ED PARA,EX ED,C

Orange County Public Schools•University, FL

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Under direct supervision, this position provides paraprofessional support in an educational or child care environment, assisting teachers and students. The employee works with certified teachers, occupational therapists, and other certified specialists to support the education, care, and development of students with mental, physical, or emotional disabilities and other special needs. The role provides instructional, vocational, and developmental assistance to trainable and educable exceptional students under the direction of a certified teacher or other school official. Duties are performed according to the exceptional needs of assigned students, with related work assigned as directed. The role includes supporting students’ learning and daily living activities, assisting with mobility and motor skills, monitoring and documenting behavior, and helping maintain a safe and productive learning environment. The employee may assist with lesson and behavior plan preparation, classroom supervision, student records, and monitoring duties in areas such as hallways, lunchrooms, restrooms, and buses. The position requires at least two years of experience working with school-age children in an educational environment, as well as the ability to meet significant physical demands. All applicants must meet highly qualified status before employment begins.

Requirements

Associate’s degree or higher, or at least 60 semester hours from an accredited institution of higher education; an official transcript is required to validate education.
Passing the paraprofessional certification exam may substitute for the education requirement for highly qualified status.
Must be highly qualified before starting employment with Orange County Public Schools.
At least two years of experience working with school-age children in an educational environment, providing broad familiarity with the physical and emotional behaviors and challenges of students with exceptional needs.
Demonstrated stress-management skills.
Ability to fulfill the dexterity and physical requirements of the work and effectively attend to the needs of school-age children.
Ability to operate, maneuver, or control special-needs equipment and devices and standard office equipment.
Ability to carry out detailed but straightforward written or oral instructions and exercise judgment in situations requiring evaluation of information.

Nice To Haves

Previous vocational training or work experience in a licensed childcare environment is preferred.

Responsibilities

Respond to internal and external customers in a timely, accurate, courteous, and empathetic manner, representing OCPS positively.
Provide instructional, vocational, and developmental assistance to students with exceptional needs as prescribed by the supervising teacher.
Assist students arriving on buses and escort them to and from learning areas; transfer students from wheelchairs to desks or floor mats as needed.
Assist students with gross motor activities, including grasping, holding objects, posture, crawling, walking, and running, according to individual development.
Assist students with fine motor activities, including playing with toys, cutting materials, and coloring, according to individual development.
Assist students with daily living skills, including dressing, eating, lavatory needs, grooming, and personal hygiene.
Monitor, observe, and chart student behavior, documenting behavioral changes, outbursts, and other student-specific actions.
Apply crisis-intervention principles and procedures for students with aggressive behavior or other social difficulties, including physical restraint when necessary in violent circumstances.
Reinforce school and learning-environment rules, encourage appropriate behavior, and help students understand inappropriate behavior.
Assist with lesson plans, behavior-modification plans, and teacher pre-planning; contribute to learning activities and prepare or assist with instructional and vocational materials.
Maintain accurate and complete records of student activities and behavior; enter student information and data using a computer terminal when required and complete applicable forms, schedules, and reports.
Assist teachers in supervising learning activities, circulating in the classroom, and providing students with learning support.
Perform assigned monitoring duties, such as hallway, lunchroom, restroom, and bus duty; ensure appropriate student conduct and escort students to designated activity areas.
Assist teachers in assigned labs and provide instruction or information to students; translate lesson plans and other information when assigned to support student understanding.
Keep current with job-appropriate technology used by OCPS and attend district-supported training as needed.
Maintain timely and accurate information as part of job responsibilities.
Perform related duties as directed.