SpEd Paraprofessional - Student Specific Support

Academy School District 20•Colorado Springs, CO

9d•$21 - $22•Onsite

About The Position

This position performs the day-to-day activities of teaching special education students under the supervision of a teacher. The paraprofessional does not make diagnostic or long-term education decisions. Assignments may involve non-traditional learning environments. Supports the principal and classroom teachers in implementing Significant Support Needs (SSN) programs and encourages a positive and safe learning environment. Assists licensed special education teachers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, nurses, and other evaluative staff in implementing goals for severely/profoundly disabled students. This position provides one-on-one support for a specific student and may follow the student if they transfer within the district. The district reserves the right to modify or change duties. Reports consistently for work as scheduled, performs other duties as assigned, and attains proficient or higher evaluations on established Performance Standards. Obtains and maintains necessary certifications. Performs tasks for student(s) such as meal preparation, feeding, and lunch clean-up, implementing communication, oral motor, sensory integration, and physical IEP goals. Carries out instructional programs and lessons in various learning environments. Works with small groups of students to reinforce material. Assists the student(s) with medical tasks, including dispensing medication, tube feeding, catheterization, toileting, diapering, and suctioning, which may involve exposure to bodily fluids. Cleans/disinfects bodily fluids. Works with confidential special education student information. Maneuvers and secures wheelchairs. Provides initial first aid/emergency care. Accompanies the student(s) with physical tasks like dressing and moving between locations. Carries out programming using physical therapy support equipment. Sanitizes equipment/materials. Monitors behavior contracts and reward systems. Trained and able to perform behavioral management through Nonviolent Crisis Intervention techniques. Assists with non-standardized testing. Develops and implements games and teaching aids. Tutors students. Assists students in preparation, production, and maintenance of materials and equipment. Coordinates completion of assignments with teachers and/or employers. Works with students in one-to-one/group situations. Assists students in finding library materials. Conducts story time. Monitors students during recess, hall duty, passing periods, and bus loading. Supervises students using computer programs. Supervises swimming pool, weight room, and/or therapy pool. Assists students in recitation, reading, and other curriculum tasks. Accompanies and assists students in the classroom. Attends pre-job training, ongoing training, and meetings. Assists students in community-based settings. Serves as a resource person to the student personnel evaluation team. Works with teachers to integrate assisted technology. Maintains student files and updates information. Maintains, orders, and organizes inventory. Collects data for assessment and monitoring. Completes daily paperwork. Performs miscellaneous clerical duties and assists other staff. Laminates materials and prepares bulletin boards.

Requirements

High school graduate - high school diploma or equivalent
Ability to adapt to changing technologies and to learn functionality of new equipment and systems
Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing
Ability to create, access, input, retrieve, and manipulate information in various software systems
Ability to establish and maintain accurate record keeping, document management, and filing systems
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with individuals from many diverse backgrounds and professions including supervisors, administrators, coworkers, staff, students, parents, and the general public
Ability to follow oral and written instructions
Ability to greet and interact with the public in a courteous and professional manner
Ability to maintain confidentiality
Ability to manage simultaneous demands and set clear priorities
Ability to work days, hours, locations, and assignments as directed by the supervisor within the position responsibilities
Ability to work independently without direct supervision
Commitment to the education of students as a primary responsibility
Communicates effectively with students and adults in a wide variety of settings
Computer proficiency including office productivity applications
Considerable knowledge of policies, procedures, and overall district functions
Demonstrated ability to manage simultaneous demands and set clear priorities
Demonstrated ability to work well with others in a team setting
Demonstrates citizenship, compassion, courage, discernment, excellence, honesty, hope, integrity, patience, perseverance, reliability, respect, responsibility, and trustworthiness
Demonstrates effective organizational and time management skills
Detail-oriented
Energetic, creative, innovative, flexible
Excellent cooperative, collaborative, and problem-solving skills
Knowledge of office methods and procedures
Knowledge of Special Education, other educational programming, and associated legal requirements as related to the needs of the students assigned to the teacher
Promotes a positive climate, culture, and community
Strong organizational, interpersonal, written, listening, and verbal communication skills
Student-centered and relationship-focused
Understanding of data privacy laws and their implications for the educational community
Willing to attend CO-TOP opportunities and other professional learning related to job
Willing to attend OT-PT training
Willing to receive on-the-job training specific to student needs (i.e., vision, hearing, motor, Braille, etc.)
Willing to be trained to carry out delegated nursing practices
Willingness to participate in ongoing training as required
Ability to meet the physical and self-help needs of students (toileting, feeding, dressing, and transfers)
Ability to physically restrain, following the guidelines of Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, an acting out student
Ability to physically escort a student to various locations (i.e., time-out area)
Ability to perform visual and auditory monitoring of student while in time-out/various locations
Typical demands require staff to lift/push/pull or carry up to 50 lbs.; may have to lift students when assistance is required; able to safely lift 50 lbs. each in a two person lift, and may be higher for some assignments depending on position and student need; climb stairs, ladders, and/or stools; reach, hold, grasp and turn objects; use fingers to operate computer keyboards; feel the shape, size and temperature of objects; and physically restrain students when necessary.

Responsibilities

Performs the day-to-day activities of teaching special education students under the supervision of a teacher.
Supports the principal and classroom teachers in implementing the Significant Support Needs (SSN) programs.
Assists licensed special education teachers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, nurses, and other evaluative staff in the implementation of goals for severely/profoundly disabled students.
Provides one-on-one support for a specific student.
Reports consistently for work as scheduled.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Attains proficient or higher evaluations on established Performance Standards.
Obtains and maintains certifications necessary to support students with special needs.
Performs tasks for student(s) such as meal preparation, feeding, and lunch clean-up.
Carries out instructional programs and lessons in various learning environments.
Works with small groups of students to reinforce material initially introduced by the teacher.
Assists the student(s) with medical tasks such as dispensing medication, tube feeding, catheterization, toileting, diapering, suctioning.
Cleans/disinfects regurgitation, blood, and urine.
Works with confidential special education student information.
Maneuvers and secures wheelchairs.
Provides initial first aid/emergency care.
Accompanies the student(s) assigned with physical tasks.
Carries out programming using physical therapy support equipment.
Sanitizes equipment/materials.
Monitors behavior contracts and reward systems for students.
Performs behavioral management through Nonviolent Crisis Intervention techniques when appropriate.
Assists with non-standardized testing of students.
Develops and implements games and teaching aids.
Tutors students in various subject areas.
Assists students in preparation, production, and maintenance of materials and equipment as assigned.
Coordinates completion of assignments and/or job tasks with classroom teachers and/or employers.
Works with students in one-to-one/group situations.
Assists students in finding materials and books in library.
Conducts story time for students.
Monitors students during recess, hall duty, passing periods, and/or loading of buses.
Supervises students in the use of various programs on the computer.
Supervises swimming pool, weight room, and/or therapy pool.
Assists the student(s) in recitation, reading, and other curriculum tasks.
Accompanies and assists the student(s) while in the classroom setting.
Attends pre-job training, ongoing training, and meetings as required.
Assists students in community-based settings.
Serves as a resource person to the student personnel evaluation team concerning an assigned student as needed.
Works with teachers to integrate assisted technology into classrooms.
Maintains student files updating information as appropriate.
Maintains, orders, and organizes inventory of materials and equipment for effective operation of program.
Collects data for assessment and monitoring purposes.
Completes daily paperwork (i.e. attendance reports, detention slips, student referral slips, various student passes, physical therapy charts, etc.).
Performs miscellaneous clerical duties and assists other staff members.
Laminates all material as needed.
Prepares bulletin boards for parents and programs.