SpEd Paraprofessional - Student Specific Support

Academy School District 20•Colorado Springs, CO

10d•$21 - $22•Onsite

About The Position

The SpEd Paraprofessional - Student Specific Support provides day-to-day instructional and personal support to students receiving special education services under a teacher’s supervision. The role supports the principal and classroom teachers in implementing Significant Support Needs programs and fostering a positive, safe learning environment. The paraprofessional assists licensed special education teachers, occupational and physical therapists, nurses, and other evaluative staff in implementing goals for students with significant disabilities. The role does not make diagnostic or long-term educational decisions. Assignments may take place in nontraditional learning environments, including off-campus work sites. This position provides one-on-one support for a specific student and follows that student if they transfer within the district. If student needs change at the assigned school, the employee may be required to work at another school during the school year. Duties include implementing teacher-designed lessons and IEP goals; assisting with medical, feeding, mobility, and personal-care needs; supporting behavior and learning; collecting assessment data; maintaining records and equipment; and communicating and coordinating with school staff. The position requires training related to student needs, including delegated nursing practices and physical or occupational therapy support. The position is based at Discovery Canyon Campus Elementary School. The work is generally performed in a classroom and may include visits to homes, schools, offices, or job sites. The work environment may vary from quiet to loud and may involve exposure to fumes, high noise levels, conflict situations, or student medical emergencies. Scheduled school/work hours are required; extended hours or days may be required as directed. Compensation is $21.02–$22.07 per hour. The schedule is 37.5 hours per week, 7.5 hours per day, for 176 weekdays per year. Benefits eligibility is listed as full-time regular.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Ability to adapt to changing technologies and learn new equipment and systems.
Effective verbal and written communication; ability to communicate with students and adults in a variety of settings.
Computer proficiency, including office productivity applications and the ability to create, access, enter, retrieve, and manipulate information in software systems.
Ability to establish and maintain accurate records, document management, and filing systems.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and understand data privacy laws and their implications for the educational community.
Ability to follow oral and written instructions, work independently, manage competing demands, set priorities, and work days, hours, locations, and assignments as directed.
Ability to establish effective working relationships with supervisors, administrators, coworkers, staff, students, parents, and the public, including people from diverse backgrounds and professions.
Commitment to student education and a student-centered, relationship-focused approach; ability to work collaboratively and promote a positive climate, culture, and community.
Knowledge of district policies, procedures, and functions; office methods and procedures; and special education, educational programming, and related legal requirements as relevant to assigned students.
Strong organizational, interpersonal, written, listening, verbal communication, time-management, cooperative, collaborative, and problem-solving skills; attention to detail.
Energetic, creative, innovative, and flexible approach; demonstrate reliability, patience, respect, integrity, responsibility, and other professional values listed in the posting.
Willingness to attend CO-TOP and other professional learning opportunities, OT-PT training, and ongoing training; receive student-specific on-the-job training and training to carry out delegated nursing practices.
Ability to meet students’ physical and self-help needs, including toileting, feeding, dressing, and transfers; physically restrain or escort students when necessary under applicable guidelines.
Ability to sit, stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch or squat, climb stairs, ladders, or stools, and reach, hold, grasp, turn, and carry objects; typical lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying may be up to 50 pounds, with student lifting requirements varying by assignment.
Ability to perform visual and auditory monitoring and use oral, auditory, visual, hand, and finger coordination to interact and operate equipment.

Responsibilities

Report consistently for work as scheduled and perform other duties as assigned.
Obtain and maintain certifications necessary to support students with special needs, and attain proficient or higher evaluations on established performance standards.
Prepare meals, assist with feeding and clean-up, and support communication, oral motor, sensory integration, and physical IEP goals.
Carry out instructional programs and lessons in designated learning environments and reinforce teacher-introduced material with small groups under teacher supervision.
Assist students with medical tasks, which may include dispensing medication, tube feeding, catheterization, toileting, diapering, and suctioning; clean and disinfect bodily fluids and follow infectious-disease-control practices.
Work with confidential special education information and maintain student files and records.
Maneuver and secure wheelchairs; assist students with dressing, moving between rooms, using the lavatory, and other physical tasks.
Provide initial first aid or emergency care and carry out programming using physical therapy support equipment; sanitize equipment and materials.
Monitor behavior contracts and reward systems and use Nonviolent Crisis Intervention techniques when appropriate.
Assist with non-standardized testing; develop games and teaching aids; tutor students; and assist with preparation, production, and maintenance of materials and equipment.
Coordinate assignments and job tasks with classroom teachers or employers, and work with students one-to-one or in groups.
Assist students in the library, conduct story time, support recitation, reading, and other curriculum tasks, and accompany students in the classroom and community-based settings.
Monitor students during recess, hall duty, passing periods, bus loading, and use of computer programs; supervise swimming pools, weight rooms, or therapy pools as assigned.
Attend required pre-job training, ongoing training, and meetings; serve as a resource to the student personnel evaluation team concerning an assigned student as needed.
Work with teachers to integrate assistive technology into classrooms; collect assessment and monitoring data; maintain and organize program materials and equipment.
Complete daily paperwork and miscellaneous clerical duties, assist other staff, laminate materials as needed, and prepare bulletin boards for parents and programs.