Elementary Special Education ASD Self-Contained Paraprofessional

Kalamazoo Public Schools•Kalamazoo, MI

2d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is for a Special Education ASD Self-Contained Classroom Paraprofessional at Indian Prairie Elementary School. The role involves supporting students with disabilities who require intensive, specialized programming within a self-contained classroom setting. The paraprofessional will provide instructional, behavioral, personal care, and medical support as needed, assist with academic assignments, perform classroom tasks, document student progress, and help maintain a positive classroom environment. The role also requires escorting students during transitions, communicating calmly and firmly, applying crisis intervention strategies, and potentially administering medication and riding the bus with students.

Requirements

Ability to read, write, and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos.
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
Ability to work with identified students with intensive socio-emotional/behavioral, academic, communication, and functional needs in self-contained classrooms.
Ability to maintain composure under stressful conditions.
Ability to develop effective working relationships with students, staff, and the school community.
Successful training in de-escalation through Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (CPI), socio-emotional learning, and trauma-informed care.
Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and Board of Education policies.
Must have an Associate’s Degree or Undergraduate experience at a 4-year university.
Must speak clearly and express ideas clearly.
Must handle and restrain students if necessary.
Good personal appearance and grooming.
Must handle the physical requirements of the job as described above.
Willingness to work with various students in the building.
Must demonstrate the ability to maintain the necessary energy and composure to work successfully with students.
Ability to develop a rapport with students with special needs.
Must be able to work seven (7) hours per day and ride the bus with students during morning and afternoon routes when necessary.
Evidence of a desirable work record (i.e., low absenteeism, good attitude, good job performance, flexibility).

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree.
Experience in a self-contained setting and successful work with students with intensive needs.
Certification in de-escalation through Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (CPI), socio-emotional learning, and/or trauma-informed care.

Responsibilities

Provide instructional, behavioral, personal care (to include assistance with toileting skills and/or changing diapers/pull-ups when needed), and/or medical support as needed to eligible students with special needs throughout the school environment.
Assist students individually and in groups with academic assignments.
Perform routine classroom tasks, such as correcting and grading assignments, maintain records, and a clean physical environment, as assigned by the classroom teacher.
Assist in clerical activities involved in documenting the needs and achievements of students as needed.
Assist with the assessment of student progress in achieving goals and objectives.
Assist the classroom teacher in creating and maintaining a positive classroom culture.
Escort students in transition (i.e., entering and exiting the building, in the hallways between classes, into and out of breakfast/lunch) as necessary.
Assist in problem-solving with appropriate strategies, consequences, and incentives that support and reinforce student progress.
Provide personal care to students, including assisting with lifting, feeding, toileting, and body positioning as needed.
Apply effective principles and procedures of crisis intervention to students with aggressive behaviors and other social-emotional or behavioral difficulties.
Must be able to ride the bus with students as needed.
Must be able to administer medication with training as needed as required when offsite per the KSP contract.
Perform other duties as assigned.