Paraprofessional (Positions for the 2026-2027 School Year)

Pine-Richland School District is seeking a Paraprofessional to support students during the 2026-2027 school year.

About the role

Provide appropriate academic, behavioral, and emotional support to students with disabilities or behavior problems, which could range from mild to severe. Duties are performed under the direction of the building principal, working collaboratively with the special education teacher and/or general education teacher, to help the student achieve the highest level of independent functioning possible when appropriate.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the daily planning, instruction, care, record keeping, and implementation of student IEP goals and objectives under the direction of a certified professional employee or district administrator.
• Review and reinforce academic and behavioral skills taught by the certified professional employee or district administrator.
• Review and implement Specially Designed Instruction ("SDI") contained in student IEPs under the direction of a certified professional employee or administrator.
• Assist with the instruction and implementation of appropriate daily living skills, including personal hygiene, communication, and classroom routines and expectations.
• Assist students with the use of augmentative devices and technology resources related to their individual educational programs.
• Assist with the collection and maintenance of data for progress monitoring of IEP goals and objectives to determine effectiveness of Specially Designed Instruction ("SDI") and the educational program.
• Report regularly on student academic performance and behavior to classroom teacher, special education teacher, reading specialist, school psychologist, and other appropriate staff as needed.
• Communicate with nurses and/or Personal Care Assistants ("PCA") to facilitate student medical needs.
• Supervise students during assemblies, special programs, and emergency drills.
• Facilitate the movement of students with physical needs throughout the school building.
• Assist with the transferring and/or repositioning of students with physical needs when necessary (i.e., transferring to and from wheelchairs, standers, gate trainers, special chairs) using appropriate lifting techniques, including 1 and 2 person lifts.
• Assist students with using the bathroom, eating, dressing, walking, or other self-help skills as required. (Instructional Assistants are excluded from this duty/responsibility).
• Support students within a vocational setting, both with and without the presence of a certified professional employee.
• Maintain accurate and complete records, as required by law, and ensure that all activities comply with Board policies, rules and guidelines and all administrative requirements.
• Maintain effective working relationship with professional and support staff, administration, students, parents, and community groups.
• Attend building and team meetings as necessary.
• Regular and timely attendance.
• Other duties as assigned by the Building Principal, Assistant Director of Student Services & Special Education or their designees.

Requirements

• Associate's Degree, minimum of two years of postsecondary study, or meet a rigorous standard of quality as demonstrated through state or local assessment.
• Previous experience working with children.
• Current criminal record and child abuse clearances required.
• Preferred qualifications include: First Aid/CPR training; experience working with children with special needs; prior school district experience.

Skills

• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to effectively speak and present information in one-on-one and small group settings with parents, staff, and students.
• Proficient with personal computer programs, text documents, and spreadsheets. Ability to utilize technology to assist students while in an educational setting.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Able to compute rate, ratio, and percent. Able to draw and interpret line and bar graphs.
• Able to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed written or oral instructions.
• Able to de-escalate agitated students; or physically restrain them if necessary, using appropriate techniques, as demonstrated through district training.
• Able to work with special needs children.
• Able to develop effective working relationships with students, staff, and the school community.
• Able to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Able to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and school district policies.

Physical Demands

• Regularly required to reach with hands and arms.
• Frequently required to stand, walk, sit, and talk or hear.
• Occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Physically able to perform job responsibilities, including lifting and handling at least 40 lbs. on a regular basis and at least 50 lbs. on an occasional basis.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, and peripheral vision.
• Able to tell where a sound is coming from and hear in a noisy environment.

Work Environment

• Occasionally works near moving mechanical parts in some vocational settings.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• May be exposed to infection at a greater risk than the average person.
• May be directly responsible for the safety, well-being, and/or work output of students.

Pay

$16.70 per hour

Benefits

• Eligibility for top-notch medical, dental, and vision insurance.