Middle School ASD Paraprofessional

Kenowa Hills Public Schools•Grand Rapids, MI

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Kenowa Hills Public Schools is seeking a compassionate, dependable, and student-centered Special Education Paraprofessional to support students with disabilities in academic, behavioral, social-emotional, communication, functional, and adaptive skill development throughout the school day. The role is based at Kenowa Hills Middle School and is an in-person position requiring regular on-site attendance; its essential functions cannot be performed remotely. The schedule is 6.83 hours per day and 34.15 hours per week. Salary and benefits are as outlined in the Support Staff Manual. The paraprofessional works collaboratively with special education teachers, general education staff, therapists, administrators, transportation staff, and families to help create safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environments. The position requires flexibility, energy, a relationship-focused approach, and the ability to respond effectively to changing student needs. CPI and Ukeru training are required as a condition of employment, and district training is provided. The work environment may involve moderate to high noise levels, frequent movement, changing student needs, crisis situations, and unpredictable student behaviors. Physical demands include frequent movement throughout the day, assisting students with physical and personal care needs, lifting or assisting with items weighing up to 50 pounds, and working indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The selected candidate must receive Michigan State Police clearance before employment through Livescan fingerprinting. The candidate is responsible for the fingerprinting background check fee.

Requirements

Meet Michigan paraprofessional qualification requirements through one of the following: an associate's degree or higher; a minimum of 60 earned college credit hours; or a passing score on the ETS ParaPro Assessment. Applicants who do not meet one of these requirements are not eligible for employment.
CPI and Ukeru training are required as a condition of employment; district training is provided.
Use age-appropriate language, tone, and instructional practices when working with students.
Establish and maintain routines while adapting to changing student needs.
Function effectively and collaborate regularly as a member of an instructional team.
Maintain reliable and consistent attendance, an essential function of the position.
Work independently with minimal supervision.
Support classroom instruction, intervention activities, and student learning.
Process paperwork, collect student data, and maintain accurate records.
Communicate effectively and develop positive relationships with students, families, and staff.
Maintain confidentiality and professionalism at all times.
Meet the physical demands of the position, including lifting, transferring, repositioning, pushing, pulling, and assisting students, equipment, and instructional materials weighing up to 50 pounds.
Receive Michigan State Police clearance prior to employment through Livescan fingerprinting; the candidate is responsible for the fingerprinting background check fee.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with Pre-K–12 students.
Experience working with students with disabilities, behavioral needs, communication needs, sensory needs, or diverse learning needs.

Responsibilities

Support implementation of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).
Assist students academically in individual, small-group, and classroom settings.
Support behavior intervention plans, social-emotional learning goals, communication goals, and functional skill development.
Provide instructional support during core instruction, intervention periods, specials, lunch, recess, field trips, community-based instruction, assemblies, and school activities.
Assist students with transitions throughout the school day.
Collect student data and maintain accurate documentation related to IEP goals and objectives.
Support implementation of accommodations, modifications, and behavior support plans.
Collaborate with teachers, therapists, administrators, transportation staff, and families.
Support students exhibiting behavioral, emotional, communication, sensory, or self-regulation challenges.
Assist students with toileting, feeding, mobility, positioning, and other personal care needs as assigned.
Utilize CPI and Ukeru strategies as trained when responding to student dysregulation or behavioral concerns.
Participate in field trips, community outings, assemblies, school events, and extracurricular activities as assigned.
Maintain active supervision and safety awareness across classrooms, hallways, cafeterias, playgrounds, buses, and community settings.
Move quickly and respond immediately to student safety concerns, medical needs, emergencies, or behavioral incidents.
Perform additional duties as assigned.