Special Education Paraprofessional- Doyle High

About the Role

Assist in the delivery of special education services under the supervision of a special education teacher or other professionals responsible for services to exceptional children.

Responsibilities

• Assist the teacher with instructional and non-instructional assignments.
• Confer with the teacher regarding student assignments and disciplinary issues.
• Assist on field trips as assigned.
• Support students in performing activities initiated by the teacher.
• Prepare and distribute materials for students with disabilities.
• Reinforce learning in small or large groups.
• Assist in health maintenance, including administration of routine and emergency health procedures as instructed by the school nurse (e.g., tracheotomy care, tube feeding, catheterization, oral suctioning, ostomy bag care/changes, blood sugar monitoring, emergency care, diapering, medication administration).
• Assist in the transportation of students (arrival, departure, and movement throughout the day), including transfer, positioning, and lifting.
• Support feeding, dressing, personal hygiene, and health care for students.
• Maintain a hygienic classroom following universal precautions.
• Develop and maintain a positive learning environment for all students.
• Maintain confidentiality of records and student information both on campus and in the community.
• Assist in the implementation of assistive technology, including sensory, low/high-tech devices, and computer-assisted instruction.
• Reinforce school-wide positive behavior support; assist with behavior intervention plans, monitoring, and documentation; implement de-escalation and physical restraint techniques when appropriate.
• Attend mandatory training sessions (e.g., confidentiality, medical information, discipline, transportation procedures, and specific medical training for student needs).
• Perform physical demands, including frequent lifting, carrying, transferring, or pushing objects/wheelchairs weighing at least 50 lbs; walking, standing, kneeling, stooping, balancing, crouching, reaching, and grasping.
• Supervise students at community-based training sites when required.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the teacher, principal, or supervisor.

Requirements

• Must be at least twenty years of age and speak/understand English.
• High school diploma or GED, plus one of the following:
  • Pass the Educational Testing Service Para-Pro Assessment (#0755) with a score of 450 or higher; or
  • Complete two years of full-time study (48 semester credit hours) from a state-approved or regionally accredited institution, including 18 hours of general education (English Composition: 3, English/Reading: 6, Mathematics: 9); or
  • Earn an Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, or Associate of Applied Science degree from a state-approved or regionally accredited institution.
• Must meet the definition of a highly qualified paraprofessional as defined by BESE.
• Must pass a criminal background check.
• Must possess motor coordination, manual dexterity, finger dexterity, alertness, precision, speaking ability, auditory discrimination, and tactile discrimination.

Schedule

Full-time position, 7.5 hours per day (start/end times vary by school site). 9-month duration with designated holidays and in-service days off. Breaks are site-dependent based on faculty relief availability.

Pay

Salaried (monthly) according to the salary schedule approved by the LPPS Board. Overtime is not available.

Benefits

Includes medical and retirement benefits. No vacation days.

Additional Notes

• May be required to move between program areas or school sites during the year based on district student needs.
• Job rotations may include bus duty, car pool, lunch duty, recess, and field trips as directed by the supervisor.
• In-services and staff development training are required after hiring.
• Physical demands include frequent lifting, carrying, or transferring objects/wheelchairs (50+ lbs), as well as walking, standing, kneeling, and other movements.
• Equipment used is specific to student IEPs and medical needs.