Special Education Paraprofessional

West Ada School District • MERIDIAN, ID

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Assists special education teachers with students in the Resource Room, Extended Resource Room, Positive Behavior Intervention Program, Early Childhood Special Education Program, or Tuition Kindergarten program, and performs related work as required. The position supports implementation of students’ Individual Education Plans (IEPs). Paraprofessionals work with students with a range of mild to severe physical, emotional, and learning disabilities, either individually or in groups, in a separate classroom or while facilitating inclusion in a regular classroom. The position is directly supervised by the assigned Special Education Teacher, with overall supervision by the building Principal.

The primary duties are performed in a classroom environment and may involve exposure to body fluids and some risk of personal injury from student behaviors. Regular attendance is an essential function. Employment with the District is at will, and terms of employment are determined by calendar year.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED equivalent.
• For secondary-building special education paraprofessionals, must be at least 21 years old.
• Meet one of the following qualification routes: have two years of college credits; have a college degree; pass the ParaPro Praxis Assessment with a score of 457 or higher; or pass the Idaho Paraprofessional Testing Alternative with a score of 75% or higher.
• If the college-credit or degree requirement is not met and the Praxis has not been passed, the employee will be signed up for the Idaho Paraprofessional Assessment upon hire and must pass it within 90 days of the start date.
• Follow written and oral instructions and District policies and procedures.
• Interpret and adapt classroom instruction, materials, and presentations to the learning level of assigned students.
• Provide basic classroom services for students with special needs, including instruction, tutoring, evaluation, lesson planning, curriculum implementation, materials preparation, and classroom management.
• Remain calm and focused in high-stress situations; manage interruptions and multiple tasks; and complete work in a timely manner.
• Prepare and maintain required records, files, reports, logs, statistics, and documentation.
• Operate classroom instructional equipment and standard office equipment, including a personal computer and job-related software.
• Perform basic office tasks such as keyboarding, copying, and filing; manage time and schedules, meet deadlines, and set priorities.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Maintain student, school, and parental confidentiality and demonstrate integrity, ingenuity, and inventiveness.
• Meet the stated speech, hearing, vision, manual dexterity, mobility, agility, strength, and reflex requirements, with or without reasonable accommodation; be able to lift at least 25 pounds and physically interact with and control students, including applying prescribed restraint techniques.

Nice To Haves

• College or other advanced education or training.
• Classroom or other instructional experience.
• Experience with children with special needs.

Responsibilities

• Assist special education teachers in the special education program and implement students’ Individual Education Plans (IEPs).
• Help prepare lesson plans and prepare, modify, and adapt classroom materials and presentations.
• Assist with diagnostic, skills, and level testing.
• Help students with classroom and homework assignments, tutoring, and other supplemental instruction.
• Support students with socialization, personal hygiene, medications, physical therapy, nutrition, and related personal tasks as needed.
• Assist students individually and in groups, in separate classroom settings or through inclusion in regular classrooms.
• Help regular classroom teachers adapt presentations and materials for assigned students.
• Assist with classroom activities and management, lesson planning, grading, clerical and record-keeping duties, reports, files, and other documentation as directed.
• Perform substitute teacher duties when the teacher is absent.
• Perform clerical tasks including copying, entering records and data into a computer, faxing, and preparing text and documents.
• Help keep the classroom clean, neat, and orderly; prepare bulletin boards and displays; and maintain classroom supplies.
• Supervise students on field trips and related extracurricular activities.
• Perform school grounds, bus, noon, and other monitoring and safety duties as assigned.
• Participate in appropriate training, workshops, and in-service programs.
• Perform assigned work in accordance with District policies, procedures, and safety practices, and carry out other related duties as required.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED