Special Program Para 1, Special Education Preschool 1:1 18871-2026

About the role

This is a one-on-one position supporting Special Education Preschool students. The role is scheduled for 3 hours per day, Tuesday through Friday, during the afternoon session, and operates 9 months per year. The position is classified as Non-Exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Responsibilities

• Work 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 information pertinent to the position.
• Manage behavior and assist students during class activities in small groups or individually.
• Assist the teacher with preparing materials for lessons and maintaining data collection records.
• De-escalate students having an emotional/behavioral crisis and carry out behavior management plans for individual students as appropriate.
• Dispense medication to students following district policy.
• Care for the personal hygiene needs of students with disabilities, including feeding, diapering, toileting, bathing, lifting, tube feeding, suctioning, and other health-related issues with appropriate training.
• Produce and assemble teaching materials as directed by appropriate certificated staff.
• Assist with data entry, record keeping, and filing.
• Grade/correct papers and homework utilizing a rubric or key.
• Observe assigned students as they enter/leave school grounds, on the playground, in the cafeteria, and in the community, and intervene as appropriate to ensure student safety.
• Attend training meetings to broaden expertise in working with students with special needs.
• Assist student(s) on and off buses as assigned.
• Perform other tasks and assume other responsibilities as assigned by the administrator in alignment with the job classification.

Requirements

• Documentation verifying a high school diploma or GED.
• One of the following:
  • Official transcripts verifying an Associate’s degree (90 quarter credits or 60 semester credits).
  • 72 quarter credits or 48 semester credits from an accredited university, college, community college, or business school.
  • ETS ParaPro Assessment result of 461 or higher.

Qualifications

• 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 skills and ability to work effectively in a team environment, providing support to achieve desired goals for the classroom and/or program area.
• Possess excellent problem-solving, analytical, and conflict resolution skills, with the ability to think quickly.
• Experience working with children with moderate to severe disabilities preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to effectively communicate with and appreciate individuals from diverse, socio-economic backgrounds.
• Ability to act upon evasive and aggressive behavior of students.
• Ability to attend mandatory training on weekends and successfully pass the district CPI, de-escalation/physical restraint training.
• Ability to learn and use a computer monitor, keyboard, and appropriate adaptive technologies.
• Ability to successfully implement educational programs and manage student behavior with direction from the teacher.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to be flexible with assigned tasks and schedules.
• Ability to develop relationships and supportive roles with children who possess mental or physical disabilities.

Other Requirements

• Ability to sit on the floor to work with children.
• Ability to lift, move, and physically restrain a child of the size required by the job.
• Ability to independently and safely escort students around the school building, grounds, and in the community.
• Ability to observe the behavior of students, both visually and by listening, and to communicate those observations with other appropriate service providers.
• Regular attendance to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the position to achieve program requirements.

Benefits

• 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 may be available through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) based on position FTE.

Pay

• 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 also offers paid holidays and paid time off, including sick, vacation, personal, and bereavement leave, as detailed in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (VAESP CBA).