PK Paraprofessional (Sp Ed)

Southeast Polk Community School District•Pleasant Hill, IA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The PK Paraprofessional (Sp Ed) works under the supervision of teachers or other licensed personnel, who retain responsibility for designing and implementing education and related-service programs. The role contributes to students’ social, emotional, and intellectual growth and supports students with diverse needs at Altoona Elementary. The position is based on employment need; assigned hours and number of days depend on that need. The listed hours are 12:00–4:00 p.m., and the start date is as soon as possible. The paraprofessional supports instruction, student supervision, classroom activities, and student safety across school settings. Duties include assisting with individual or small-group instruction, supporting students’ physical or behavioral needs, preparing materials, maintaining a safe and orderly environment, completing assigned clerical and student-record tasks, and following teacher directives and IEPs. The role also requires communication and collaboration with staff, confidentiality, participation in required meetings and training, and other duties assigned by the teacher or principal. The job involves substantial physical activity and close interaction with children. Physical demands include standing, walking or running, changing positions, lifting and carrying specified weights, and working in varied temperatures and noisy environments. The employee may encounter body fluids and contagious illnesses and must use cleaning and sanitizing chemicals with appropriate protective equipment.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Paraeducator Certificate from the Iowa Department of Education.
Demonstrated ability to work successfully with the needs of Pre-K through 12th-grade students, including students with diverse needs.
Experience working in an educational setting.
Successful completion of a physical, criminal background check, child abuse registry check, and pre-work screening at time of hire.
Ability to obtain required training, including certification to administer medication to students, American Heart or Red Cross First Aid/CPR certification, and Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) training.
Ability to stand throughout the workday and work with interruptions.
Ability to work with students with different personalities, capabilities, and physical and mental limitations.
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds to waist level and carry equipment or supplies weighing up to 25 pounds for 50 feet.
Ability to stand, walk at variable speeds and durations (including running), change positions quickly, sit on and rise from the floor and child-height chairs, and sustain kneeling, crouching, bending, and leaning postures for up to 40 minutes at a time.
Willingness to come into contact with body fluids, including urine, feces, blood, and nasal secretions, and contagious diseases such as flu and the common cold.
Ability to use cleaning and sanitizing chemicals with appropriate personal protective equipment.
Ability to work in a broad range of temperatures, humidity, winter and summer conditions, and noisy environments.
Physical dexterity in limbs and digits sufficient to interact with children in playground and classroom environments.
Appropriate appearance and personal cleanliness for working in close proximity to school-age children and adults.
Ability to read and comprehend at the student’s grade level or above.
Ability to maintain patience, avoid becoming easily discouraged, and remain composed around occasional bad language, threats of physical violence, or students’ personal habits.

Nice To Haves

Successful work or volunteer experience with the disabled population.
Supervisory experience with school-age children.

Responsibilities

Assist with small-group and individual student instruction and supervision.
Help maintain a safe and orderly learning environment in classrooms, lunchrooms, playgrounds, and on field trips.
Assist with classroom setup and preparation of materials.
Assist students with physical or behavioral needs and follow IEPs and teacher directives.
Operate standard school equipment, including computers, copiers, and audio-visual equipment.
Complete assigned clerical tasks and keep assigned paperwork current and submitted on time, including Medicaid and student academic or behavioral data.
Use universal health precautions and maintain a clean, sanitary, orderly, and safe environment.
Communicate effectively with staff and interact positively with students using positive reinforcement and effective communication.
Maintain student confidentiality and discuss student needs only with staff who have an educational need to know.
Report to the assigned center as scheduled and follow clock-in and clock-out rules.
Implement daily activities, including crafts, board games, and large-group games or activities.
Ensure student health and safety in the building, outdoor play areas, and on field trips.
Record behavioral incidents, time-outs, problem reports, and accident reports as applicable.
Participate in home visits with the teacher when asked.
Assist with preparing, serving, and cleaning up breakfast, lunch, and snacks as needed.
Attend required staff meetings and maintain professional growth and required certifications and training, including Mandatory Reporting Training, First Aid, CPR, and annual Bloodborne Pathogens training.
Serve as a positive role model and help students become part of the class.
Perform other duties and responsibilities assigned by the teacher or principal.