• Affords record-keeping procedures to document student learning and performance.
• Affords assistance in classroom behavioral management to minimize disruptions, ensure a safe and orderly classroom, and ensure students are on task.
• Affords assistance in non-instructional areas.
• Accompanies students on field trips for the purpose of assisting with supervision.
• Constructs, copies, and distributes and uses educational materials, as needed.
• Affords assistance to students with special needs in all aspects of classroom instruction to maximize inclusion, learning, and achievement of IEP objectives, etc.
• Participates in IEP process and serves as a resource for the student personnel evaluation team, as needed.
• Affords assistance to students with physical or mental disabilities with activities of daily living for the purpose of maximizing their ability to participate in school or learning activities.

Additional Duties

• Affords assistance to guidance, pupil services staff, or building administration, as needed.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Ability to carry out instructions furnished in written or oral form.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide, and perform arithmetic operations as needed to assist students.
• Ability to understand, apply, and use personal computers and software applications (e.g., Word, Excel).
• Ability to work with a diverse group of individuals.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of information regarding students, employees, and others.
• Ability to establish a supportive and compassionate relationship with students with special needs.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with students, staff, and others contacted in the course of work.
• Ability to report work orally or in writing to supervisor as required.
• Effective writing and verbal communication skills.

Physical and Mental Demands, Work Hazards

• Works in standard office and school building environments.
• Ability to work outdoors during outdoor student activities.

Qualifications Profile

A typical profile would include: High school diploma or equivalent. Successful completion of college level coursework or passing of examination as required by the No Child Left Behind Act. Prior experience working with special needs children desirable.

FLSA Status

Non-exempt