Preschool Paraprofessional

West Ada School District•STAR, ID

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Assists special education teachers with students in the Resource Room, Extended Resource Room, Positive Behavior Intervention Program, Early Childhood Special Education Program, or Tuition Kindergarten program, and performs related work as required. The paraprofessional works with students with a range of mild to severe physical, emotional, and learning disabilities, individually or in groups, in a separate classroom or by facilitating inclusion in a regular classroom. The primary duties are performed in a classroom and may involve exposure to body fluids and some risk of personal injury from student behaviors. The position receives general supervision from the special education teacher, with overall supervision by the building principal. Regular attendance and adherence to the prescribed work schedule are essential. Employment is at will. Employment terms are determined by calendar year. The position is evaluated yearly by a supervisor.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED equivalent.
Meet the paraprofessional qualification through at least two years of college credits, a college degree, a ParaPro Praxis Assessment score of 457 or higher, or an Idaho Paraprofessional Testing Alternative score of 75% or higher.
If the college credit or degree requirement is not met and the Praxis has not been passed, take the Idaho Paraprofessional Assessment after hire and pass it within 90 days of the start date.
Be at least 21 years old to work as a special education paraprofessional in a secondary (middle or high school) building.
Knowledge of basic educational procedures and objectives, including classroom instruction, teaching-material preparation, behavior management, testing and grading, tutoring, and student-teacher interactions.
Knowledge of basic special education methods and procedures for students with mild to severe physical, emotional, or learning disabilities.
Knowledge of classroom instructional equipment, standard office equipment, personal computers, and job-related software.
Ability to follow written and oral instructions and District policies and procedures.
Ability to interpret and adapt classroom instructions, materials, and presentations to students’ appropriate learning levels.
Ability to provide basic classroom services for students with special needs, including instruction, tutoring, student evaluation, lesson planning, curriculum implementation, materials preparation, and classroom management.
Ability to remain calm and focused in high-stress situations and handle multiple tasks and interruptions while completing work in a timely manner.
Ability to prepare and maintain records, files, reports, logs, statistics, and documentation.
Ability to perform basic office tasks, including keyboarding, copying, and filing; manage time and schedules, meet deadlines, and prioritize tasks.
Ability to establish effective working relationships with students, teachers, staff, and other District personnel; communicate effectively orally and in writing; and maintain student, school, and parent confidentiality.
Ability to demonstrate integrity, ingenuity, and inventiveness in assigned work.
Maintain regular attendance and follow the prescribed work schedule.
Sufficient speech and hearing, with or without reasonable accommodation, to discern verbal instructions, communicate in person, and hear normal conversation.
Sufficient visual acuity, with or without reasonable accommodation, to comprehend written instructions and prepare and review written and text documents.
Sufficient manual dexterity, with or without reasonable accommodation, to interact physically with secondary-level students with disabilities and operate classroom and office equipment, including a personal computer.
Sufficient mobility, agility, strength, and reflexes, with or without reasonable accommodation, to bend, stoop, kneel, stand, or sit for extended periods, lift at least 25 pounds, and physically interact with and control students, including applying prescribed restraint techniques.

Nice To Haves

College or other advanced education or training.
Classroom or other instructional experience.
Experience with children with special needs.

Responsibilities

Assist special education teachers in the special education program and implement students’ Individual Education Plans (IEPs).
Help prepare lesson plans and prepare, modify, or adapt classroom materials and presentations.
Assist with diagnostic, skills, and level testing.
Help students with classroom and homework assignments, tutoring, and supplemental instruction.
Assist students with socialization, personal hygiene, medications, physical therapy, nutrition, and other personal tasks as needed.
Support students individually and in groups in separate classroom settings or through inclusion in regular classrooms.
Help regular classroom teachers adapt presentations and materials for assigned students.
Assist with classroom activities and management, lesson plans, grading, clerical and record-keeping duties, reports, files, and other documentation as directed.
Perform substitute teacher duties when the teacher is absent.
Perform clerical tasks such as copying, entering records and data into a computer, faxing, and preparing text and documents.
Help keep the classroom clean, neat, and orderly; prepare bulletin boards and displays; and maintain classroom supplies.
Supervise students on field trips and related extracurricular activities.
Perform school grounds, bus, noon, and other assigned monitoring and safety duties.
Participate in appropriate training, workshops, and in-service programs.
Perform assigned work in accordance with District policies, procedures, and safety practices, and complete other related duties as required.
Maintain regular attendance and adhere to the prescribed work schedule.