Special Education Para Educator 4 - 2026-27 Highland Middle School

About the Role

This position assists and supports students as identified within a specialized program or with specialized instruction, with a primary focus on activities of daily living, adaptive/life skills, and providing physical, health, and safety needs.

Responsibilities

• Supports activities of daily living, including toileting and feeding, and other adaptive/life skills.
• Provides for the physical, health, and safety needs of students.
• Offers social, emotional, behavioral, and educational support for students with significant disabilities.
• Delivers direct academic, functional, vocational, and specifically designed instruction.
• Serves as an advocate and support for students with disabilities in their least restrictive environment.
• May support students with significant emotional regulation challenges.
• Encourages and fosters student independence in all settings.
• Collects functional behavior assessment data on individual students as appropriate.
• Implements components of Individual Education Programs (IEPs) as required.
• Ensures the safety of students and staff when dealing with escalated behavior.
• May collect other data as directed by the case manager/teacher.
• Provides coaching and support for staff as required.
• For some assignments, assists students in reaching post-secondary goals, including community-based activities.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High school graduation or equivalent.
• Must meet one of the following:
  • ETS Paraeducator Assessment, or
  • Associate of Arts degree (original transcripts), or
  • 72 quarter credits or 48 semester credits at an institution of higher education (original transcripts), or
  • Completion of a registered apprenticeship program (certificate).
• First Aid/CPR certification required.
• Required to complete specified courses related to the General Paraeducator Certificate as identified by OSPI.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with students in self-contained learning settings.
• Experience working individually with students with diverse aptitudes and levels of achievement.
• Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) training.
• Right Response Training.
• Experience working with behaviorally disabled students.

Skills

• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work with students in a warm and confident manner.
• Knowledge of child development and behavior of children.
• Understanding of reading, writing, and arithmetic.
• Knowledge of safety procedures for students and staff.
• Understanding of behavior modification programs, including restraint techniques.
• Ability to utilize adaptive technology and equipment to meet student needs.
• Demonstrates non-violent crisis intervention techniques, including de-escalation strategies.
• Utilizes basic therapy techniques and procedures.
• Knowledgeable of functional life skills/activities of daily living, including tube-feeding and toileting.
• Demonstrates proper lifting techniques.
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
• Ability to follow oral and written directions.
• Ability to model and monitor appropriate student behavior.
• Maintains confidentiality and respect between students, parents, and teachers.
• Maintains positive relationships with students, staff, parents, and the public.
• Ability to perform all physical activities required for the role.
• Ability to provide appropriate care for students who experience seizures.
• Ability to provide proper physical restraint of students with severe behavior that poses a danger to themselves or others.
• Demonstrates multicultural sensitivity with the ability to effectively and collaboratively work with diverse populations.
• Ability to perform all duties in accordance with applicable Board policies and district/legal requirements.

Physical Requirements

• Positions in this class typically require: stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, finger dexterity, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions.
• Heavy Work: Exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• May be subjected to moving mechanical parts, odors, chemicals, extreme temperatures, inadequate lighting, workspace restrictions, and intense noises.
• Employee may be subject to testing to determine ability to meet the lifting requirements and fitness to perform essential duties.

Pay

$31.22/hour to $33.17/hour (starting hourly rate $31.22) based on the negotiated collective bargaining agreement.

Schedule

34 hours/week for a 195-day annual assignment (Mon, Tues, Thurs, and Fri 7:15am to 2:45pm; Wed: 7:15am to 1:45pm).

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision eligibility based on 630 hours worked within a school year.
• Long-term disability and life insurance.
• Retirement provided through Washington State Department of Retirement Systems.