Special Ed. Paraprofessional

About the position

The Special Education Paraprofessional works under the direct supervision of the assigned teacher and the campus principal. Direction will also be given by the Director of Special Education. The Special Education Paraprofessional works under the direction of the Special Education teacher in providing appropriate distance, virtual or face to face instruction in the instructional program for special education students which is outlined in the students Individual Education Plan (IEP). The Special Education Paraprofessional will work closely with special education students on a regular basis in an effort to provide them with the physical help, academic assistance, and emotional support they need to progress toward the accomplishment of their goals and objectives.

Responsibilities

• Knowledgeable of class make-up and works directly with students as outlined in Individual Education Plan (IEP).
• Assists the student(s) to whom assigned in such physical tasks such as putting on and taking off outerwear, moving from room to room, using the lavatory, changing diapers, bathing, etc.
• Confers and plans daily with Special Education Teacher(s) on assigned activities.
• Hears the student(s) in recitation, reading and other curriculum tasks, guiding and helping them.
• Performs simple errands and tasks for student(s) such as sharpening pencils, carrying lunch trays, etc.
• Under supervision of the Special Education Teacher, works with individual students or groups of students to reinforce material initially introduced by the teacher through distance, virtual or face to face instruction.
• Accompanies the student(s) to whom assigned to the office, to the school nurse, or other locations as necessary.
• Establishes as fully as possible a supportive relationship with the student(s) without fostering or encouraging intense emotional involvement.
• Serves as a resource person, if and when requested, to the assessment team about one of the students to whom assigned.
• Under the direction and guidance of the teacher, prepares bulletin boards, maintains an attractive room environment, performs clerical tasks, runs off stencils or makes copies, sorts and prepares handouts, forms, changes and washes linens, etc.
• Assists the special education teacher in maintaining a safe and orderly classroom environment conducive to learning.
• Assists in organizing learning centers, educational games, and other instructional materials.
• Completes pre/post-testing or other assessment tasks under the direction and guidance of the teacher.
• Assists students with feeding and escorts students to and from breakfast and/or lunch, as needed.
• Receives and monitors students who arrive at school prior to the beginning of the school day and assists and monitors students in the afternoon in preparation for returning home.
• Escorts students to the bus, rides and assists the bus drivers on the bus, monitors behavior on the bus, alerts the bus driver to problems, delivers messages and receive messages, when necessary.
• Takes students to the restroom and assists with toileting needs, as directed and needed.
• Understands and implements district discipline management and I.E.P. goals and objectives for discipline and behavior management.
• Supervises the classroom and students when the teacher is out of the classroom.
• Follows confidentiality guidelines.
• Under the direction of the teacher, administers, scores and records such achievement and diagnostic tests as the teacher recommends for individual students.
• Operates and cares for equipment used in the classroom for instructional purposes and secures such items, when needed.
• Distributes and collects workbooks, papers, and other materials for instruction.
• Assists with the supervision of students during emergency drills, assemblies, play periods, field trips, etc.
• Keeps other classroom learning displays up to date.
• Assists with such large group activities such as drill work, reading aloud and story telling.
• Reads to students, listens to students read, and participates in other forms of oral communication with students.
• Acts as a role model for students for communication skills and monitors students' ability and performance in verbal communication.
• Assists students in the library or media center.
• Checks notebooks, corrects papers, and supervises testing and makeup work, as assigned by the teacher.
• Collects and records collection of money.
• Assists with lunch, snack and cleanup routines.
• Alerts the Special Education Teacher to any problems or special information about students.
• Serves as the chief source of information and helps substitute teachers assigned in the absence of the Special Education Teacher.
• Maintains the same level of ethical behavior and confidentiality of information about student as is expected of special education teachers.
• Participates in in-service training programs, as assigned.
• Performs all duties in a safe manner to avoid injury to oneself and/or to others.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• TEA certification requirements.
• No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 Requirements for Paraprofessionals that include one of the following: completed at least 2 years of study at an institution of higher education; or obtained an associate's 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, reading, writing, and mathematics; or knowledge of, and the ability to assist in instructing, reading readiness, writing readiness, and mathematics readiness, as appropriate.
• High School Graduate or GED.
• Ability to work with children with disabilities.
• Ability to manage time and organize work.
• Ability to communicate with parents.

Benefits

• Salary Range: $15.00 Minimum $22.44 Maximum
• Length of Work Year: 187 Days