Paraprofessional, Special Education (Sped) - Moderate Needs

Mesa County Valley School District 51•Grand Junction, CO

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Operating under the direction of the Building Leader and licensed special education staff, this position provides instructional, behavioral, and personal-care support to students with moderate needs. This position assists with the implementation of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), supports academic and social-emotional skill development, reinforces positive behavior strategies, and helps maintain a structured and supportive learning environment. This position also assists with data collection, personal care needs, delegated health services (as appropriate), and safety procedures across school settings. This position may involve working with individual students or small groups and requires strong communication, teamwork, and adaptability to meet diverse student needs.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required
Bilingual (English/Spanish) language skills required when assigned to a bilingual program
Criminal background check required for hire
Valid Colorado driver's license or valid Colorado identification required
Must be able to lift 35 pounds.
Lift test required at time of hire
Ability to follow teacher-directed instruction and implement accommodations and interventions.
Skill in using prompting, cueing, modeling, and adaptive supports to reinforce student learning.
Ability to remain calm when faced with challenging student behavior, including physically or verbally aggressive behavior
Ability to support behavior intervention plans, routines, and SEL instruction.
Ability to build supportive, respectful relationships with students and maintain appropriate boundaries.
Ability to adapt to changing needs, manage frequent interruptions, and maintain focus in a busy school environment.
Ability to supervise students safely in a variety of settings and respond appropriately in crisis or emergency situations.
Ability to follow district safety procedures and report concerns promptly.
Ability to be adaptable and flexible with collaborative critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities
Ability to assist students with toileting, feeding, hygiene, mobility, or positioning following training.
Ability to follow health plans and safety protocols with accuracy.
Clear and effective written and verbal communication skills
Strong customer service skills, with the ability to provide support in a professional and approachable manner
Commitment to handling sensitive and confidential information with the highest ethical standards
Strong interpersonal skills to collaborate with staff and various stakeholders
Ability to lead, communicate, interact and work effectively and cooperatively with people from diverse ethnic and educational backgrounds
Ability to follow applicable federal, state, local laws and Board of Education policies, in addition to building and department procedures
Ability to recognize the importance of safety in the workplace, follow safety rules, practice safe work habits, utilize appropriate safety equipment and report unsafe conditions to the appropriate administrator
Basic operating knowledge of computers, district-approved devices, and common educational technology tools.
Ability to use email, word processing, spreadsheets, and other standard office software.
Ability to operate typical office equipment such as copiers, printers, and telephones.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with children or students in educational or childcare settings preferred
Prior school district experience preferred
Experience supporting students with disabilities or diverse learning needs preferred

Responsibilities

Support teacher-directed instruction in individual, small-group, and classroom settings.
Assist in implementing IEP goals, accommodations, and modifications under the direction of licensed staff.
Prepare, adapt, and organize instructional materials, schedules, visuals, and multi-sensory supports as directed.
Reinforce academic skills through guided practice, prompting, cueing, and modeling.
Support assistive technology, communication tools, and other adaptive materials after training.
Collect data on student IEP goals, general education goals, behavior plans, and interventions.
Review collected data with special education staff to support progress monitoring.
Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential records.
Support implementation of positive behavior intervention plans and classroom routines.
Reinforce social-emotional learning strategies and teach replacement behaviors as directed.
Assist with de-escalation, redirection, and problem-solving strategies using district-approved practices.
Maintain a calm, supportive presence when students experience frustration or behavioral challenges.
Assist students with personal care needs such as toileting/diapering, hygiene, feeding, dressing, or medication support under direction or delegation by a School Nurse (RN).
Support mobility needs including walking, wheelchairs, lifts, positioning, or transferring as trained.
Follow student health and safety plans developed by district nursing and therapy staff.
Maintain a clean, sanitary environment and follow infection-control procedures.
Assist with delegated healthcare tasks as permitted by district policy and training.
Provide support with medication administration, G-tube feeding, seizure response, catheterization, or other delegated tasks as assigned.
Follow direction of licensed nursing staff and maintain accurate documentation.
Supervise students during transitions, recess, lunch, arrival/dismissal, hallways, and field trips.
Ensure student safety and monitor for risk during all activities.
Provide support on transportation (including riding buses) when assigned, with schedule adjustments as needed.
Participate in team meetings, planning sessions, and problem-solving meetings.
Attend building-level training, professional development, and assigned workshops.
Collaborate with teachers, specialists, and related service providers to support student needs.
Additional tasks, duties, and responsibilities may be assigned as needed/requested.