2025-26 Paraeducator Behavior Associate @ Special Education (Open until filled)

North Thurston Public Schools•Lacey, WA

54d

About The Position

The Paraeducator performs a variety of instructional and/or support duties to assist the school and teachers in instruction, supervision, and education of students with special needs in groups or one-on-one teacher to student situations. May work with students on an individual basis as well as small groups to complete assigned work. Keep students on task. The job of the Behavior Associate is to assist in the implementation of services to students with significant behavioral, social and possible academic needs. The Behavior Associate will work across all K-12 schools to support school teams in implementation of Behavior Intervention Plans for individual students identified by school teams as requiring Tier 2/3 behavioral intervention support. The individual will work as a member of the District's Behavior Associate Team supervised by Special Education Behavior Specialists. The position will require inputting behavioral data and providing data to team members in order for them to assess individual student progress toward established behavioral goals. The District represents a diverse community with a population of approximately 40% 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

Minimum of a BA degree in education, psychology, social science or a related field, or be a registered/certified behavior technician.
Prior job-related experience with school age children who qualify for special education.
Related experience and/or specialized training in working with students with significant behavioral, emotional, or mental health disabilities.
Experience in providing group and individual intervention to students with behavioral challenges.
Documented competence in having worked successfully with students in a school setting.
Demonstrated knowledge of basic behavioral management techniques.
Demonstrated ability to use conflict resolution and crisis intervention skills.
Experience in teaching social skills and problem solving to students across grade levels.
Experience in working with students and families from diverse cultural, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.
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 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 annunciation, 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 of 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.
Familiarity, or willingness and ability to be trained, in such special needs areas as Down syndrome, Autism, multi-handicapped, bi-polar disorder, ADHD, etc.

Responsibilities

Works collaboratively by assisting teachers in assessment, curriculum implementation, student interactions, enforcing safe behaviors, and enhancing social growth of student in the classroom.
Assist certificated staff in implementation of plans related to IEP programs to include but not limited to behavior intervention plans and aversive therapy plans.
Collect and communicate relevant data for the purpose of assisting certificated staff in evaluating students' progress.
Assists other personnel, as may be required, for the purpose of increasing staff capacity to implement identified student programs, including instructional and behavioral plans.
Participates in team meetings for the purpose of collaborating and sharing information.
Keeps appropriate records and informs administration and staff of intervention outcomes and student or family contacts.
Provides support for behaviorally challenging students in a variety of settings.
Participates in ongoing training around behavioral strategies, PBIS and specific behavioral interventions that are provided to students who are determined to require additional supports to improve chances of school success.
Takes action, or assist in taking action, to restrain students who are at risk of harming themselves or others by following school/district approved restraint procedures.
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.
Documents behavior 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.
Performs Other Duties as Assigned