27, Early Childhood Center, Salem Public Schools, Salem, MA [SY 2026-2027]

Salem Public Schools•Salem, MA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Salem Public Schools is seeking a long-term substitute Intensive Instructional Paraprofessional for its Early Childhood Center for the 2026–2027 school year. Paraprofessionals assist teachers and other certified personnel in delivering an innovative, high-quality education program designed to meet the unique needs of children with disabilities. They work with school staff to support a positive educational environment, with quality and continuity as key factors. Paraprofessionals are district-wide employees and are subject to the negotiated Paraprofessional Contract and Salem Public Schools rules and regulations. The position may involve personal care, lifting, feeding, academic support, behavioral interventions, and use of technology. The successful candidate will work with students, support instruction and classroom routines, and help ensure student safety. This is a school-year position following the district calendar and school hours. As a long-term substitute, the employee is paid hourly and is non-union, without benefits, for the duration of the assignment. The City of Salem offers Group Insurance Commission benefits to full-time employees, but this substitute assignment is specifically described as having no benefits.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Forty-eight college credit hours, an associate degree, or a passing score on the ParaPro Assessment or WorkKeys assessment.
At least one year of experience working with elementary-aged children.
Current authorization to work in the United States.
For therapeutic program paraprofessionals, Safety-Care training or willingness to complete district-provided training.
Physical capability and willingness to engage in restraint, bending, and lifting as required to meet student needs.
Skills, abilities, and aptitude to meet the unique needs of assigned students.
Commitment to students and families and the ability to value and affirm diversity.
Ability to maintain high expectations, build caring relationships, collaborate, and use feedback for professional growth.

Nice To Haves

Experience with ABA techniques; training is provided.
Proficiency in a second language, particularly Spanish and/or Portuguese.
Bilingual candidates and candidates of color are strongly encouraged to apply.
Dependability, organization, flexibility, and willingness to learn through hands-on experience, reading, training, consultation, and observation.

Responsibilities

Understand assigned students’ profiles and learning needs, read their IEPs, and participate in related professional development.
Support and collaborate on an ongoing basis with general education and special education teachers.
Reinforce lessons with individual students or small groups.
Assist with classroom management and supervision.
Administer behavior modification programs and point systems, including data collection and discrete trials, under the classroom teacher’s direction.
Assist teachers in implementing accommodations and specialized instructional and skill-reinforcement strategies.
Cover the classroom during a teacher’s absence.
Facilitate play and social interactions and model language between peers.
Escort and assist students throughout the building, on community-based experiences, during lunch and recess, and on and off the bus.
Follow supervisor direction and ensure student safety at all times.
Help students acclimate to technology and personal learning devices to access remote instruction.
Perform other duties assigned by building administrative staff and the Executive Director of Special Education, as described in the Paraprofessional contract.
Attend district and building professional development and training.
Assist with toileting and activities of daily living when needed and determined by student need.
Engage in restraint, bending, and lifting as required to meet assigned students’ needs.