ED PARA,INTENSIVE DISAB,NC,NT I (ESE)

Orange County Public Schools • Apopka, FL

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Under direct supervision, this position assists with the education, care, and development of students with severe disabilities. The role includes instructional, clerical, behavioral-management, and developmental support tailored to assigned students’ exceptional needs. Work is performed under the direction of a certified teacher, guidance counselor, or administrator, and related duties may be assigned as directed.

The paraprofessional supports students’ learning, behavior, personal care, mobility, and daily living needs; assists teachers with lesson and behavior plans, instructional materials, and progress-monitoring information; and may perform student-monitoring duties in locations such as hallways, lunchrooms, restrooms, and buses. New hires must successfully complete ESE Training within 45 days of hire. The position involves very heavy physical effort and regular exposure to adverse conditions, including violence when working with severely disabled or emotionally disturbed children. The district provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• At least two years of experience working with exceptional-needs school-age children (Pre-K through Grade 12) in an educational environment, providing broad familiarity with and understanding of the physical and emotional behaviors and challenges of children with severe disabilities; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Stress-management skills.
• Ability to meet the dexterity and physical requirements of the work and effectively attend to special needs.
• Successfully complete ESE Training within 45 days of hire.
• Ability to perform very heavy physical work, including climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling objects and materials weighing up to 100 pounds and occasionally more.
• Ability to operate, maneuver, or control special-needs equipment and devices.
• A 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; supporting evidence must be provided.

Responsibilities

• Provide instructional, behavioral, and developmental assistance to students with severe disabilities as directed by a supervising teacher or other certified professional.
• Apply basic positive behavioral support practices and assist students in learning problem-solving skills.
• Assist with behavior interventions, including monitoring and charting student behaviors.
• Apply crisis-intervention principles when students display aggressive behavior and may require physical restraint.
• Assist students as they arrive on buses and travel to and from learning areas; physically transfer students from wheelchairs and monitor their medical and social-emotional needs.
• Provide support and follow-up for students with severe disabilities assigned to in-school suspension.
• Reinforce school and classroom rules, encourage appropriate behavior, and identify inappropriate behavior using a positive behavioral support approach.
• 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 individual development.
• Assist with fine motor activities, including use of assistive devices, job skills, and leisure skills, as appropriate to individual development.
• Assist with daily living skills, including dressing, eating, lavatory needs and diapering, grooming, and personal hygiene.
• Assist teachers with lesson plans, behavior intervention plans, accommodations, learning activities, and preparation of instructional materials.
• Assist with collecting and reporting data for progress monitoring, progress reports, and IEP development and review.
• Perform assigned monitoring duties, such as hallway, lunchroom, restroom, and bus duty; support appropriate student conduct and escort students to activity areas.
• When assigned to labs, assist teachers and provide instruction or information to students; may translate lesson plans and other information to improve student understanding.
• Keep up to date with job-appropriate technology used by OCPS and attend district-supported training as needed.
• 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