Special Education Assistant - DCD/ASD

Location: Brainerd High School
Assignment: 2026-2027 School Year – Ongoing
Hours: 7.5 hours per day, 173 duty days per school year

About the Role

The Special Education Paraprofessional will assist and carry out the goals, objectives, and adaptations in the Individual Education Plan (IEP) of special needs students in various settings, including classrooms, physical education, lunchroom, bus loading area, cafeteria, and common spaces.

Responsibilities

• Carry out the duties and responsibilities outlined in a student's IEP.
• Assist student(s) in individual and group settings, whether in the resource room or inclusive educational setting.
• Provide specialized instruction, interventions, and accommodations as outlined in the IEP.
• Team with the classroom teacher and/or special education teacher to deliver classroom instruction.
• Demonstrate and model appropriate developmental and behavioral skills through play or interaction with the child.
• Monitor classroom instruction to ensure student progress and a safe learning environment.
• Perform bus duty, which may involve riding the bus, following prescribed bus programs, meeting the bus, and reporting student bus behavior/needs to the case manager.
• Participate physically with students in activities being taught.
• Collaborate with Special Education Teachers, Classroom teachers, and related service providers to ensure student safety and success.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Develop effective working relationships with students.
• Support building and classroom discipline policy.
• Maintain good communication skills and a cooperative working environment with other school staff.
• Participate in assigned professional development.
• Maintain knowledge of building procedures manual and school district policies.
• Work cooperatively with the building administrator, accepting constructive feedback and direction.
• Address disagreements with fellow employees constructively and respectfully.
• Monitor student progress on assigned tasks.
• Follow school district policy in reporting suspected abuse/neglect.
• Perform all other duties as identified by the team in the IEP process for individual situations.
• Perform other special education-related duties as assigned by the proper administrative authority.

Requirements

• Meet highly-qualified requirements for paraprofessional (two-year associate degree, 60 college credits, para-pro or para e-link certification).
• Experience working with students with physical, cognitive, and/or mild behavioral needs.
• Handle with Care Training – certification required within three months of being hired and maintained during employment.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills; ability to be a team member.
• Flexibility based on program and student needs.
• Ability to assist students in individual or group settings, whether in the resource room, inclusive education setting, or in the community as a job coach.
• Ability to implement and follow through on specific therapies and programs for an individual as prescribed by the IEP, which may involve lifting, transferring, positioning, assisting with daily living activities (toileting, feeding), and restrictive procedures when necessary.
• Ability to collect data on student progress as defined in the IEP.
• Ability to remain calm and patient in volatile situations and react quickly in a variety of scenarios.
• Ability to work under the supervision of a site principal and/or special education teacher.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks at once while dealing with constant interruptions.
• Ability to work with students, families, professionals, and staff of various cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
• Ability to interact with and maintain cooperative relationships with all levels of staff and the public.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and professionalism.

Pay

$16.50–$17.15 per hour (based on education and experience; wages outlined in the Education Assistant contract located on the district website).

Benefits

• Full benefits including paid sick/ESST and personal leave.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• PERA & 403b retirement plans.