2025-26 Paraeducator - Basic Ed @ Lakes Elementary

North Thurston Public Schools • Lacey, WA

22h • Onsite

About The Position

The paraeducator performs a variety of duties including, instructional and classroom support, as well as supervision and safety related duties assist the school and teachers in instruction, supervision, and education of students. The District represents a diverse community with a population of more than 50% of students with diverse backgrounds. We seek an individual who has successful experience in working with culturally diverse families and communities. The selected candidate must demonstrate a commitment to strengthening community engagement and communication with the District’s diverse populations.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Either an Associate’s Degree or 72 quarter credits of college courses numbered 100 or above OR the ETS Para Pro test.
• May be required to be trained in specific instructional methodologies in such content areas as reading, writing, and mathematics.
• May be required to be certified or to become certified in first aid, CPR, and/or operation of defibrillators.
• Successful experience in working with culturally diverse families and communities, or have otherwise demonstrated a commitment to strengthening engagement of a diverse community and skill in communicating with a diverse population.
• Able to work in an environment with frequent interruptions and changing tasks and priorities.
• Able to assist, console, and manage students who may be emotional, distraught, or frustrated.
• Able to remain calm, focused and in control when working with students, parents, guardians, and community members who may be difficult and challenging to engage.
• Able to follow written and verbal direction and take the initiative to seek clarity and take action when needed.
• Be or become knowledgeable and supportive of classroom management and student discipline procedures.
• Constantly exhibit command and proper enunciation, spelling, syntax and use of the English language to assist and model proper language usage by students.
• Able to organize work and set priorities for accomplishing work in a timely and effective manner.
• Able to protect the confidentiality of student information consistent with FERPA requirements and good judgment.
• Able to work collaboratively and effectively with staff, students, parents, volunteers, and community members.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Skill in the use office and computer equipment and use standard office software and student information system software.

Nice To Haves

• Two years of experience that demonstrates the ability to work successfully with children in a learning environment.
• Education beyond the high school level may be substituted for experience on a year-for-year basis with thirty (30) semester hours, or portion thereof, considered one year, or portion thereof, of education and/or experience.
• Bilingual skills in languages commonly used by District students such as Spanish, Korean, and Vietnamese (to be determined by the specific position).
• May be required to be certified or to become certified in first aid, CPR, and/or operation of defibrillators.

Responsibilities

• Works collaboratively by assisting teachers in assessment, curriculum implementation, student interactions, enforcing safe behaviors, and enhancing social growth of student in the classroom.
• Oversee student safety by such activities as recess and playground supervision, bus duty, crossing guard duty, hallway supervision, in-school detention, etc.
• Communicates with students, parents, and community members with respect and confidentiality and consistent with the direction and guidance of staff, administrators, and school/district policies and procedures.
• Provides instructional support and tutoring to students in large groups, small groups, and one-on-one situations.
• May supervise and assist student during in-school suspension or in extended day programs.
• Documents behavior and progress of students to assist teacher in assessing progress with education plans.
• Maintain, or assist in maintaining, student weekly progress reports.
• Required to follow Board policies and stay abreast of updates and changes.
• Takes steps to intervene when students are not in control, not in the proper location, or may be in dangerous or unsafe situations.
• May oversee student safety by such activities as recess and playground supervision, bus duty, crossing guard duty, hallway supervision, library, lunch, planned periods, etc.
• Models appropriate behavior for students.
• Provides students with guidance and reinforcement of rules and expected behaviors.
• Provide limited first aid when necessary.
• Assess injury to determine whether nursing care is needed.
• Maintain knowledge of students that may have medical concerns to remain aware of potentially dangerous situations for their individual condition.
• Performs other duties as assigned .
• Following teacher’s directions, provide student support and supervision in subject areas from self-help and independence to academics and behavior.
• Work one-on-one basis or in a small group setting during academic learning to facilitate and adapt assignments, homework, tests, projects, etc., to an appropriate learning level for individual students.
• Record behavioral and/or other student data.
• Reinforce teacher’s directions and guidelines.
• Perform office duties, as pertain to identified students, such as filing, maintaining student records, assisting with written reporting of student progress and making copies of curriculum materials.
• Works with English Language Learners (ELL) by using English, and a second language if able, to assist ELL students in learning social and academic English proficiency.
• Works with students eligible for the Learning Assistance Program (LAP) to provide help in reading, math and early school readiness.
• Enters and maintains data and materials for the library; operates computerized checkout and card catalog system.
• Maintains procedures for overdue materials; prepares overdue notices and correspondence.
• Provide secretarial support to librarians; prepare book orders, requisitions, catalog records, bibliographies, reports, correspondence, etc. using computer programs; answers telephone; acts as library receptionist.
• Using scan-bar code system, conducts annual inventory; downloads and runs reports; reconciles actual inventory to generated lists; updates information; finalizes reports and inventory.
• May provide training, supervision, and work assignments for student assistants and adult volunteers.
• Maintains physical appearance of the library and library bulletin boards.
• Works with Native American students eligible for Title III and Title VI services to provide help in literacy, math, science, and culturally responsive education.
• Performs duties related to student assessment (qualification and annual assessments), progress monitoring, data, and culture-informed instruction.
• Maintenance of school computers including storage and user lists
• Assist with debugging/troubleshooting, hardware set-up, and system/program installation
• Assist with maintenance of programs, licenses and hardware
• Request identification for any unauthorized persons in the bus drop/pick up areas
• Ensure students follow set rules and be set rules and be constantly aware of students’ whereabouts and the number of students in your direct supervision.
• Resolve conflicts between students.
• Administer limited discipline if necessary.
• Use independent discretion when deciding to refer a student to the principal for further discipline.

Benefits

• Employees who are anticipated to work 630 hours during the school year (September 1 through August 31) are eligible for medical, dental, vision, long term disability and basic life insurance benefits.
• North Thurston Public Schools benefits are administered by the Washington State Healthcare Authority under the School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB).
• Eligible employees are required to be a member of the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems Plan.
• Employees also have the ability to participate in tax deferred 403(b) and 457 Deferred Compensation Plans (DCP).
• These are supplemental retirement savings programs that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

What This Job Offers

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