ED PARA,EX ED,NC,NON-TITLE I

Orange County Public Schools•Apopka, FL

8d•Onsite

About The Position

Under direct supervision, this position provides paraprofessional support to teachers and students in an educational or child care environment. The employee 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, with related work assigned as directed. The position involves assisting students with learning activities, mobility, motor skills, daily living skills, and behavior. It may also include monitoring students in school areas and activities, helping prepare instructional materials and plans, and maintaining records. Employees must meet the physical demands of the work, which can include very heavy exertion and lifting objects up to 100 pounds or more. Work may involve exposure to adverse conditions, including violence when working with developmentally disabled or emotionally disturbed children. Candidates who have passed the Para Assessment or have an associate’s degree or 60 completed semester credits may be eligible for a higher hourly rate in a certified position, subject to providing evidence such as official transcripts or proof of a passing assessment score. All new hires must successfully complete ESE Training within 45 days of hire.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
At least two years of experience working with school-age children in an educational environment that provides broad familiarity with the physical and emotional behaviors and challenges of children with exceptional needs, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
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, as well as standard office equipment.
Ability to carry out detailed but generally straightforward written or oral instructions.
Successful completion of ESE Training within 45 days of hire for all new hires.
Candidates seeking eligibility for a higher hourly rate in a certified position must provide evidence of a passing Para Assessment score, an associate’s degree, or 60 completed semester credits.

Nice To Haves

Additional HRS training.
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, subject to providing documentation.

Responsibilities

Provide instructional, vocational, and developmental assistance to students with special needs as prescribed by the supervising teacher.
Assist students as they arrive on buses and accompany them to and from learning areas, including transferring students between wheelchairs and desks or floor mats.
Assist students with gross motor activities, such as grasping, holding objects, posture, crawling, walking, and running, as appropriate to individual development.
Assist students with fine motor activities, such as 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, as appropriate to individual development.
Monitor, observe, and chart student behavior; document behavioral changes, outbursts, and other student-specific actions.
Apply crisis-intervention principles and procedures with students exhibiting aggressive behavior or other social difficulties, including providing 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 the 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 and complete applicable forms, schedules, and instructional reports as directed.
Supervise learning activities by circulating within the classroom and providing students with assistance and learning support.
Perform assigned monitoring duties in areas such as hallways, lunchrooms, restrooms, and buses; encourage appropriate conduct and escort students to designated activity areas.
Provide assistance to teachers and instruction or information to students in assigned labs; 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 to maintain required technology skills.
Maintain timely and accurate information as part of job responsibilities.
Perform related duties as directed.