Paraprofessional - Special Education Moderately Cognitively Impaired (MoCi)

Under the direct supervision of a certified staff member, the paraprofessional works as a team member to assist students in the special education classroom in meeting instructional goals and objectives. This role includes non-instructional and concept/skill reinforcement tasks, providing students with additional adult/student relationships.

Schedule

5.75 hours/day, 5 days/week, 38 weeks/year

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 exercises, tests, and assessments.
• Assists in classroom preparations and strategies for differentiating instructional materials and skills according to individual student needs, including constructing, copying, distributing, and using educational materials.
• Completes Nonviolent Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) training and maintains certification as required by the district.
• Works within data tracking systems to document student learning, progress, and performance aligned with student's Individual Education Program (IEP), Personal Care Services (PCS), and Positive Behavior Support Plans (PBSP).
• Assists with classroom behavioral management to minimize disruptions and ensure an orderly and safe classroom.
• Supervises students in non-instructional areas such as lunch programs, bus duty, playground duty, corridors, and study halls.
• Assists with students' medical, grooming, and self-care needs, including eating, tooth brushing, toileting, and diapering as needed per student's individualized Personal Care Services (PCS).
• Accompanies students on field trips to assist with supervision.
• Assists, as requested by the teacher, with parent contact to foster effective and participatory parent involvement in student education.
• Supports students with disabilities in all aspects of classroom instruction to maximize inclusion, learning, and achievement of IEP objectives.
• Participates in the IEP process and serves as a resource for the student evaluation team as needed.
• Assists students with physical or mental disabilities with activities of daily living to maximize their ability to participate in school, social, and learning activities.
• 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 MoCI program.
• Performs any other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Two years of study at an institution of higher learning (equal to 60 credits) OR an associate's degree (or higher) OR passing an approved formal state academic assessment.
• Prior experience working with MoCI, ASD, or EL students.
• Knowledge and training in proper classroom management techniques, such as verbal de-escalation skills and physical interventions, including Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (CPI), may be required.
• Willingness to participate in professional development as identified by the principal, special education department, or school district.
• Regular, reliable, and punctual attendance.

Skills

• Ability to carry out instructions furnished in written or oral form.
• Ability to perform basic arithmetic operations to assist students as needed.
• Ability to use personal computers and software applications (e.g., Word, Excel).
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of information regarding students, employees, and others.
• Ability to establish supportive and compassionate relationships with students with special needs.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with students, staff, and others.
• Effective writing and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work in an economically, culturally, and racially diverse environment.

Physical and Mental Demands

• While performing duties, 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 quiet or noisy environments), taste, and smell.
• Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust/focus.
• Work environment noise level is usually loud to moderate.
• Mental functions include comparing, analyzing, communicating (orally and in writing), copying, coordinating, instructing, computing, synthesizing, evaluating, using interpersonal skills, compiling, and negotiating.

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt