Speech Language Special Education Para

Nine Mile Falls School District • Nine Mile Falls, WA

8d • Onsite

About The Position

Help a Student Be Understood. Some students communicate in ways that are easy to miss. When they cannot express what they need or understand what is happening around them, frustration may become the clearest message they have. In this role, you will learn to listen differently. Working alongside the Speech Language Pathologist, you will help students build communication skills and take a more active part in their school day. Progress may begin with a sound, a gesture, or the first successful use of a communication device. These moments can seem small from the outside, but they can open a student’s world. Your steady support helps a child experience what it feels like to be understood and gives their educators another way to connect with them. This work also changes the person doing it. You begin to notice effort that others might mistake for behavior. You learn that communication is much bigger than spoken words. The relationships you build will deepen your understanding of students and leave you with a lasting appreciation for what can happen when a child knows someone is truly listening.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Para Educator/Instructional Assistant/Secretarial applicants must provide documentation of a passing grade on: ETS Parapro Assessment (455); or Pearson Paraprofessional Assessment (220) (Available in December 2023) or; The Master Teacher Ins. Paraeducator Online Training Program (65%); or Unofficial Transcript of an Associate of Arts degree; or Have earned seventy-two quarter credits or forty-eight semester credits at an institution of higher education (provide unofficial transcripts; or Completed a registered apprenticeship program.
• Maintain a consistent presence at the assigned work site and regular work hours.
• Maintain a reliable and consistent schedule as put forth by the speech language pathologist, providing flexibility when changes occur.
• Comply with all district policies and procedures.
• Demonstrate clear and effective communication abilities, both verbal and written, to convey ideas, instructions, and feedback to students and staff.
• Promotes effective interpersonal relations with students.
• Ability to respond appropriately to aggressive and disruptive behaviors.
• Competent in basic math, reading and communication/language skills.
• Demonstrates ethical behavior and maintains confidentiality.
• Ability to meet highly qualified paraprofessional standards.
• Ability to work collaboratively with students, teachers, fellow colleagues, families and administrators.
• Ability to communicate and pronounce English sounds correctly in isolation, word, sentence and conversational levels without grammatical errors. (Candidates may be required to demonstrate proficiency through screening with SLP).
• Valid Drivers License and required auto insurance.

Nice To Haves

• Experience and training in working with students who receive special education/remedial services in a public school environment.
• Willingness to learn about language, articulation, voice, phonology, fluency, assistive technology, and the corresponding data collection.
• With training and supply of materials, demonstrate ability to determine appropriate materials to target language, articulation, voice or fluency goals.
• Experience using/teaching assistive technology to students.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Speech Language Pathologists in maintaining speech therapy/classroom activities and environment so that students may learn effectively.
• Under supervision of certified staff, assist in implementing appropriate instruction and activities, in the areas of communication, academics, and social/emotional skills, with students primarily qualified for special education and remedial services.
• Instruct individual students or small groups of students to reinforce learning of materials or skills as delineated by a treatment plan outlined by the speech language pathologist in accordance with a student’s IEP.
• Provide specially designed instruction in general education settings and special education settings, including accommodations and modifications of general education curriculum as set forth by the speech language pathologist in accordance with a student’s IEP.
• Assist the certified staff in devising specific strategies for reinforcing learning materials and skills based on individual student’s needs, interests, and abilities.
• Creates a positive learning environment that is safe and nurturing, and conducive to learning for all students.
• Assist the speech language pathologist during screening and assessment of students.
• Performs clerical, classroom maintenance, and instructional duties as directed by the speech language pathologist.
• Alerts the speech language pathologist to any problem or specific information about an individual student, including information from parents and staff members.
• Provide general supervision of students in building and on grounds as needed.
• Demonstrates skills to communicate with and motivate students from varied educational and cultural backgrounds.
• Implement the use of assistive technology to aid in student communication and learning as directed by the speech language pathologist.
• Maintain a safe working environment and encourage colleagues to be safety minded in the performance of all school-related duties.
• Perform other related duties and responsibilities as required by the supervisor.
• Provides positive behavior, supports and manages student behavior.
• Provides behavior interventions as instructed by the speech language pathologist and as delineated by a student’s behavior intervention plan.
• Document and maintain individual student records (accurate, complete, confidential, timely) for the purpose of providing information to the speech language pathologist.
• Performs assigned non-instructional classroom duties, such as feeding, toileting, and clothing routines as needed.
• Participate as a collaborative member of school and district teams (grade level/PLC/department teams).
• Participate in in-service training programs as approved.
• Transports and supervises students at vocational sites and community outings.

Benefits

• Sick leave (up to twelve (12) days per year).
• Annual Leave days (up to three (3)).
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, and Long-Term Disability (for positions anticipated to work more than 630 hours per year).
• Retirement through the State Department of Retirement Services (for positions anticipated to work 70 hours or more per month for at least 5 months over a 12-month period).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED