Paraeducator - 1:1 Student Specific

Olympia School District • Olympia, WA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The 1:1 Student Specific Paraeducator assists with supervising and instructing an individual student and works directly with staff and students to support the student's placement in the least restrictive educational environment. The role supports implementation of individualized education programs (IEPs), student learning and independence, and a safe, positive learning environment across educational settings. It is a continuing position scheduled for 6.5 hours per day, Monday through Friday, for 180 days per year, plus 10 paid holidays.

The paraeducator assists certificated staff with IEP-related plans and educational materials, gathers and communicates student progress data, and supports instructional, behavioral, communication, and occupational or physical therapy goals. Duties may include providing first aid and other health support, personal hygiene and toileting assistance, maintaining student records, facilitating accommodations and curriculum modifications, and collaborating with staff and families while maintaining confidentiality. The position may involve supporting students in community settings and responding to potential safety or behavioral situations, including use of district-approved physical restraint techniques when necessary.

The role requires a high school diploma or equivalent and, when applicable, one of the listed qualifying assessments, training programs, or postsecondary education credentials. Criminal justice fingerprint clearance is required. Prior job-related experience with school-age children qualifying for special education is specified. Required attachments include two classified reference letters and ParaPro assessment results or official college transcripts.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• When applicable, successful completion of one of the following: ETS ParaPro assessment; Master Teacher Inc. Paraeducator Online Training Program; 72 quarter credits or 48 semester credits at an institution of higher education; or an associate's degree or higher. College credits must be at the 100 level or above, and official transcripts are required for credit- or degree-based qualifications.
• Criminal justice fingerprint clearance.
• Prior job-related experience with school-age children who qualify for special education.
• Participation in all Olympia School District-required health-related trainings.
• Ability to perform basic clerical functions and arithmetic calculations, operate standard office equipment, and use written and spoken English with correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
• Ability to create effective visual supports, student schedules, and reward systems.
• Ability to support students' special health care needs, including personal hygiene and toileting or diapering as necessary.
• Ability to implement instructional techniques and necessary modifications for students with significant needs.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions; maintain confidentiality; meet schedules and deadlines; interpret and apply rules, regulations, and policies; and rapidly learn instructional methods and materials.
• Ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with administrators, special and general education teachers, and other paraeducators.
• Ability to remain alert, anticipate and prevent unsafe situations and behavioral escalation, and react promptly to maintain safety.
• Ability to use assistive or adaptive technology and methods to support communication and adaptive living skills.
• Ability to collect student data relevant to individual or classroom goals independently, consistently, and accurately.
• Ability to adjust interactions, including proximity, vocabulary, voice volume and tone, sentence length, and visual supports, to promote student understanding and success.
• Ability to use de-escalation strategies, district-approved physical restraint techniques, social stories or other non-verbal systems, and positive or non-punitive behavior support systems.
• Ability to maintain high expectations for student learning and maximize independence.
• Ability to maintain a professional manner in communications, social interactions, and appearance when supporting students in public settings.
• Significant physical abilities include prolonged sitting; reaching and handling; talking and hearing conversations; near and far visual acuity; moving quickly in potentially dangerous situations; restraining students when necessary using district-approved techniques; and lifting up to 50 pounds.

Nice To Haves

• First Aid and CPR training may be required.
• Willingness to participate in training to obtain necessary skills, such as a Type II License or Food Handlers Permit.
• Right Response Certification, or willingness to obtain and maintain it.
• Training or willingness to obtain training in district-adopted instructional methodologies such as STAR, FACTER, Structured Teaching, or ABA.

Responsibilities

• Assist certificated staff with implementing plans related to IEP development, including functional behavioral assessments, behavior intervention plans, aversive therapy plans, and communication and OT/PT goals.
• Help create educational materials that support students' progress toward IEP goals and objectives.
• Collect and communicate relevant data to help certificated staff evaluate student progress.
• Provide first aid, medical assistance, and health care support, including personal hygiene and toileting assistance when necessary.
• Maintain student files and records to support appropriate special education programs.
• Monitor students across educational settings to maintain a safe, positive learning environment and facilitate accommodations and modifications to curriculum, materials, and schedules.
• Assist other personnel in implementing student instructional and behavioral programs and supporting students in assigned duties.
• Collaborate with staff to evaluate student progress and implement student objectives.
• Contribute to a positive and productive learning environment for students and staff.
• Maintain confidentiality in communications about students, staff, and parents.
• Facilitate student independence in the instructional setting.
• Participate in team meetings and required trainings to collaborate, share information, and improve skills and knowledge.
• Implement adopted curricula and individual student plans consistently and with fidelity; collect student data independently, consistently, and accurately.
• Support students' communication, social skills, participation, and learning, including in community settings when applicable.
• Use de-escalation strategies and respond promptly to protect student safety; use district-approved physical restraint techniques when necessary.
• Represent the Olympia School District professionally when supporting students in community or other public settings.

Benefits

• Employees and their families are eligible for medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance benefits, with final eligibility determined at hire.
• Eligible employees may enroll in the Department of Retirement Services SERS plan for classified employees or TERS plan for certificated employees, as well as the DRS Deferred Compensation Program.
• Vacation leave, paid holidays, and additional compensation beyond base salary are provided as outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
• The position includes 10 paid holidays.

What This Job Offers

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