Special Education Paraprofessional

Forest Hills Public School District • Grand Rapids, MI

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Under the direct supervision of a classroom teacher and the guidelines stated in the student’s IEP, provide a variety of support duties related to delivering a sound academic program and maintaining a healthy, safe, and supportive school environment for children with special needs. Special education paraprofessionals may be assigned one-on-one assignments or small group assignments depending on the nature of the student(s) disability and the educational setting.

Requirements

• Willingness to complete CPI training
• Ability to maintain the confidentiality of students, schools, teachers and classrooms
• Stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, talk, hear (in a quiet or noisy environment).
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust/focus.
• Compare, analyze, communicate both orally and in writing, copy, coordinate, instruct, compute, synthesize, evaluate, use interpersonal skills, compile and negotiate.

Nice To Haves

• Associate’s degree
• Experience working in an academic environment
• Experience working with school age youth
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a team
• Excellent organizational, communication, and recordkeeping skills

Responsibilities

• Assist the classroom teacher(s) with the delivery of instructional materials.
• Adapt curriculum and provide parallel activities.
• Assist with communication.
• Assist students with academic work.
• Read, listen to, and record student responses.
• Supervise academic testing.
• Correct student work.
• Provide physical assistance for the student(s) as necessary including: assisting with wheelchairs, walkers, and other support devices; assisting with computers; turning pages of texts; dressing, toileting, and hygiene assistance; assistance with health care devices; loading students on and off buses.
• Monitor and avoid unnecessary environmental cues that may distract and disturb the student(s).
• Use calming techniques.
• Assist the teacher with developing behavioral intervention program(s) for the student(s).
• Remove the student from the room when necessary.
• Safely restrain the student when necessary.
• Participate in a variety of meetings related to the student(s).
• Escort or accompany student(s) while traveling in the school.
• Supervise student(s) during lunch and recess periods.
• Assist student(s) with field trips, community based outings, and the like.
• Provide assistance in vocational job site settings.
• Attend staff meetings as requested.
• Attend professional learning as requested.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• In accordance with the Administrative Support Staff Agreement Terms of Employment

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree