Special Education - FASE/ERR Paraprofessional - Iowa

About the role

Work under the direction of the classroom teacher or principal to achieve the educational goals and objectives of all qualifying students through individual, small group, or whole group instruction.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and organize materials for small group and individual instruction
• Maintain high academic standards and expectations
• Provide tutorial help to students following lessons prescribed by the teacher and reinforce material and skills using a variety of methods as directed by certified staff
• Provide immediate feedback on student performance
• Observe students’ work and study habits; record students’ time on task when needed
• Assist students in locating prescribed instructional materials and starting their assignments
• Assist the classroom teacher in the delivery of an effective instructional program
• Work with individual students or small groups to reinforce learning of material and skills introduced by the teacher
• Help students master equipment or instructional materials assigned by the teacher
• Provide individualized instruction activities using materials and sequences selected by the classroom teacher
• Identify pupil needs and provide instruction appropriate to those needs
• Follow modifications and accommodations as specified in Individual Education Plans (IEPs)
• Assist with large group activities such as drill and practice, reading aloud, and storytelling; participate in other forms of oral communication with students
• Accompany the student in and around the building as needed
• Establish a supportive relationship with the student to provide a positive classroom experience
• Serve as a resource person to the special education team as needed
• Work as part of a team; may include assisting with personal care of students
• Work with students who have behavior needs; collect daily data for federal programming
• Assist certified teacher in preparing for classroom activities
• Check notebooks, correct papers, and supervise testing and makeup work as assigned by the teacher
• Administer, score, and record achievement and diagnostic tests as recommended by the teacher
• Encourage students to strive to meet their highest potential
• Communicate classroom rules and encourage students to set and maintain standards of classroom behavior
• Assist the teacher in devising special strategies for reinforcing material or skills based on an understanding of individual students, their needs, interests, and abilities
• Alert the supervising teacher to any problem or special information about an individual student
• Keep the supervising teacher informed of activities and any issues that may arise
• Operate and care for equipment used in the classroom for instructional purposes
• Distribute and collect workbooks, papers, and other materials for instruction
• Take all necessary and reasonable precautions to protect students, equipment, materials, and facilities
• Keep accurate records and maintain individual records for each student
• Attend faculty meetings as required
• Assume responsibility for continuing professional growth and development through reading professional journals and other publications
• Seek assistance should emergencies arise
• Represent the school district in a positive manner
• Know and follow school district policy and chain of command
• Perform other duties as assigned
• May be required to block or redirect students during negative behavior or engage in physical restraint of student in crisis situations
• Some lifting required

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED
• Must meet Para Professional requirements
• Bachelor’s Degree or 32 core academic credits from an accredited university (with a passing grade of “C” or better) or pass the Para Pro assessment with a score of 460 or higher
• Para Professional experience preferred
• Demonstrate aptitude for working with adolescents
• Works well with students, staff, and the public
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills
• Able to work under pressures and deadlines
• Maintain confidentiality of staff and students
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret governmental regulations and legal documents
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from employees and/or the general public
• Ability to communicate in English and Spanish is preferred
• Demonstrate sound judgment by taking appropriate actions regarding questionable findings or concerns
• Consistently demonstrate ability to respond to changing situations in a flexible manner to meet current needs, such as reprioritizing work as necessary
• Organize job functions and work area to effectively complete varied assignments within established time frame
• Ability to conduct basic math functions, as well as manipulate formulas in spreadsheets
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, and diagram form
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions
• Knowledge of a variety of computer software applications in word processing (Microsoft Office), spreadsheets (Excel), database (Access), presentation software, and accounting/financial software

Physical Demands

• Continuously required to sit; occasionally walk, stand, and reach with hands and arms
• Occasionally lift and carry up to 20 pounds
• Specific vision abilities include close vision and very good depth perception
• Ability to communicate through speech
• May be required to block or redirect students during negative behavior
• May be required to engage in physical restraint of student in crisis situations

Work Environment

• Regularly works inside the classroom
• Occasionally meets deadlines with severe time constraints

Schedule

Up to 162 days