Ed Para,Ex Ed,Nc,Non-Title I

Orange County Public Schools • Apopka, FL

6d • Onsite

About The Position

Under direct supervision, the position provides staff support in an educational or child care environment by assisting teachers and students. The paraprofessional works with certified teachers, occupational therapists, and other certified specialists to support the education, care, and development of students with mental, physical, emotional, 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, along with related work as directed.

Candidates who have passed the Para Assessment, hold an associate’s degree, or have completed 60 semester credits may be eligible for a higher hourly rate in a certified position; evidence must be provided. New hires must successfully complete ESE Training within 45 days of hire. Additional HRS training is preferred.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• 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 children with exceptional needs.
• Demonstrated stress-management skills.
• Ability to meet the dexterity and physical requirements of the work and effectively attend to special needs.
• 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 perform routine work under prescribed practices, with some latitude for independent judgment.
• Ability to exercise judgment and decisiveness in situations requiring evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental, or subjective criteria.
• Ability to exert very heavy physical effort, including climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling heavy objects and materials up to 100 pounds and occasionally heavier items.
• Successful completion of ESE Training within 45 days of hire.
• An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be considered.

Nice To Haves

• Additional HRS training is preferred.
• Passing score on the Para Assessment, an associate’s degree, or 60 completed semester credits may qualify candidates for a higher hourly rate in a certified position, with evidence provided.

Responsibilities

• Provide instructional, vocational, and developmental assistance to students with exceptional needs as prescribed by the supervising teacher.
• Help students arrive from buses and travel to and from learning areas, including transferring students from wheelchairs to desks or floor mats.
• Assist students with gross motor activities, including grasping, holding objects, posture, crawling, walking, and running, as appropriate to individual development.
• Assist students with fine motor activities, including playing with toys, cutting materials, and coloring, as appropriate 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 classroom rules, encourage appropriate behavior, and help students understand inappropriate behavior.
• Assist with lesson plans, behavior modification plans, teacher pre-planning, learning activities, and preparation of instructional and vocational materials.
• Maintain accurate and complete records of student activities and behavior; enter student information and data using a computer terminal as needed and complete forms, schedules, and instructional reports as directed.
• Assist teachers in supervising classroom learning activities and provide students with learning support.
• Perform assigned monitoring duties in areas such as hallways, lunchrooms, restrooms, and buses; support appropriate conduct and escort students to designated activities.
• When assigned to labs, assist teachers and provide instruction or information to students; translate lesson plans and other information when needed to support student understanding.
• Keep current with job-appropriate technology used by OCPS and attend district-supported training to maintain the required technology skills.
• Maintain timely and accurate information as part of job responsibilities.
• Perform related duties as directed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED