Paraeducator - SPED

Olympia School District • Olympia, WA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Special Education Paraeducator assists, under direct supervision, with supervising and instructing students receiving special education services, supporting their health care needs, and relieving teachers of routine clerical tasks. The role works with certificated staff to implement student plans and IEP goals, prepare educational materials, collect progress data, and provide a safe, supportive learning environment across educational settings. It also involves helping students develop independence, communication, social, and adaptive living skills, and maintaining confidentiality in communications and student records.

This is a 3.74-hour-per-day position, Monday through Friday, 9:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., for 180 days per year, plus 10 paid holidays. The posting describes it as a one-year-only position. Employees and their families may be eligible for medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance; final benefit eligibility is determined at hire. Employees may enroll in the applicable Department of Retirement Services plan and the Deferred Compensation Program. Vacation leave, paid holidays, and additional compensation are provided as outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The Olympia School District encourages candidates who can contribute to increased staff diversity to apply and describe their relevant strengths and experiences.

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 or 48 semester credits from an institution of higher education; or an associate degree or higher. Required credits must be at the 100 level or above; official transcripts are required for college credits or degrees.
• Criminal Justice Fingerprint Clearance.
• Prior job-related experience with school-age children who qualify for special education.
• Participate in all Olympia School District-required health-related training; First Aid and CPR training may be required.
• Willingness to participate in appropriate training to gain skills needed for the position, such as obtaining a Type II License or Food Handlers Permit.
• Right Response Certification or willingness to obtain and maintain it.
• Ability to perform basic clerical functions and arithmetic, 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 provide special health care support, including personal hygiene and toileting or diapering as necessary.
• Ability to implement effective instructional techniques and 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 or behavioral escalation, and react promptly to maintain safety.
• Ability to support positive communication and social skills, participation, and learning, including in community settings when applicable.
• Ability to use assistive or adaptive technology and methods to support communication and adaptive living skills.
• Ability to implement district-adopted curricula and individual student plans consistently and with fidelity.
• Ability to independently and accurately collect student data relevant to individual or classroom goals.
• Ability to adjust interactions—including proximity, vocabulary, voice volume and tone, sentence length, and visual supports—to promote student understanding and success.
• Ability to maintain high expectations for student learning and maximize independence.
• Knowledge and use of de-escalation strategies and district-approved physical restraint techniques, including supporting and teaming with others when restraint is necessary.
• Ability to use social stories or other non-verbal systems to teach or address social and behavioral skills, and positive reward or other non-punitive behavior support systems.
• Ability to represent the Olympia School District professionally in community or other public settings through positive communication, social interaction, and appearance.
• Physical ability to sit for prolonged periods; reach and handle; speak and hear conversations; see at near and far distances; move quickly in response to potential danger; restrain students when necessary using district-approved techniques; and lift up to 50 pounds.

Nice To Haves

• Existing training in district-adopted instructional methodologies such as STAR, FACTER, Structured Teaching, or ABA; alternatively, willingness to obtain such training.

Responsibilities

• Assist certificated staff with implementing plans related to IEP program development, including functional behavioral assessments, behavior intervention plans, aversive therapy plans, and communication and OT/PT IEP goals.
• Help create educational materials that support student progress toward IEP goals and objectives.
• Collect and communicate relevant student data to help certificated staff evaluate progress.
• Provide first aid, medical assistance, and other health care support, including personal hygiene and toileting assistance when necessary.
• Maintain student files and records to support appropriate educational programming.
• Monitor students across educational settings to maintain a safe, positive learning environment and facilitate necessary curriculum, materials, and schedule accommodations or modifications.
• Assist other personnel in implementing student instructional and behavioral programs and supporting students.
• Collaborate with other personnel to evaluate student progress and implement student objectives.
• Contribute to a positive and productive learning environment for students and staff.
• Maintain confidentiality in communications regarding students, staff, and parents.
• Facilitate student independence in instructional settings.
• Participate in team meetings and required training to collaborate, share information, and improve skills and knowledge.

Benefits

• Medical insurance, subject to final eligibility determination at hire.
• Dental insurance, subject to final eligibility determination at hire.
• Vision insurance, subject to final eligibility determination at hire.
• Basic life insurance, subject to final eligibility determination at hire.
• Eligibility to enroll in the applicable Department of Retirement Services SERS or TERS plan.
• Eligibility to enroll in the Department of Retirement Services Deferred Compensation Program.
• Vacation leave.
• 10 paid holidays.
• Additional compensation as outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

What This Job Offers

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