Paraprofessional - Special Education Emotional Impairment (EI)

About the role

The paraprofessional works under the supervision of a certified staff member to assist students in the special education classroom in meeting instructional goals and objectives. They also play a role in non-instructional tasks and provide opportunities for additional adult/student relationships.

Responsibilities

• Assists and guides students in education and social development, individually and in small groups, to reinforce essential learning skills.
• Assists professional staff in administering classroom assignments and assessments.
• Aids in classroom preparations and strategies for differentiating instructional materials and skills according to individual student needs.
• Completes the district-provided Nonviolent Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) training and maintains certification.
• Documents student learning, progress, and performance aligned with IEPs, PCS, and PBSPs.
• Supervises non-instructional areas such as lunch programs, bus duty, playground duty, corridors, study halls, and other non-instructional areas.
• Supports students with behavioral intervention plans as needed.
• Accompanies students on field trips to assist with supervision.
• Fosters effective and participatory parent involvement in student education.
• Assists students with disabilities in all aspects of classroom instruction to maximize inclusion, learning, achievement of IEP goals and objectives.
• Participates in the IEP process and serves as a resource for the student evaluation team.
• Assists students with physical or mental disabilities with activities of daily living.
• Follows all applicable safety rules, procedures, and regulations governing the proper manner of assistance for all students, including those with disabilities or other special needs.
• Works as a team with teachers and related service providers to support the needs of students in the EI program.
• Regular, reliable, and punctual attendance.

Qualifications

• Two years of study at an institution of higher learning (equal to 60 credits) OR obtain an associate's degree (or higher).
• Prior experience working with students with intensive dysregulation.
• Knowledge and training in proper classroom management techniques, such as verbal de-escalation skills and physical interventions, including Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (CPI).
• Willingness to participate in professional development as identified by the principal, the special education department, or the school district.

Additional Duties

• Perform any other related duties as assigned.

Equipment

• Use standard office equipment, such as personal computers and copiers.

Travel Requirements

• Travel between schools and between schools and central offices may be required for certain positions.

Physical And Mental Demands, Work Hazards

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, talk, hear (in a quiet or noisy environment), taste and smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.
• The employee must establish a supportive and compassionate relationship with students with special needs.
• The employee must establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with students, staff, and others contacted in the course of work.
• The employee must have effective writing and verbal communication skills.
• The employee must have the ability to work in an economically, culturally, linguistically, and racially diverse environment.

ADA Requirements

• The physical demands, work environment factors, and mental functions described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment

• The noise level in the work environment is usually loud to moderate.
• The employee is required to compare, analyze, communicate both orally and in writing, copy, coordinate, instruct, compute, synthesize, evaluate, use interpersonal skills, compile and negotiate.

FLSA STATUS

Non-Exempt

APPLICATIONS

Submit an application, individual cover letter, and resume through the online applitrack applicant center. No hard copy applications will be accepted via mail or hand delivery. All application materials must be uploaded and submitted no later than 5:00 PM on the specified posting deadline. Visit the district website: Click here. Kentwood Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, genetic information, or any other protected status in its employment decisions or the provision of services.