Ed Para,Intensive Disab,C (Ese)

Orange County Public Schools • Orlando, FL

1d

About The Position

Under direct supervision, the Educational Paraprofessional provides assistance in the education, care, and development of students with severe disabilities. The role includes instructional, clerical, behavioral-management, and physical-care duties tailored to students’ exceptional needs. Work is performed under the direction of a certified teacher, guidance counselor, or administrator, and may include related duties as assigned.

The paraprofessional supports students’ learning and development, implements positive behavioral supports, monitors and documents behavior, and may assist with crisis intervention and physical restraint when necessary. The role also includes helping students move between locations, use assistive equipment, participate in daily living and motor activities, and receive appropriate medical and social-emotional support. The employee assists teachers with lesson and behavior-plan development, instructional materials, progress monitoring, and IEP activities. Duties may include student monitoring, bus duty, and assisting in labs or other learning settings.

Applicants must meet the highly qualified requirement before employment begins. New hires must complete ESE Training within 45 days of hire. The position requires the ability to meet substantial physical demands and effectively attend to the needs of school-age children with severe disabilities.

Requirements

• Associate’s degree or higher, or at least 60 semester hours from an accredited institution; official transcripts are required to validate education.
• A passing paraprofessional certification exam may substitute for the educational 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 exceptional-needs school-age children (Pre-K through grade 12) in an educational environment; additional education may substitute for experience year for year.
• Must complete ESE Training within 45 days of hire.
• Ability to fulfill the dexterity and physical requirements of the work and effectively attend to the needs of school-age children, including students with special needs.
• Strong stress-management skills.

Nice To Haves

• Previous vocational training or work experience in a licensed child-care environment is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Respond to internal and external customers promptly, accurately, courteously, and empathetically, representing OCPS positively.
• Provide instructional, behavioral, and developmental assistance to students with severe disabilities as directed by a supervising teacher or other certified professional.
• Apply positive behavioral-support practices and assist students with problem-solving skills.
• Assist with behavior interventions, including monitoring and charting student behaviors.
• Apply crisis-intervention principles and, when required, assist with physical restraint of students displaying aggressive behavior.
• Assist students arriving on buses, escort them to and from learning areas, help transfer them from wheelchairs, and monitor their medical and social-emotional needs.
• Support and follow up with students with severe disabilities assigned to in-school suspension.
• Reinforce school and classroom rules, encourage appropriate behavior, and identify inappropriate behavior using positive behavioral supports.
• Escort and provide one-on-one assistance during meals, restroom visits, and other activities throughout the school day.
• Assist with gross motor activities, including grasping, holding objects, posture, crawling, walking, and running, as appropriate to each student’s development.
• Assist with fine motor activities, including use of assistive devices, job skills, and leisure skills, as appropriate to each student’s development.
• Assist with daily living skills, including dressing, eating, toileting and diapering, grooming, and personal hygiene.
• Assist teachers with lesson plans, behavior intervention plans, accommodations, learning activities, and instructional materials.
• Assist teachers in collecting and reporting data for progress monitoring, progress reports, and IEP development and review.
• Perform assigned monitoring duties in locations such as hallways, lunchrooms, restrooms, and buses; support appropriate conduct and escort students to designated activities.
• Assist teachers and provide instruction or information to students in assigned labs; translate lesson plans or other information when assigned.
• Keep current with job-related technology and attend district-supported training to maintain the required technology skills.
• Maintain timely and accurate job-related information.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree