Special Education Paraprofessional (Instructional)

About the role

Aides in the classroom to support certified professional staff in achieving instructional goals and objectives. Assists with various duties including classroom preparation, behavior management, and non-instructional tasks.

Responsibilities

• Assists and guides students in reinforcing reading, language arts, mathematics, computer instruction, and other skills.
• Works with students individually and in small groups to reinforce basic learning and implement assigned programs.
• Assists professional staff in the administration and correction of classroom exercises, tests, and assessments.
• Assists in classroom preparations and strategies for reinforcing instructional materials and skills according to individual student needs.
• Assists with record-keeping procedures to document student learning and performance.
• Assists with classroom behavioral management to minimize disruptions, ensure a safe and orderly classroom, and ensure students are on task.
• Assists students in non-instructional areas, such as supervising the student lunch programs, bus duty, playground duty, corridor, study hall, and other related non-instructional areas.
• Accompanies students on field trips for the purpose of assisting with supervision.
• Constructs, copies, and distributes educational materials as needed.
• Affords assistance to parents to foster effective and participatory parent involvement in student education.
• Affords assistance to students with special needs in all aspects of classroom instruction to maximize inclusion, learning, achievement if IEP objectives, etc.
• Participates in IEP process and serves as a resource for the student personnel evaluation team as needed.
• Affords assistance to students with physical or mental disabilities with activities of daily living for the purpose of maximizing their ability to participate in school or learning activities.
• Fulfills safety rules, procedures, and regulations governing the proper manner of assistance for all students, including those with disabilities or other special needs.
• Assists guidance, pupil services staff, or building administration, as needed.

Requirements

High School diploma or equivalent. Successful completion of college level coursework or passing of examination as required by the No Child Left Behind Act. Prior experience working with special needs children desirable.

Skills

• Ability to carry out instructions furnished in written or oral form.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide, and perform arithmetic operations as needed to assist students.
• Ability to understand, apply and use personal computers and software applications (e.g., Word, Excel).
• Ability to work with a diverse group of individuals.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of information regarding students, employees and others.
• Ability to establish a supportive and compassionate relationship with students with special needs.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with students, staff and others contacted in the course of work.
• Ability to report work orally or in writing to supervisor as required.
• Effective writing and verbal communication skills.

Qualifications

Any combination of education and experience providing the required skill and knowledge for successful performance would be qualifying. Typical qualifications would be equivalent to: High School diploma or equivalent. Successful completion of college level coursework or passing of examination as required by the No Child Left Behind Act. Prior experience working with special needs children desirable.