Special Education Assistant - 1 on 1 Paraprofessional

Pay Grade: L (Non-Exempt Support Staff Salary Placement)
Department: Various School Sites
Accountable To: Principal
Calendar: 195 days

About the role

Under direct supervision, provides assistance to teachers in a diverse classroom environment by preparing materials, working with special-needs students individually or in groups, demonstrating skills and techniques, communicating with parents, and supporting daily classroom activities. Also monitors students on the playground and in the cafeteria.

Responsibilities

• Works with special-education students individually or in groups on academic, social, emotional, functional, language, and behavior skills, and activities of daily living.
• Demonstrates skills and techniques to aid in student learning.
• Monitors student behavior and enforces school and classroom standards and policies.
• Assists special-needs students with feeding, toileting/diapering, physical activities, instructions, and behavior management.
• Assists with adaptive equipment.
• Monitors and analyzes reading and/or mathematics instructional assessment data; uses disaggregated student-achievement data to plan and deliver instruction.
• Maintains discipline by monitoring behavior, issuing warnings, and documenting incidents.
• Prepares incident documents, including disciplinary actions and reports of unusual incidents.
• Monitors students and ensures safety on the playground and in the cafeteria before school, during breakfast and lunch, and during recess; reports any unusual incidents or injuries to school administration.
• Accompanies students from classrooms to other areas (library, playground, cafeteria, buses) to ensure orderly behavior.
• Prepares classrooms for activities: sets up tables and chairs, hands out materials, cleans up after activities, picks up toys and trash, washes tables and chairs, and rearranges furniture.
• Communicates with parents regarding student progress, concerns, academic improvements, truancy, and behavioral problems; interprets communications between teachers and parents when necessary.
• Copies and prepares educational materials.
• Assists teachers in planning and coordinating lesson plans by sharing ideas and providing student feedback.
• Performs other duties as required.

Requirements

• High School diploma or equivalent (G.E.D.) prior to hire.
• Must receive CPR certification within thirty days of hire date.
• For Title I Schools: completion of 60 college credit hours, Associate’s Degree from an accredited college or university, or successful passage of an Arizona State-approved paraprofessional test (offered by WESD at no cost; must pass prior to hire).

Preferred Qualifications

• Six months’ experience working with children in a learning environment.

Skills

• Demonstrating child-development theories.
• Knowing basic mathematical concepts.
• Using typical classroom activities.
• Working with children and understanding special needs of students.
• Demonstrating appropriate techniques and procedures.
• Facilitating group activities in a learning environment.
• Reviewing completed work assignments.
• Preparing classrooms for various activities.
• Reading and following lesson plans.
• Applying school rules, policies, and procedures.
• Engaging and encouraging communication with supervisors, staff, and students.

Physical Requirements

• Regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.
• Frequently required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Occasionally required to climb or balance.
• Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Working Conditions

• Occasionally exposed to outdoor weather conditions.
• Moderate noise level in the work environment.

Pay

$16.50 to $19.80 per hour

Schedule

Full & Part-time
195-day calendar