SpEd Paraprofessional - Significant Support Needs (SSN)

Academy School District 20•Colorado Springs, CO

13d•Onsite

About The Position

The SpEd Paraprofessional - Significant Support Needs (SSN) supports special education students in day-to-day instructional activities under the supervision of a teacher. The paraprofessional does not make diagnostic or long-term educational decisions. Assignments may take place in traditional or non-traditional learning environments, including off-campus work sites. The role supports the principal and classroom teachers in implementing SSN programs and fostering a positive, safe learning environment, and assists special education teachers, therapists, nurses, and other evaluative staff in implementing goals for students with severe or profound disabilities. This position addresses current student needs at Chinook Trail Elementary School. If student needs change, the employee may be reassigned to another school during the school year. Duties include supporting instruction and student IEP goals; assisting with personal care, feeding, delegated medical tasks, mobility, and behavioral support; monitoring students in classrooms and other settings; and maintaining student information, records, materials, and equipment. The role also includes clerical work, data collection, training, and collaboration with teachers, employers, families, and other staff. The position is generally performed in a classroom and may involve visits to homes, schools, offices, or job sites. Work may include variable noise levels, exposure to bodily fluids, fumes, or high noise, and potential conflict or student life-threatening situations. Physical demands include frequent movement and assisting students with care, transfers, lifting, and restraint when necessary. The position is scheduled for 37.5 hours per week, 7.5 hours per day, Monday through Friday, for 176 days per year, and may require extended work hours or days as directed.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing and to interact with students and adults in varied settings.
Computer proficiency, including office productivity applications and the ability to use software systems to create, access, enter, retrieve, and manipulate information.
Ability to maintain accurate records and 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, prioritize simultaneous demands, and adapt to changing technologies and equipment.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with diverse students, families, coworkers, administrators, supervisors, and members of the public.
Commitment to students' education as a primary responsibility and ability to work effectively with others in a team setting.
Knowledge of office methods and procedures, district policies and functions, and special education, educational programming, and associated legal requirements related to assigned students.
Strong organizational, interpersonal, written, listening, verbal communication, time-management, cooperative, collaborative, and problem-solving skills; attention to detail.
Ability to work days, hours, locations, and assignments as directed within the position's responsibilities.
Willingness to attend CO-TOP opportunities and other job-related professional learning, OT-PT training, and ongoing training.
Willingness to receive student-specific on-the-job training, such as vision, hearing, motor, or Braille training, and training to carry out delegated nursing practices.
Ability to meet the physical and self-help needs of students, including toileting, feeding, dressing, and transfers.
Ability to physically escort and, following Nonviolent Crisis Intervention guidelines, restrain students when necessary; ability to visually and auditorily monitor students.
Ability to perform duties involving sitting, standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching or squatting, reaching, grasping, and using computer keyboards and writing utensils.
Ability to lift, push, pull, or carry up to 50 pounds; safely lift 50 pounds each in a two-person lift; and potentially lift more depending on assignment and student needs.
Ability to climb stairs, ladders, and/or stools and to handle objects using hand and finger coordination.
Ability to work in environments with noise levels ranging from quiet to loud and potential exposure to bodily fluids, fumes, high noise, conflict, or student medical emergencies.

Responsibilities

Reports consistently for work as scheduled and performs other duties as assigned.
Attains proficient or higher evaluations on established performance standards and obtains and maintains certifications necessary to support students with special needs.
Supports implementation of SSN programs and student goals under the supervision of teachers and other licensed or evaluative staff.
Prepares meals, assists with feeding and clean-up, and supports communication, oral motor, sensory integration, and physical IEP goals.
Carries out instructional programs and lesson plans in designated learning environments and reinforces teacher-introduced material with small groups.
Assists students with delegated medical and personal-care tasks, including medication, tube feeding, catheterization, toileting, diapering, and suctioning; cleans and disinfects bodily fluids and follows infection-control practices.
Works with confidential special education student information and maintains student files and records.
Maneuvers and secures wheelchairs; assists students with dressing, movement between locations, lavatory use, and other physical tasks; uses physical therapy support equipment and sanitizes equipment and materials.
Monitors behavior contracts and reward systems and uses Nonviolent Crisis Intervention techniques when trained and appropriate.
Assists with non-standardized testing, develops games and teaching aids, tutors students, supports curriculum tasks, and helps prepare and maintain materials and equipment.
Coordinates assignments and job tasks with classroom teachers and/or employers and works with students individually and in groups.
Assists students in the library, conducts story time, monitors recess, hall duty, passing periods, and bus loading, and supervises computer programs and designated pools or exercise rooms.
Accompanies and assists students in classrooms and community-based settings.
Attends required pre-job and ongoing training and meetings, including training related to occupational and physical therapy, student needs, and delegated nursing practices.
Serves as a resource to the student personnel evaluation team concerning assigned students as needed.
Works with teachers to integrate assistive technology into classrooms.
Maintains, orders, and organizes program materials and equipment; collects data for assessment and monitoring; and completes daily paperwork and other clerical duties.
Performs miscellaneous clerical tasks, laminates materials, and prepares bulletin boards for parents and programs.
Works scheduled school/work hours and days and may work extended hours or days as directed.
Meets students' physical and self-help needs, physically escorts students, monitors students, and may restrain students according to applicable guidelines.