Ed Para,Ex Ed,Nc,Non-Title I

Orange County Public Schools•Orlando, FL

About The Position

Under direct supervision, this position provides staff support in an educational or child care environment by assisting teachers and students. The paraprofessional works with certified teachers, occupational therapists, and other certified specialists in the education, care, and development of students with mental, physical, or emotional disabilities and other special needs. The role provides instructional, vocational, and developmental assistance to trainable and educable exceptional students under the direction of a certified teacher or other school official. Duties are performed according to the exceptional needs of assigned students. The position supports students’ learning and development, daily living skills, behavior, and participation in school activities. It may involve assisting with transfers and mobility, monitoring and documenting behavior, applying crisis-intervention procedures, preparing instructional materials, keeping student records, and supervising students in classrooms and other school areas. Employees may also support teachers in labs, help students understand lessons, and use special-needs equipment and standard office equipment. Candidates who have passed the Para Assessment, hold an associate’s degree, or have completed 60 semester credits may be eligible for a higher hourly rate in a certified position, subject to providing evidence. New hires must successfully complete ESE Training within 45 days of hire. Additional HRS training is preferred. The position requires the ability to meet substantial physical demands, including lifting and carrying heavy objects, and may involve exposure to adverse conditions such as violence when working with developmentally disabled or emotionally disturbed children. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
At least two years of experience working with school-age children in an educational environment, providing broad familiarity with and understanding of the physical and emotional behaviors and challenges of children with exceptional needs; an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be accepted.
Demonstrated stress-management skills.
Ability to meet the dexterity and physical requirements of the work and effectively attend to special needs.
Ability to carry out detailed but straightforward written or oral instructions and perform routine work according to standard practices.
Ability to exercise judgment and decisiveness when evaluating information against sensory, judgmental, or subjective criteria.
Ability to operate, maneuver, or control special-needs equipment and devices, as well as standard office equipment.
Ability to exert very heavy physical effort, including climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling heavy objects up to 100 pounds and occasionally heavier items.
All new hires must successfully complete ESE Training within 45 days of hire.
Depending on classroom assignment, may need basic arithmetic skills, including calculations with decimals and percentages, fractions, or interpretation of graphs.

Nice To Haves

Additional HRS training.
Passing score on the Para Assessment, an associate’s degree, or 60 completed semester credits may qualify candidates for a higher hourly rate in a certified position, with evidence provided.

Responsibilities

Provide instructional, vocational, and developmental assistance to students with special needs as prescribed by the supervising teacher.
Assist students arriving on buses and escort them to and from learning areas, including transferring students from wheelchairs to desks or floor mats.
Assist students with gross motor activities such as grasping, holding objects, maintaining posture, crawling, walking, and running.
Assist students with fine motor activities such as playing with toys, cutting materials, and coloring.
Assist students with daily living skills, including dressing, eating, lavatory needs, grooming, and personal hygiene.
Monitor, observe, and chart student behavior, documenting behavioral changes, outbursts, and other student-specific actions.
Apply crisis-intervention principles and procedures to students with aggressive behavior or social difficulties, including physical restraint when necessary in violent circumstances.
Reinforce school and learning-environment rules, encourage appropriate behavior, and help students understand inappropriate behavior.
Assist with lesson plans, behavior-modification plans, teacher pre-planning, learning activities, and the preparation of instructional and vocational materials.
Maintain accurate and complete records of student activities and behavior, enter information and data using a computer terminal when required, and complete applicable forms, schedules, and instructional reports.
Assist teachers in supervising classroom learning activities and provide students with assistance and learning support.
Perform assigned monitoring duties in areas such as hallways, lunchrooms, restrooms, and buses, ensuring appropriate student conduct.
Escort students to designated activity areas, including music rooms, computer rooms, art classes, and assemblies.
When assigned to labs, assist teachers and provide instruction or information to students; translate lesson plans and other information when needed to support student understanding.
Keep up to date on job-appropriate technology used by OCPS and attend district-supported training to maintain the required technology skill level.
Maintain timely and accurate information as part of job responsibilities.
Perform related duties as directed.