2026-27 Paraeducator - Resource - Lacey Elementary

North Thurston Public Schools • Lacey, WA

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Paraeducator assists teachers and school staff with instruction, supervision, and support for students with special needs, individually and in groups. The role may involve working in special education or regular education classrooms and helping students complete assigned work and stay on task. The position supports students’ learning, safety, social development, and daily living needs, while following teacher and district direction, school policies, and applicable IDEA and Section 504 requirements. The district seeks someone with experience working with culturally diverse families and communities and a commitment to effective community engagement and communication.

This position is assigned to Lacey Elementary for the 2026–2027 school year. The schedule is 3.25 hours per day, five days per week, for 189 days per year. The employee works under the day-to-day direction of supported staff and the direct supervision of the principal, a principal designee, or a district designee. The position is non-exempt and represented by NTPA.

Duties may include supporting instruction and behavior plans; assisting with personal care and health-related needs; teaching independent living, social, and organizational skills; helping implement physical and occupational therapy plans; supervising students in classrooms and other school settings; documenting student progress and behavior; communicating respectfully and confidentially; and performing limited clerical tasks. Specific duties vary by assignment.

The work may involve lifting or moving 25 to 50 pounds and assisting, moving, or restraining students of greater weight when needed for safety. The employee may encounter challenging student behavior, bodily fluids, infectious diseases, outdoor conditions, noise, and other workplace exposures. Employees anticipated to work at least 630 hours during the school year are eligible for the listed insurance benefits. Eligible employees are required to participate in a Washington State Department of Retirement Systems plan.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• An associate degree, 72 quarter credits of college courses numbered 100 or above, or a passing ETS ParaPro test.
• Successful experience working with culturally diverse families and communities, or demonstrated commitment to strengthening engagement with a diverse community and skill communicating with a diverse population.
• Ability to work amid frequent interruptions and changing tasks and priorities.
• Ability to assist, console, and manage students who may be emotional, distraught, or frustrated, and to remain calm and focused in challenging interactions.
• Ability to follow written and verbal directions and seek clarification or take initiative when needed.
• Regular and reliable attendance and punctuality.
• Knowledge of, or willingness to become knowledgeable about, classroom management and student discipline procedures.
• Strong command and proper use of spoken and written English to model appropriate language for students.
• Ability to organize work and set priorities to complete work effectively and on time.
• Ability to protect confidential student information in accordance with FERPA requirements and good judgment.
• Ability to work collaboratively with staff, students, parents, volunteers, and community members.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Skill using office and computer equipment, standard office software, and student information system software.
• Ability to meet the physical and environmental requirements of the position, including lifting or moving 25 to 50 pounds and potentially assisting with students of greater weight when required for safety.

Nice To Haves

• Two years of experience demonstrating the ability to work successfully with children in a learning environment; education beyond high school may substitute for experience on a year-for-year basis, with 30 semester hours or a portion thereof considered one year or a portion thereof.
• Bilingual skills.
• Familiarity with inclusive strategies for meeting the educational needs of students with disabilities, or willingness and ability to be trained in those strategies.
• May be required to obtain certification in first aid, CPR, and/or operation of defibrillators.
• May be required to receive training in instructional methods, student restraint and safety, medication, or other special education areas.

Responsibilities

• Assist teachers with assessment, curriculum implementation, student interactions, safe behaviors, and students’ social growth in special education or regular education settings, including one-on-one and small-group work.
• Help students with daily tasks such as eating, dressing, toileting, and diapering; duties may also include colostomy care, catheterization, tube feedings, medication, and other health-related assistance as authorized.
• Teach independent living skills, including cooking, laundry, personal hygiene, and cleanliness.
• Follow approved restraint procedures when assisting with students who may harm themselves or others.
• Assist with physical and occupational therapy plans to support students’ range of motion, mobility, and positioning.
• Escort students to and from recess, playgrounds, and bus locations; ride on buses with students when required.
• Communicate respectfully and confidentially with students, parents, and community members in accordance with staff direction and district policies.
• Supervise student safety during activities such as recess, bus duty, crossing guard duty, and hallway supervision, and intervene in dangerous or unsafe situations.
• Provide instructional support and tutoring in large groups, small groups, and one-on-one settings.
• Support the use of visual aids and instructional-environment modifications, and provide individualized social skills and organizational instruction under certificated personnel’s direction.
• Use behavior management plans and communicate with teachers and certified staff to support consistent behavioral plans and a learning-conducive environment.
• Prioritize daily tasks and respond appropriately to student concerns, communication needs, and conflict or sensitive situations.
• Supervise limited discipline measures, such as time-outs, loss of recess, or removal from a classroom when disruptive to learning.
• Document student behavior and help maintain weekly progress reports to support assessment of education-plan progress.
• Assist with limited clerical duties, including making copies, operating a fax machine, answering telephones, ordering supplies, and record keeping.
• Follow Board policies and remain current on policy updates and changes; perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical insurance for employees anticipated to work at least 630 hours during the school year.
• Dental insurance for employees anticipated to work at least 630 hours during the school year.
• Vision insurance for employees anticipated to work at least 630 hours during the school year.
• Long-term disability insurance for employees anticipated to work at least 630 hours during the school year.
• Basic life insurance for employees anticipated to work at least 630 hours during the school year.
• Eligible employees are required to participate in a Washington State Department of Retirement Systems plan.
• Eligible employees may participate in tax-deferred 403(b) and 457 Deferred Compensation Plans.

What This Job Offers

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