Special Education Paraeducator

Preferred Minimum Qualifications

High school graduate or equivalent. Associates Degree or 48 semester hours. ACT certified.

Essential Job Functions

• Instruct and reinforce academic subjects, social-emotional-behavioral learning content, independence, and community access/job skills.
• Support students in participating in class activities, reinforcing skills and lesson plans, adapting/modifying work, monitoring and enforcing social and acceptable behavior, and administering testing or assessments.
• Implement and support specialized instruction, accommodations, modifications, and routines as outlined by professional staff and IEPs.
• Provide direct care to or assist students with needs related to diapering/toileting, feeding/eating, dressing, mobility, and generally accessing the educational environment.
• Prepare classroom or learning environment with needed supplies and materials, support file maintenance and necessary record keeping.
• Communicate directly with students, families, and professional staff in a courteous and confidential manner, clearly communicating observations, information, and data regarding students to professional staff objectively and in a timely manner.
• Monitor and/or supervise students to and from classroom and/or buses, on field trips, on playground, in health room, and/or during other activities.
• Attend in-services, building meetings, training, and/or school functions required by the position and/or location (Mandt, CPR, small vehicle, medical delegation, etc.).
• Provide behavior prevention and intervention support, which may include physical intervention.
• Prepare and administer medication under the supervision of the RN after delegation.
• Administer first aid and/or CPR to ill or injured students following the guidelines from the State of Colorado.
• Provide care to students as outlined in an Individualized Health Care Plan.
• Obtain and document student data as needed (IEP goal progress, behavioral events, observational data, medical vital signs, etc.) after training.
• Demonstrate flexibility when specific tasks of job are adjusted to meet building or district-level needs.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Technical Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

• Oral and written communication skills.
• Interpersonal skills.
• English language skills.
• Bilingual oral and written communication skills preferred.
• Mathematical skills including basic calculations and application of math concepts.
• Personal computer and keyboarding skills.
• Customer service and public relations skills and professionalism.
• Critical thinking and problem solving skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality in all aspects of the job.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks with frequent interruptions, use time efficiently, demonstrate attention to detail, follow instructions, and respond to management direction.
• Ability to work with students with diverse backgrounds and abilities.
• Ability to promote and follow Board of Education policies, Superintendent policies, and building and department procedures.

Tools And Equipment

• Wheelchairs, bus lifts, office equipment, audio-visual equipment, occupational/physical therapy equipment, medical equipment.

Physical Demands

• Regularly use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear.
• Frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• The employee must be able to provide physical intervention to students in danger of harming themselves or others.

Salary

Special Education Paraeducators are on the Classified Salary Schedule. FFC8 allows new hires to bring in up to 8 years of previous experience in similar school type settings. Please understand that new hires tend to start out at the lower end of the salary range.

Benefits

Fountain-Fort Carson School District # 8 provides medical, dental, vision, chiropractic, life, long-term disability, accidental death & dismemberment insurances, and paid time off benefits. There are district and employee contributions to some or most of these benefits.