Paraprofessionals - ESI

Portage Public Schools • Portage, MI

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The paraprofessional provides instructional and non-instructional support to special education students in the least restrictive environment under the direction of a teacher. The position may involve serving as a liaison between special and regular education teachers, supporting teacher reports with additional information at IEPs and conferences, and working with different students as assigned. This position is for the 2026–27 school year at Amberly Elementary School and pays $18.00 per hour.

Requirements

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
• Either the equivalent of two years of college (60 semester credits), an associate degree or higher, or successful completion of the MDE-approved Paraprofessional standards test (ETS).
• Experience working with children.
• Demonstrated interpersonal communication abilities.
• Patience and willingness and ability to learn new skills and take direction.

Responsibilities

• Assist the teacher during lessons, including clarifying or completing assignment instructions.
• Work with individual students or small groups on follow-up activities and reinforce instruction through drill activities.
• Record student performance data, observe and chart behavior, and help administer behavior-modification principles.
• Administer and score standardized, criterion-referenced, or teacher-made tests.
• Support students with daily living and personal-care needs, including dressing, lifting and positioning, diapering, opening food containers, feeding, seating, and keeping to schedules.
• Assist with medical needs, which may include catheterizing and removing or attaching splints, casts, or braces.
• Supervise students during playground and offsite activities and monitor independent wheelchair or walker travel to ensure safety.
• Accompany students in the pool.
• Fill out, distribute, and collect checklists.
• Monitor students to develop independence in daily living skills.
• Supervise students during non-instructional periods, including snack time, study hall, lunch, free time, recess, bathroom breaks, and transitions to gym, lunch, or the bus.
• Transfer students to and from the bus.
• Physically restrain students as needed and assist with implementing behavior-management programs.
• Maintain regular and consistent attendance and comply with Portage Public Schools Employee Handbook policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

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