Special Education Paraprofessional (25-26)

KIPP • Austin, TX

95d

About The Position

KIPP Texas Public Schools is a network of 54 public charter, open-enrollment, pre-k-12 schools educating nearly 32,000 students across Austin, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Houston, and San Antonio. Together with families and communities, our mission is to create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose —college, career, and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more fair world. Founded in Houston in 1994 and operating as KIPP Texas since 2018, we are looking to hire a diverse team of dynamic, collaborative, and dedicated individuals with an unyielding belief that every child will succeed. Join a Team and Family with an unwavering commitment to creating classrooms, offices, and communities rooted in belongingness, academic success and joy. If you are passionate about joining a mission and values-driven community who wants every child to want to run to school, the KIPP Texas Team and Family is for you! KIPP Public Schools is a national network of public charter schools that prepares students with the skills and confidence to create the future they want for themselves, their communities, and us all. We are a network of 278 schools with nearly 16,500 educators and 190,000 students and alumni.

Requirements

• High school diploma or its recognized equivalent
• Complete at least two years of study at an institution of higher education (defined as completion of 48 semester hours or equivalent trimester hours) or possess an associate’s (or higher) degree
• Meet 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
• Satisfactory outcome of a background check
• Prior experience working in inclusion, life skills and/or behavioral support setting (preferred)
• Experience working with students or parents as approved by the employing superintendent
• Physical and emotional endurance to deal with challenging students; maintain emotional control under stress
• Ability to work with students with physical, emotional, and/or intellectual disabilities
• Ability to engage in restraints such as hug containment, elbow to hip containment, and two-person containment with middle school students on a regular basis
• Ability to lift and position students with physical disabilities or assist students with personal hygiene routines such as toileting, hand washing, feeding, etc.
• Knowledge of classroom management and child development techniques and principles
• Knowledge of all applicable federal, state, and local laws, guidelines, and procedures
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus

Nice To Haves

• Strong record of helping students achieve academic success
• Strong desire to teach an academically intense curriculum and commit to an extended school day, week, and year
• Desire to continuously learn and increase effectiveness as a teacher and professional; offer and receive constructive feedback
• Willingness to be flexible and to go above and beyond to meet the needs of KIPP Texas students

Responsibilities

• Work with students in instructional and classroom activities at the direction of the special education and/or general education teacher
• Assist with direct academic, functional and/or specifically designed instructional or physical activities
• Tutor individual students and help them prepare assignments or explain material they do not understand
• Supervise and accompany special education students to the office, bus, classroom, cafeteria, etc.
• Communicate regularly with classroom teacher and parents regarding student’s needs and progress
• Some positions may require the employee to be able to stay with excessively disruptive or aggressive students during which time the employee may need to restrain, hold, lift, apply physical management techniques, and crisis intervention techniques for the student
• Provide clerical support to teachers which may include, but is not limited to, creating photocopies, preparing materials, etc.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision options
• Life insurance
• Disability plans

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees