Special Education Paraprofessional - 2026-2027

School District of Lancaster • Tbd, PA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

As an integral team member, this role provides students with the appropriate level of physical assistance, self-care, social and emotional support, and academic instruction needed to safely gain full benefits from the District's Special Education Program and services. The paraprofessional will assist students in various tasks to facilitate full access to educational programs, including support in lavatories, playground, lunchroom, and corridors/stairwells. They will also assist with one-to-one and small group instruction, implement behavior plans, ensure student safety, and maintain a safe and orderly environment. This role requires attending mandatory State annual training(s), collecting data on student activity and progress, completing daily logs, and attending to personal care needs such as toileting and feeding. The paraprofessional will guide safe transitions, assist in crisis situations, and perform classroom-related clerical work, including preparing and supplying audio-visual equipment, bulletin boards, and showcases. They will also assist in preparing instructional materials, inventorying and distributing educational materials, and supervising students requiring transportation. Additional duties include assisting students on and off the bus, following protocols for reporting conduct violations, and performing other related duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Requirements

• Associates Degree or High School Diploma/G.E.D. and evidence of education or testing requirements according to PDE guidelines.
• Valid PA Driver’s License required.
• Must have the ability to report to various locations based on need.
• Minimum 2 years of experience working with children with disabilities and/or medical experience required.
• Ability to work closely with students with specialized needs.
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to various and challenging environments.
• Ability to exercise a high tolerance for frustration and a high degree of patience.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to take initiative to creatively solve problems.
• Ability to work as an individual and as a team member.
• Ability to demonstrate a high degree of customer service skills and professionalism.
• Ability to operate computer and applicable software and devices.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion.
• Ability to support a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Nice To Haves

• First Aid/CPR certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist the student with a variety of tasks that would facilitate full access to educational programs.
• Assist student in lavatories, playground, lunchroom, and corridor/stairwells.
• Assist with one-to-one and small group instruction of students as assigned and directed by teacher.
• Follow and assist in implementing behavior plans.
• Ensure student safety by exercising ability to identify and alert of potential hazards that may occur.
• Maintain a safe and orderly environment for students.
• Required to attend mandatory State annual training(s).
• Collect data on student activity and progress assigned by teacher.
• Complete daily logs pertaining to support provided to the student and import daily medical access logs into a software program.
• Attend to all personal care needs of assigned student(s), which may include toileting, feeding, and changing.
• Guide safe transitions from activities to movement in hallways.
• Assist students in various crisis situations.
• Perform necessary classroom-related clerical work in an accurate and timely fashion.
• Prepare and supply audio-visual equipment, bulletin boards, and showcases as designated by the teacher.
• Assist in the preparation of instructional materials as directed.
• Inventory, distribute and collect educational materials from supply areas as requested.
• Supervise assigned student(s) who require(s) transportation to maintain good conduct in boarding areas and on the bus.
• Assist assigned students in getting on and off the bus in an orderly fashion.
• Follow protocol for recording and reporting student conduction violations.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by supervisor.
• Make telephone calls to parents as requested by the teacher.
• Monitor playground during lunch and after school.
• Occasionally attend IEP meetings to provide input into development of student’s educational program.
• Assist teachers with students while in general education classes, if appropriate.
• Provide substitute support when student absence impacts current assignment.
• Assist in maintaining child accounting records as needed.
• Collect and turn over to the school secretary any student personal items left on the bus.
• Assist with ambulation on and off the bus (walker, crutches, wheelchair).
• Must be willing to participate in ongoing professional development.

Benefits

• Equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex/gender, national origin, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree