Severe Needs Para Educator - Buffalo Trail Elementary School

Cherry Creek Schools•Aurora, CO

4h•Hybrid

About The Position

Under the guidance of licensed special education staff, the Severe Needs Para Educator assists students with severe special education needs. This involves helping individuals or small groups with curriculum, implementing programming, generalizing learned skills, and implementing behavior strategies. The role also supports licensed special education staff by preparing student materials, monitoring students, and recording student achievement and progress. Additionally, the para educator provides technical physical care for students and maintains a clean and hygienic work environment. In an online/remote setting, the role includes assisting students with remote learning access, re-teaching curriculum, implementing programming, setting up executive functioning strategies, generalizing learned skills, and completing assignments. Assignments may include Autism, Behavior Development (BD), Early Childhood Education, Homebound (FAPE) Program, Integrated Learning Center (ILC), Serious Emotional Disability (SED), and Transition Programming.

Requirements

Criminal background check and fingerprinting required
High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma
No professional work experience required
Title I assignments must meet one of the following requirements: Completed at least two years of study at an institution of higher education; or Obtained an associate’s or higher degree; or Met a rigorous standard of quality, and can demonstrate through a formal state or local academic assessment, knowledge of and the ability to assist in instructing, as appropriate: Reading/language arts, writing, and mathematics; or Reading readiness, writing readiness, and mathematics readiness
Mandatory biennial Crisis Prevention Intervention training provided by the District for staff working in an Autism, Behaviorally Disordered, or ILC assignment
Medication administration training provided by the District as needed
Basic knowledge of typical office equipment such as telephones, copiers, fax machines, email, etc.
Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office
Intermediate verbal and written communication skills
Intermediate interpersonal relations skills
Intermediate organizational skills
Ability to work alone and with others
Ability to appropriately modify curriculum
Ability to implement behavior modification techniques
Ability to diffuse and manage volatile and stressful situations
Ability to maintain confidentiality in all aspects of the job
Ability to work one-on-one and in small groups with students
If working in the DHH Program, ability to understand the impacts of hearing loss on learning and social interaction
If working in the Homebound program, ability to set appropriate boundaries and build appropriate relationships while working in the home setting with families and other student healthcare providers
If working in the Homebound program, the ability to have appropriate communication and boundaries with families while working in their homes with students

Nice To Haves

Experience working in the public sector, specifically public education
Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds
Racially conscious and culturally competent with the skill, will, capacity, and knowledge to commit to a culture of continuous improvement
Associate’s degree
Work with special needs children in a paid program or licensed special education teaching experience
Experience working with students with autism, behavior challenges, medically fragile conditions, hearing or vision loss, or intellectual disabilities
CPR and First Aid certification

Responsibilities

Assist students with classroom activities, including adapting the curriculum to individual student needs.
Assist with curriculum delivery to both individuals and small groups to ensure generalization of skills.
Implement student accommodations, supports, modifications, procedures, and programming outlined in the student's Individual Education Plan (IEP).
Maintain records of student progress and behavior in conjunction with licensed staff, which may include special reports, providing feedback, and reporting observations to the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team.
Assist special education licensed staff in preparing materials, administering tests, attendance, etc.
Assist with paperwork and documentation as needed.
Assist with other classroom events, such as fire drills, as necessary.
Perform other duties as assigned or requested.
Monitor students and reinforce appropriate behavior for individual student needs (ILC and Homebound).
Assist in verbal de-escalation and non-violent crisis interventions to reduce the risk of self-harm and harm to others (ILC and Homebound).
Assist student development of social interactions or communication between students with special needs and general education peers (ILC and Homebound).
Provide technical physical care for students with special needs as assigned, which may include toileting, grooming, cleaning ventilation devices, feeding, care of gastrostomy tube (G-tube), positioning, and improving range of motion (Autism Classroom or ILC).
Accurately follow student medication delivery orders, following training and as delegated by a registered school nurse (ILC and Homebound).
Monitor students and reinforce appropriate behavior for individual student needs (SED).
Assist in verbal de-escalation and non-violent crisis interventions to reduce the risk of self-harm and harm to others (SED).
Assist student development of social interactions or communication between students with special needs and general education peers (SED).
Assist small groups of students or individuals with online classroom activities, during synchronous or asynchronous learning, including curriculum accommodations or modifications (Online/Remote).
Assist with curriculum delivery or practice to ensure generalization of skills (Online/Remote).
If working in DHH Program, develop student language, vocabulary, reading, and writing using sign language for students who need a signing para-educator (Online/Remote).
Prepare assignments for students to complete at home and support students in completing assigned work (Online/Remote).
Maintain records of student progress and behavior in conjunction with the licensed staff, which may include special reports, providing feedback, and reporting observations to the Individualized Education Program team (Online/Remote).
Support students in troubleshooting technology issues (Online/Remote).
Perform other duties as assigned or requested (Online/Remote).