Special Education Aide

About the role

As a Special Education Aide at Grafton Integrated Health Network, you’ll provide direct, hands-on support to students with complex needs, helping them build academic, social, and life skills. You’ll work closely with teachers and multidisciplinary teams to deliver individualized, person-centered support, fostering a safe, structured, and inclusive learning environment. Through patience, encouragement, and consistency, you’ll help students gain confidence and independence while receiving training, tools, and professional development to grow in your role.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Academic Teacher in implementing instructional and therapeutic activities, executing lesson plans, and preparing instructional materials.
• Support the Academic Teacher with assessing progress (data analysis) and modifying teaching techniques to promote achievement of each student’s established goals.
• Work with students in residences during academic breaks and holidays.
• Provide supervision, safety, and crisis management for students; complete documentation of behavior and participation in programming.
• Adhere to scheduled activities, role model positive behavior, and use proactive behavioral strategies to minimize crises and maximize success.
• Ensure the health, safety, and wellness of students by supporting hygiene, utilizing infection control procedures, and reporting serious incidents.
• Implement individualized plans (Treatment Plan, IEP, ISP) by knowing students’ strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences (SNAP), and promoting achievement of behavioral and educational goals.
• Actively instruct students to achieve education/residential goals, collect and document behavioral and instructional data accurately, and maintain high engagement and monitoring.
• Build trusting, respectful relationships with students, demonstrate knowledge of diagnoses and trauma-informed care, and manage behavioral crises safely.
• Collaborate with the treatment team to provide continuity of support and care, and exhibit exemplary customer service with guardians and visitors.
• Ensure a safe, clean, and organized residence/classroom environment; promote good nutrition and assist with meal preparation in group homes.
• Provide transportation/community mobility and assist with purchases, accounting for program and client money as applicable.
• Demonstrate commitment to Grafton’s mission, values, and vision through personal integrity, accountability, and teamwork.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Must possess at least one of the following:

• At least two years of college credits in any discipline/degree field (usually 60 credits if earned in Minnesota) through an accredited institution of higher education.
• An associate’s degree or higher in any discipline/degree field.
• Three or more years supporting students with disabilities in Minnesota schools or other states with similar competency areas.
• A passing score on an approved, formal assessment (e.g., Minnesota’s Instructional Support test with a 65% passing score or Knowledge and Application test with a 70% passing score, or a combined score of 460 on the ParaPro Assessment).

• Must be 21 years of age.
• Must demonstrate proficiency in the English language.
• Must pass a criminal background check and pre-employment drug screen.
• Valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.
• Moderate computer skills, including logging in, navigating the web, starting/saving documents in Microsoft Word, and basic keyboarding.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Flexible Spending & Health Savings Accounts.
• Generous Paid Time Off plan and attendance incentives.
• Employer-paid life insurance and Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage.
• Paid career development (e.g., CPR, Ukeru, Mandt certification training).
• 401(k) with an employer match up to $2,500 annually.
• Education assistance up to $5,250 annually.
• Eligibility for federal student loan forgiveness as a 501(c)(3) non-profit employee.