Paraprofessional Educator Special Education Special Programs ECE

Anchorage School District•Rogers Park, AK

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Special Programs Early Childhood and Elementary Paraprofessional Educator implements special education services and supports under the direction of a special education teacher. The paraeducator provides instructional assistance to special education students, primarily in special education classrooms, and may support students in other school settings. The position is associated with the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). This is a full-time, 0.875 FTE position at Rogers Park Elementary. The work year is 9 months, with 7 hours per day. The hourly salary is $20.94 to $21.83, depending on experience, plus an additional $1.00 per hour worked, up to 8 hours per day. The position is in the TOTEM bargaining unit. Duties include providing instruction and IEP-related support individually or in small groups; preparing or modifying instructional materials, including assistive technology; collecting data on student goals; implementing accommodations, modifications, and behavioral and social interventions; and assisting students with daily hygiene, personal care, health-related needs, positioning, and transfers. The role also includes classroom management, supervising students in other school settings and during activities, providing information about student progress, collaborating with colleagues, and using district-approved de-escalation techniques when required. The role requires frequent standing, walking, sitting, speaking, and hearing; reaching; and occasional lifting of items weighing less than 40 pounds. Work takes place in a professional environment with diverse individuals and in a variety of settings. Employees may regularly be exposed to video displays and may encounter outdoor weather conditions; noise is usually moderate. Employment offers are contingent on a satisfactory criminal background check.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent, or current enrollment in a GED program.
Meet Alaska state paraprofessional requirements through one of the following: 48 college semester credits from a regionally accredited institution; a score of 459 or greater on the ETS Paraprofessional Assessment; passing the ACT WorkKeys assessment; or passing ASD-provided Master Teacher paraprofessional training.
Basic literacy skills in reading, writing, and math.
Excellent communication and customer service skills.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and inspire confidence and cooperation among staff, parents, students, administrators, and the public.
Ability to establish and maintain professional relationships with staff, parents, students, administrators, and the public.
Ability to read and write in English, communicate in English with school staff, coworkers, and the public, and understand and carry out oral and written English directions and documents.
Ability to understand vague and implicit instructions, readily recall facts and details, handle conflict, and make effective decisions under pressure.
Ability to manage the stress of working with students, parents, and employees with diverse cultures, personalities, and work styles in a dynamic environment.
Frequent standing, walking, sitting, speaking, and hearing; specific visual abilities; regular reaching with hands and arms; and occasional lifting of items weighing less than 40 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of first aid.
One year of experience working in general education, special education, agency settings, or private school settings.
Experience working directly with individuals experiencing disabilities.
Basic experience with office equipment and computer literacy, including word processing, printing, and email.
Ability to read and interpret IEPs, behavior plans, lesson plans, and similar documents under a special education teacher's direction.
Ability to remain calm and professional during conflict and make effective decisions under pressure.
Ability to share essential information appropriately with team members to support the development of individual student programs.
Ability to train in and consistently implement instructional strategies, programs, techniques, and technology.
Ability to take direction and independently follow through on tasks.
For Life Skills and Structured Learning classrooms: experience working with students with significant disabilities and implementing treatment or clinical therapy plans.
For Life Skills and Structured Learning classrooms: ability to readily implement details of individual students' behavioral support plans and interpret information from psychologists, behavioral specialists, counselors, and mental health specialists to support students under their direction and that of the special education teacher.
For programs in neighborhood schools: overall physical conditioning and ability to provide physical support for students in varied classroom and school settings.
For programs in neighborhood schools: willingness to train in Positive Behavioral Supports, positive reinforcement, appropriate behavioral interventions, and de-escalation techniques.
For programs in neighborhood schools: valid Alaska driver's license, ASD-required vehicle insurance, and willingness to use a personal vehicle for department business.

Responsibilities

Provide special education services and support to students individually or in small groups under a special education teacher's supervision.
Prepare or modify instructional materials, including assistive technology devices, for student use.
Collect data on student IEP goals and objectives as directed by certified special education staff.
Collaborate and work cooperatively with colleagues and staff.
Follow written and oral instructions and independently carry out teacher-directed programming and strategies.
Provide services and supports detailed in students' IEPs, including instruction, accommodations, modifications, behavioral and social interventions, and individual behavior improvement plans.
Assist students to and from buses.
Attend to students' daily hygiene, personal, and health-related care, including dressing, feeding, and toileting or diapering, as directed by certified special education staff.
Provide detailed information about student functioning and progress to teachers and related-service personnel.
Assist with positioning and range-of-motion tasks, including lifting, repositioning, and transferring students between apparatus.
Assist with classroom management, organize instructional materials, and supervise students during field trips, lunch, recess, bus transitions, and learning activities outside the special education classroom.
Provide support in special education and general education classrooms and other school settings according to individual student needs.
For Life Skills and Structured Learning classrooms, support students in locations such as restrooms, corridors, lunch rooms, gyms, conference rooms, and playgrounds, and assist with lunch periods, breaks, recesses, and bus transitions as specified in IEPs.
Implement ASD-approved de-escalation techniques as required by district behavioral programs.
Support the Anchorage School District's commitment to valuing diversity, promoting respect, and maintaining confidentiality.