Paraeducator - 1:1 Student Specific

Olympia School District • Olympia, WA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The 1:1 Student Specific Paraeducator assists with the supervision and instruction of individual students and works directly with staff and students to support placement in the least restrictive educational environment. The role supports implementation of student plans and IEP goals, monitors students across educational settings, facilitates student independence, and contributes to a safe, positive, and productive learning environment.

This is a 6.0-hour-per-day continuing position, Monday through Friday, for 180 days per year, plus 10 paid holidays. The position may involve supporting students’ personal care and health needs, including toileting, and responding to situations that could pose a safety risk. Employees (and their families) are eligible for medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance benefits, subject to eligibility 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 identify their relevant strengths and experiences.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent, and, when applicable, successful completion of one of the following: the ETS ParaPro assessment; the Master Teacher Inc. Paraeducator Online Training Program; 72 quarter or 48 semester credits at an institution of higher education; or an associate’s or higher degree. College credits must be at the 100 level or above; official transcripts are required where applicable.
• 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.
• 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 address students’ special health care needs, including personal hygiene and toileting or diapering as necessary.
• Ability to implement instructional techniques and modifications for students with significant needs.
• Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions; maintain confidentiality of student records; 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 student safety.
• Ability to facilitate positive communication and social skills and support student participation and learning, potentially in the community.
• Ability to use assistive or adaptive technology and methods to support communication and adaptive living skills.
• Ability to collect student data relevant to individual and classroom goals independently, consistently, and accurately.
• Ability to adjust interactions—including physical proximity, vocabulary, 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.
• Ability to use social stories or other non-verbal systems and positive, non-punitive behavior support systems.
• Ability to use district-approved physical restraint techniques and work with or support others when restraint is necessary.
• Ability to represent the Olympia School District professionally in community or public settings.
• Physical ability to sit for prolonged periods; reach and handle objects; converse and hear; see at near and far distances; move quickly in response to potential danger; restrain students using approved techniques when necessary; and lift up to 50 pounds.

Nice To Haves

• Right Response Training or certification, or willingness to obtain and maintain certification.
• Restorative Practice Training.
• Physical ability to do plenty of walking.
• First Aid and CPR training may be required.
• Willingness to participate in training to gain skills needed for the position, such as Type II License or Food Handlers Permit.
• Training in district-adopted instructional methodologies such as STAR, FACTER, Structured Teaching, or ABA, or willingness to obtain it.

Responsibilities

• Assist certificated staff in implementing plans related to IEP development, including functional behavioral assessments, behavior intervention plans, aversive therapy plans, and communication and OT/PT goals.
• Assist in creating educational materials that support students’ 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 the development of appropriate special education programs.
• Monitor students across educational settings to support a safe and positive learning environment, including facilitating accommodations and modifications to curriculum, materials, and schedules.
• Assist other personnel as needed to increase staff capacity to implement student instructional and behavioral programs and assigned duties 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.
• Implement district-adopted curricula and individual student plans consistently and with fidelity.
• Use de-escalation strategies and approved physical restraint techniques when necessary to maintain student safety.
• Support students’ communication, social skills, participation, and learning, including in community settings when applicable.

Benefits

• Medical insurance for eligible employees and their families, subject to final eligibility determination at hire.
• Dental insurance for eligible employees and their families, subject to final eligibility determination at hire.
• Vision insurance for eligible employees and their families, subject to final eligibility determination at hire.
• Basic life insurance for eligible employees and their families, subject to final eligibility determination at hire.
• Eligibility to enroll in the Department of Retirement Services SERS plan for classified employees.
• Eligibility to enroll in the Department of Retirement Services Deferred Compensation Program.
• Vacation leave.
• 10 paid holidays.
• Additional compensation beyond base salary as outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

What This Job Offers

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