Special Education / School Readiness Paraprofessional

About the role

The Special Education/School Readiness Paraprofessional will assist the early childhood teacher in supporting students at Roosevelt Early Learning Center. Duties include preparing and setting up materials, facilitating small group lessons, and supporting both general education and special education preschoolers through transitions and play.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and set up materials for the day (art sensory table, dramatic play, etc)
• Facilitate small group lessons as directed by the teacher
• Support transitions and play for both general education and special education preschoolers
• Support training in positive behavior management to guide and teach social and emotional development in young children

Requirements

• Bilingual in Spanish or Somali and English
• One of the following required:
• A two-year Associate of Arts degree
• The equivalent of 60 semester credits
• A portfolio demonstrating MN Core Competencies for Paraprofessionals
• A passing score on the MN Para Pro Test
• High School Diploma required
• Experience working with students with special needs
• Ability and willingness to take direction from the case manager
• Trained or willing to be trained in strategies such as Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), visual schedules, social stories, and positive behavior supports
• Ability to implement the strategies identified above
• Ability to collect and report data as directed by the case manager
• Trained or willing to be trained in certain medical procedures
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs, assist with personal care (e.g., toileting, lifting, diapering, feeding, motor activities, medicating) or one-on-one care if necessary
• Must have ability to take responsibility for supervising students, speak clearly and distinctly, demonstrate patience, warmth and liking for children, perform routine record keeping duties, understand and carry out oral and written instructions, render preliminary first aid steps, learn and perform specialized health procedures, and maintain District-approved First Aid and CPR Certificates

Qualifications

• Bilingual in Spanish or Somali and English
• One of the following required:
• A two-year Associate of Arts degree
• The equivalent of 60 semester credits
• A portfolio demonstrating MN Core Competencies for Paraprofessionals
• A passing score on the MN Para Pro Test
• High School Diploma required
• Experience working with students with special needs
• Ability and willingness to take direction from the case manager
• Trained or willing to be trained in strategies such as Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), visual schedules, social stories, and positive behavior supports
• Ability to implement the strategies identified above
• Ability to collect and report data as directed by the case manager
• Trained or willing to be trained in certain medical procedures
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs, assist with personal care (e.g., toileting, lifting, diapering, feeding, motor activities, medicating) or one-on-one care if necessary
• Must have ability to take responsibility for supervising students, speak clearly and distinctly, demonstrate patience, warmth and liking for children, perform routine record keeping duties, understand and carry out oral and written instructions, render preliminary first aid steps, learn and perform specialized health procedures, and maintain District-approved First Aid and CPR Certificates

Pay

Approximate rate of pay starts at $21.10 per hour.

Schedule

The position is Monday through Friday, 8:30-3:30pm. The position commences on approximately August 24/26 with the start of the 26-27 school year.