Special Program Para 1, Life Skills 1:1 18914-2026

One‑on‑one Special Program Paraeducator 1, Life Skills position working 6.5 hours per day for nine months per year. The position is non‑exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Qualifications

• Documentation verifying a high school diploma or GED.
• One of the following:
  • Official transcripts verifying an Associate’s degree (90 quarter, 60 semester) OR
  • 72 quarter or 48 semester credits from an accredited university, college, community college or business school OR
  • ETS ParaPro Assessment result of 461 or higher.
• One year of related experience working with children in an educational setting (preferred).
• Successful experience as part of an educational team (preferred).
• Experience demonstrating excellent interpersonal, problem‑solving, analytical, and conflict‑resolution skills.
• Experience working with children with moderate to severe disabilities (preferred).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Effective communication with individuals from diverse socio‑economic backgrounds.
• Ability to respond to evasive and aggressive student behavior.
• Willingness to attend mandatory weekend training and successfully complete district CPI, de‑escalation/physical restraint training.
• Proficiency with a computer monitor, keyboard, and adaptive technologies.
• Ability to implement educational programs and manage student behavior under teacher direction.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Flexibility with assigned tasks and schedules.
• Develop supportive relationships with children who have mental or physical disabilities.

Other Requirements

• Ability to lift, move, and physically restrain a child as required.
• Ability to independently and safely escort students around the school building, grounds, and in the community.
• Ability to observe student behavior visually and aurally and communicate observations to appropriate service providers.
• Regular attendance to fulfill program requirements.

Essential Functions

• Treat co‑workers, supervisors, students, parents, and others with dignity and respect at all times.
• Serve as a positive role model for students and model expected behaviors.
• Work flexibly and cooperatively as a team member to assist the teacher in implementing and evaluating goals and objectives on individual student IEPs.
• Participate in team meetings to provide observational input or acquire pertinent information.
• Manage behavior and assist students during class activities in small groups or individually.
• Provide instructional assistance as directed by certificated staff in academic subjects, basic life skills, social skills, community access, personal hygiene, swimming, communication, therapy exercises, and job‑skills training.
• Assist the teacher with preparing lesson materials and maintaining data‑collection records.
• De‑escalate students experiencing emotional/behavioral crises and carry out behavior‑management plans.
• Dispense medication to students following district policy.
• Care for personal hygiene needs of students with disabilities, including feeding, diapering, toileting, bathing, lifting, tube feeding, suctioning, and other health‑related tasks with appropriate training.
• Produce and assemble teaching materials as directed.
• Assist with data entry, record keeping, and filing; grade/correct papers and homework using rubrics or keys.
• Observe assigned students on school grounds, playground, cafeteria, and in the community, intervening as needed to ensure safety.
• Attend training meetings to broaden expertise in working with students with special needs.
• Assist students on and off buses as assigned.
• Perform other tasks and assume responsibilities as assigned by administrators in alignment with job classification.

Benefits & Compensation

New employees start at the minimum hourly rate in the salary range; employees with verified prior years of service in a similar occupational status from other Washington school districts or Educational Service Districts may receive experience credit toward salary placement. Vancouver Public Schools offers paid holidays and paid time off, including sick, vacation, personal, and bereavement leave as detailed in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (VAESP CBA).

Employees anticipated to work at least 630 hours may be eligible for health, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, life, and disability insurance benefits. Retirement benefits are available through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) based on position FTE.