Special Education Resource Paraeducator

Purpose Statement: The Special Education Para Educator assists, tutors, and trains special education and other identified students with significant disabilities in a classroom or similar learning setting. Responsibilities include providing personal care assistance, performing classroom clerical tasks, and supporting the instructional process.

Responsibilities

• Administers assessments in small groups or one-on-one in a separate testing area to accommodate student needs.
• Assists other personnel to ensure an efficient and effective work environment.
• Supports students with disabilities under the general direction of the regular classroom or special education teacher (e.g., explaining words, reading to students, assisting with motor skills development, monitoring assignments, taking class notes, scribing, restating information, teaching life skills and hygiene) to help them participate in classroom activities and progress toward IEP goals.
• Attends meetings (e.g., in-service training, workshops, IEPs) to obtain skills and/or convey information regarding student needs.
• Collaborates with teachers and other instructional assistants to provide necessary assistance to students.
• Confers with teachers and case managers to assist in evaluating student progress and/or implementing IEP services.
• Maintains instructional materials and/or student files/records (e.g., workbooks, worksheets, assignments, portfolios, Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP)) to ensure availability of items and provide reliable information.
• Modifies instructional materials or provides accommodations under the direction of a teacher or Case Manager, in accordance with the student's IEP, to support progress toward IEP goals and access to the general curriculum.
• Monitors students (e.g., in the library, on field trips, during classroom activities, in the lunchroom, on the bus, or on the playground) to ensure a safe and positive environment while providing access to academic and non-academic activities.
• Records observations and incidents relating to specific students for documentation and communication to appropriate personnel.
• Responds to inquiries from staff (e.g., administrators, psychologists, teachers, counselors) to provide information, direction, and/or appropriate referrals.
• Supports the implementation of Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP) to provide interventions, meet educational and emotional needs, and collect data on intervention effectiveness.
• Assists other personnel as required to maintain an efficient and effective work environment.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• District Proficiency Test or AA Degree or 60 college/university credits.
• First Aid and CPR certification.
• M.A.N.D.T. Training.
• Bloodborne Pathogens Training & Testing.
• Diabetes Training & Testing.
• Homeless Training & Testing.
• Criminal Justice Fingerprint/Background Clearance.

Skills

• Operating standard office equipment and preparing/maintaining accurate records.
• Adhering to safety practices and procedures, including administering basic first aid.
• Performing basic math and understanding multi-step written and oral instructions.
• Writing routine documents and speaking clearly.
• Knowledge of age-appropriate activities, subject matter taught in assigned classrooms, stages of child development, cultural differences of the student population, health standards, and recordkeeping practices.
• Scheduling activities, meetings, or events; gathering and collating data.
• Working with diverse individuals and groups, maintaining confidentiality, exhibiting patience and compassion, and adapting to changing work priorities.
• Organizing tasks, setting priorities, and working as part of a team.
• Communicating effectively with diverse groups and working with frequent interruptions.

Work Environment

• Requires significant physical demands, including lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and fine finger dexterity.
• Typical work involves 20% sitting, 50% walking, and 30% standing.
• Performed under minimal temperature variations with some exposure to risk of injury and/or illness.

Pay

$19.70 - $33.20 per hour.