Special Education Paraprofessional

St. Landry Parish School Board•Opelousas, LA

17h•Onsite

About The Position

The Special Education Paraprofessional assists Special Education teachers in meeting the goals set forth for students in their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). This role may require movement between program areas within the school day and/or between schools during the academic year. Paraprofessionals assigned to support an individual child are also expected to provide support to other students as needed. The Special Education Paraprofessional assists the teacher with instructional-related activities and non-instructional assignments under the supervision of the teacher, working one-on-one or in small groups. They work directly with students under the direction of instructional and/or pupil appraisal staff, including specialists like speech pathologists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists. The role involves performing non-complex medical procedures as outlined by Louisiana law, assisting and escorting students, and attending to their personal hygiene and care needs. This includes feeding, toileting, lifting, positioning, and assisting with transporting students upon proper instruction. Paraprofessionals make accommodations/modifications for students as directed by supervising teachers, guide independent study, enrichment work, and remedial work, and confer with the classroom teacher on student assignments or disciplinary issues. They also assist the special education teacher with planning, grading, monitoring behaviors, distributing/collecting materials, and maintaining classroom neatness. Additional duties include playground duty and escorting students to various school locations. The role requires monitoring student behavior, maintaining documentation of care, and ensuring student information confidentiality. Instructional support staff are also expected to complete self-evaluations, develop professional growth plans, supervise students on campus (before school, between classes, during recess/lunch, after school), and fulfill duties traditionally expected of paraprofessionals, including punctuality, collaboration, adherence to policies, and conducting conferences. They are expected to interact positively with parents regarding student performance or conduct, follow recommendations from administrators, and participate in in-service programs. School support activities include caring for school property, maintaining inventory, attending various meetings (faculty, staff, department, ILT, IEP/IAP, parent-teacher, discipline, school board), and potentially co-curricular duties assigned by the principal. They may also be responsible for concessions/gates at athletic events and attending meetings for sponsored activities.

Requirements

High School Diploma or its equivalent
Must be Highly Qualified by means of: Passing score on the Paraprofessional Exam OR 48 semester credit hours with 6 hours in Math and 9 hours in English/Reading (3 of which must be in English Composition) OR Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, or Associate of Applied Science degree from a state-approved or regionally accredited institution of higher education.
Must possess effective written and oral self-expressive skills.
Satisfactory completion of Red Cross First Aid Course including CPR within 60 days of employment.

Responsibilities

Assist the teacher with instructional-related activities and non-instructional assignments under the supervision of the teacher (one-on-one or small group).
Work directly with students under the direction of instructional and/or pupil appraisal staff.
Perform non-complex medical procedures as outlined in Louisiana R.S. 17:436.
Assist and escort the student(s) to and from each destination and attend to the student’s personal hygiene and care needs.
Feed, toilet, lift, position, and assist with transporting students, upon proper instruction.
Make accommodations/modifications for students under direction of supervising teacher(s).
Guide independent study, enrichment work, and remedial work set up and assigned by the teacher.
Confer with the classroom teacher regarding major decisions relative to the students' assignments or problems of a disciplinary nature.
Assist the special education teacher specifically in activities related to the course of instruction; in planning, grading students' activities related to the course of instruction; in monitoring behaviors; in distributing and collecting instructional materials; and in maintaining neatness in the classroom.
Assist the teaching staff with duties such as playground duty, escorting students to and from the cafeteria, gymnasium, library, vocational training area, bathroom, etc.
Monitor student behavior and maintain documentation of care provided to the child.
Maintain confidentiality of student information.
Perform other job related duties as assigned.
Complete a self-evaluation and document the results on appropriate written forms.
Develop a Professional Growth Plan in collaboration with the evaluation.
Supervise students as needed when students are on campus, prior to school and/or drop-off, in the classroom, between classes, during recess/intermission, during lunch, assemblies, and after school and/or pick-up, when assigned.
Fulfill duties traditionally expected of those in the paraprofessional profession.
Accept and discharge assignments.
Practice and model punctuality.
Collaborate with colleagues and departments.
Adhere to federal, state, system, and school policies and regulations.
Conduct conferences as needed.
Maintain positive and timely interaction with parents relative to the performance or conduct of students assigned to the counselor.
Follow recommendations made by school administrators and district staff.
Take part in the continuing in-service program of the schools.
Provide for the care and proper usage of school property.
Maintain current inventory of items assigned to position.
Attend meetings generally associated with the instruction of students.
Attend faculty, staff, and department meetings.
Attend ILT meeting if applicable.
Attend training sessions.
Attend IEP/IAP meetings, upon request.
Attend parent-teacher conferences, upon request.
Attend back-to-school and open-house events.
Attend graduation.
Attend student discipline meetings/hearings, upon request.
Attend school board/committee meetings, upon request.
If requested, be responsible for a reasonable amount of co-curricular and other duties beyond the regular school day as determined by the building principal.
Attend/work concessions/gates at athletic events within school year.
Attend all meetings and functions of those activities, clubs, or groups of which the employee is a sponsor/coach.