Special Education Assistant - CCBSC Paraprofessional

About the Role

Under direct supervision, the incumbent provides assistance to teachers in a diverse classroom environment by supporting special education students with materials, handouts, and individual or group work on special projects or assignments. The role includes demonstrating skills and techniques, communicating with parents, contributing to lesson plans, and preparing classrooms for activities. Additionally, the incumbent monitors students on the playground and in the cafeteria.

Responsibilities

• Works with special education students individually or in groups on projects or assignments focused on academic, social, emotional, functional, language, and behavior skills, as well as activities of daily living.
• Demonstrates skills and techniques to aid 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 to create a positive environment.
• Assists with adaptive equipment.
• Monitors and analyzes reading and/or mathematics instructional assessment data, using disaggregated student achievement data to plan and deliver instruction.
• Maintains discipline by monitoring behavior, issuing warnings, and documenting formal notices or unusual incidents.
• Monitors students and ensures safety on the playground and in the cafeteria before school, during breakfast and lunch, and during recess; reports incidents or injuries to administration.
• Accompanies students to various areas (library, playground, cafeteria, buses) to ensure orderly behavior.
• Prepares classrooms for activities, including setting up furniture, distributing materials, and cleaning up afterward.
• Communicates with parents regarding student progress, concerns, truancy, and behavioral issues; interprets communications between teachers and parents when necessary.
• Copies and prepares educational materials.
• Assists teachers in planning and coordinating lesson plans by providing student feedback and sharing ideas.
• 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.

Qualifications

For Title I Schools, one of the following is required:

• Completion of 60 College Credit Hours, or
• Associate's Degree from an accredited college or university, or
• Successfully passed an Arizona State-approved paraprofessional test (offered by WESD at no cost).

Preferred Qualifications

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

Skills

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

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 the ability to adjust focus.

Working Conditions

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