Paraeducator - Early Education Program (SY26/27)

Burlington School District • Burlington, VT

11h • Onsite

About The Position

The Burlington School District is seeking Early Education Paraeducators to join their team. In collaboration with professional staff, the paraeducator will facilitate the skills necessary for the development of language, social-emotional skills, and gross and fine motor skills within a variety of settings (1:1, small group or classroom) to support the developmental growth of each child through a play-based environment. Responsibilities include supporting their child with activities in the classroom, instructional work goals developed by the Special Education team, as well as personal hygiene. Experience in early childhood is preferred but not mandatory, and training is provided by the program.

Requirements

• Minimum Required: At least two years post-secondary education or successful completion of the Praxis exam.
• Minimum Required: Experience working with children aged birth to 6 preferred but not required.

Nice To Haves

• Child Development Associate (CDA) certification
• Coursework in Early Childhood or related field (i.e. psychology, education, human development, etc.)
• Associate or Bachelor’s degree
• Experience working with children that have special needs.

Responsibilities

• Support the developmental growth of each child by facilitating engagement in play activities, language development, and using motivation/positive behavior management techniques.
• Respond appropriately to children's acting out/negative behaviors by modeling, encouraging acceptable behavior, redirecting, setting clear limits, and using guidance, redirection, and understanding rather than punishment.
• Effectively model to children ways of handling anger and frustration, use steps to solve and avoid behavior problems, listen to each child's version of a disagreement, and quickly assess if a child is a danger to themselves or others.
• Discuss and help children deal with anger and grief, give children ideas on how to better handle situations, and reinforce positive behavior by guiding and redirecting children in a positive way and helping children make good choices.
• Help children build self-esteem and positive feelings toward learning.
• Understand young children, their behaviors, and motivation by understanding and applying principles of child development, using age-appropriate rules and language, consistently applying rules, considering what is best for individual children, teaching self-reliance, and being sensitive to how a child's disability may impact their development.
• Accept that there is more than one answer and recognize that children learn from self-directed problem solving and experimentation.
• Work collaboratively with the teaching team by following IEP Objectives and Behavior Plans, using methods and materials prescribed by the teaching team, actively participating in team planning by giving input and offering ideas, assisting professional staff in supervising students across environments, and assisting professional staff in the maintenance and operation of classrooms by prepping materials and classrooms for daily activities.
• Assist staff and students with appropriate materials and equipment.
• Participate in scheduled paraeducator in-service and training.
• Assist professional staff with the collation, collating, and recording of data.
• Willing to learn about children and their needs to better handle situations and problems.
• Performing other tasks and duties as appropriate and/or assigned.

Benefits

• Health and life insurance benefits are available for this position after a period of 45 working days.
• Dental benefits are available after 1 full working year.

What This Job Offers

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