Coverage Paraprofessional (SY25-26)

Boston Public Schools•Boston, MA

About The Position

Coverage paraprofessionals will provide direct service to individual students and classrooms on an as needed basis. The Coverage Paraprofessional may be assigned to substitute for one-on-one and substantially separate classroom paraprofessionals. Coverage Paraprofessionals are expected to participate in the daily instruction and activities of the school, program and class to which the student is assigned. Beyond the normal classroom activities, the duties of a Coverage Paraprofessional correspond directly to the needs of the student. Coverage Paras will be deployed by the OSESS and will be assigned to schools across the district. They are required to work schedules with varying start and end times. Students who require a One-to-One Paraprofessional may have disabilities/diagnoses that include pervasive developmental disorder, autism, Aspergers' Syndrome, Williams' Syndrome, physical handicaps, multiple handicaps, blindness, deafness, blind/deaf, Tourettes' Syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychiatric disorders (psychosis, schizophrenia, multiple personalities, depression), oppositional defiant disorder, ADHD, conduct disorder, genetic disorders and brain injury. Students who require a One-to-One Paraprofessional may also speak a language other than English. Students with Paraprofessionals may be assigned to any school in the district including the examination schools. In these school assignments, students may be participating in advanced course work and require assistance from a Paraprofessional.

Requirements

Education: High School Diploma or GED
Forty-eight (48) Credit Hours of College Coursework or an Associate's Degree, or a passing score on one of the two following Formalized Standardized Assessments: ParaPro Assessment ( http://www.ets.org/parapro/ ) or WorkKeys Certificate of Proficiency for Teacher Assistants ( http://www.act.org/workkeys/profcert/index.html ).
Experience working with student who is diagnosed with one or more of the mild to moderate disabilities listed above job description.
Demonstrated experience and ability working with students, parents/guardians, administrators, and teachers.
Demonstrated experience and ability in assisting with team instruction.
Able to be flexible to accommodate the needs of the student and or parent/guardians.
Trained in Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA)
Current authorization to work in the United States - Candidates must have such authorization by their first day of employment.

Nice To Haves

BPS values linguistic diversity and believes that candidates who speak another language bring added value to the classroom, school, and district culture and diversity.
BPS is particularly interested in candidates who are fluent in one of BPS' official languages:Spanish, Creole (Cape Verdean), Creole (Haitian), Chinese, Vietnamese, Portuguese, & Somali.

Responsibilities

Working with small groups of children instructionally
toileting
diapering
lifting and transfers
maintaining personal hygiene
assisting the school nurse in tube feedings
scribing
note taking
language systems (ASL, SEE 2, Picture Exchange System, communication boards, etc.)
Braille
Applied Behavioral Analysis
behavior management
redirection
de-escalation and physical restraint
Collaborates with classroom teacher to implement agreed upon activities, as evidenced in daily lesson plans.
Fosters open communications with parents and staff.
Performs other related duties as requested by Head of School/Principal/School-based Special Education Administrator, particularly when the student is absent.