Education Support Professional Special Education 1:1 NEST - Lowell

Tacoma Public Schools•Lowell Elementary 2301 N Mildred St, WA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Tacoma Public Schools is hiring an Education Support Professional to provide one-on-one assistance to a Kindergarten student with a disability during school activities and daily needs. The employee assists a certificated teacher with instructional and non-instructional activities for the assigned student and, as time permits, other classroom students. The role supports students with a broad range of disabilities and may involve academic interventions, personal care, and activities of daily living. The position is 0.8125 FTE, with 6.5 working hours per day and seven total hours on campus, including a 30-minute duty-free lunch. It is a 10-month position with 183 work days. The expected start date is November 2026. Salary depends on education level: $29.50 for no degree, $30.25 for an associate degree, and $30.50 for a bachelor's degree or higher. The job includes the full range of benefits offered by Tacoma Public Schools. The role requires completion of the state-mandated General Paraeducator Certificate. The district provides 28 hours of Fundamental Course of Study training, with initial training completed within four months of hire and the remaining training within six months of hire or by September 1 of the next school year. The general certificate is earned after completing ten days (70 clock hours) of professional development training. Work may involve assisting with instruction, personal care, behavior support, student supervision, recordkeeping, adaptive equipment, and communication with teachers, specialists, and families. Conditions can include prolonged periods in a work area, lifting or moving students or materials, exposure to bodily fluids or infectious disease, high noise, inclement weather, and potentially distraught or violent situations. The employee may need to travel to other district sites.

Requirements

Associate degree, 72 credit hours of post-secondary education, or a passing state test demonstrating knowledge; equivalent combinations of education and experience may be evaluated by Human Resources.
Demonstrated ability to assist in instructing students.
One year of experience working with individuals with special needs who may have severe disabilities, or an equivalent combination of training and experience meeting federal and state requirements.
Completion of the state-mandated General Paraeducator Certificate and required district Fundamental Course of Study and professional development training.
CPR/First Aid certification or willingness to complete training within the first 90 days of employment.
Attend district restraint training and maintain certification.
Complete cleansing intermittent catheterization training if required for the assignment.
Pass fingerprinting and Washington State Patrol and FBI background and sexual misconduct clearances.
Knowledge of assigned developmental, behavioral, or physical disabilities; assigned subject areas; basic learning styles; effective instructional methods; and safe lifting and positioning methods.
Basic sign language skills for designated positions.
Ability to maintain confidentiality, obtain and exchange information, communicate and work collegially with staff, students, and community members, and de-escalate student conflict.
Ability to organize and coordinate activities; provide feeding, diapering, toileting, and other personal assistance; and respond sensitively to students who cannot communicate their needs.
Ability to appropriately restrain students when necessary and demonstrate reliable attendance.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships in a multicultural, diverse socioeconomic setting.
Ability to walk, sit, squat, crawl, kneel, bend, stoop, reach, and lift to meet students' physical needs; work in inclement weather; lift up to 25 pounds individually and team-lift up to 50 pounds.

Responsibilities

Provide instruction individually or in small groups in learning or center activities as directed by a teacher; implement activities assigned by specialists and support participation in learning activities.
Assist students with sensory or physical disabilities and promote a safe environment conducive to instruction; provide vocational training or job-search and application support when assigned.
Assist with self-care and activities of daily living, which may include feeding, dressing, toileting, diapering, grooming, and other personal care; use adaptive equipment and perform assigned sensory or adaptive physical education activities.
Support students during seizures and other physical emergencies; calm or restrain students when necessary and administer and record medications when assigned and appropriately trained.
Supervise students during recess, lunch, in restrooms or locker rooms, and during transportation-related activities; assist with bus loading and unloading and move students around school premises as needed.
Record student progress, maintain logs and records, collect data on IEP goals and behavioral or grooming plans, and prepare information or reports for teachers.
Communicate with classroom teachers, program administrators, other school staff, parents or guardians as assigned, and therapy staff; raise concerns with appropriate personnel.
Adjust the position of students with physical disabilities as needed; implement occupational or physical therapy instructions and use basic sign language when needed.
Prepare and serve student lunches or snacks and clean eating utensils and areas afterward when assigned.
Model appropriate behavior, correct inappropriate behavior, teach conflict resolution as directed, and assist with classroom management and discipline under district guidelines.
Assist teachers in adapting materials and activities, administering standardized tests, arranging classroom materials, and using specialized teaching techniques, software, or adaptive equipment.
Accompany and supervise students on field trips, camp activities, off-site jobs, or in general education classes as assigned.
Participate in department staff meetings and provide information regarding students.
Use, adapt, maintain, and troubleshoot specialized adaptive or computer equipment and software; coordinate student access to equipment when assigned.
Maintain reasonable, reliable, and regular attendance and follow district conduct policies concerning tardiness and unauthorized absences.
Provide general classroom clerical assistance, duplicate materials, complete paperwork, and supervise students during brief teacher breaks as assigned.
Perform other related duties temporarily or work in more than one classroom as assigned; complete required specialized training before performing duties such as intermittent catheterization or physical restraint.