Special Education Para Educator 3 - 2026-27 Phantom Lake

Bellevue School District • Bellevue, WA

21h • Onsite

About The Position

The Para Educator III assists and supports students with identified individual learning needs to maximize their success. The role provides physical, health, safety, social, emotional, behavioral, and educational support for students with significant disabilities. It implements required components of students’ Individual Education Programs (IEPs), provides direct academic, functional, vocational, and specially designed instruction, and supports students in their least restrictive environment while fostering independence. The position also responds to student medical needs within its scope and performs other job-related duties as assigned.

The position reports directly to and is supervised by the building administrator, and receives direction from assigned certificated staff. The assignment is 32 hours per week over 192 days per year. The location may change during the school year, and continuing professional education is required under state requirements. The posted hourly pay range is $29.51–$31.41, with a starting rate of $29.51, based on the negotiated collective bargaining agreement. Medical, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance eligibility is based on working 630 hours within a school year; retirement is provided through Washington State Department of Retirement Systems.

Requirements

• High school graduation or equivalent.
• At least one of the following: ETS Paraeducator Assessment; an Associate of Arts degree, supported by original transcripts; 72 quarter credits or 48 semester credits at an institution of higher education, supported by original transcripts; or completion of a registered apprenticeship program, supported by a certificate. Foreign degrees are accepted if evaluated by a NACES member company.
• First Aid/CPR certification.
• A Washington State Driver’s License Type II may be required for some assignments.
• Demonstrated effective oral and written communication skills and ability to follow oral and written directions.
• Ability to work effectively as a team member and maintain positive relationships with students, staff, parents, and the public.
• Ability to work with students in a warm and confident manner, model and monitor appropriate student behavior, and maintain confidentiality and respect among students, parents, and teachers.
• Knowledge of child development, children’s behavior, reading, writing, arithmetic, safety procedures, behavior modification programs including restraint techniques, adaptive technology and equipment, non-violent crisis intervention and de-escalation, basic therapy techniques and procedures, and functional life skills and activities of daily living.
• Ability to perform activities of daily living, including feeding and toileting by various means; provide appropriate care for students who experience seizures; and properly restrain students whose severe behavior poses danger to themselves or others.
• Multicultural sensitivity and ability to work effectively and collaboratively with diverse populations.
• Ability to perform duties in accordance with applicable Board policies and district and legal requirements, and to meet punctuality and attendance expectations.
• Ability to perform the listed physical activities and meet the physical requirements, including heavy work involving exertion of up to 100 pounds occasionally, 50 pounds frequently, and 20 pounds constantly; ability may be tested.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with students in self-contained learning settings.
• Experience working individually with students with diverse aptitudes and levels of achievement.
• Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) training.
• Right Response Training.
• Experience working individually with students with diverse aptitudes and levels of achievement and/or with behaviorally disabled students.

Responsibilities

• Provide for students’ physical, health, and safety needs.
• Provide social, emotional, behavioral, and educational support for students with significant disabilities.
• Implement components of Individual Education Programs (IEPs) as required.
• Provide direct academic, functional, vocational, and specially designed instruction.
• Advocate for and support students with disabilities in their least restrictive environment.
• Support students with significant emotional regulation challenges.
• Ensure the safety of students and staff when responding to escalated behavior, based on student needs.
• Encourage and foster student independence in all settings.
• Collect data as directed by the case manager or teacher.
• Respond to student medical needs within the scope of the position.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life-insurance eligibility after 630 hours worked within a school year.
• Retirement provided through Washington State Department of Retirement Systems.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED