Special Education Paraprofessional

Forest Hills Public Schools Grand Rapids, MI Full-time Education

Posted on September 14, 2023

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Special Education Paraprofessional (full-time)

Reports To: Building Principal

Pay Grade: Grade 3, Step 1, $15.57 per hour + $1,500 sign on bonus

Schedule: 7.5 hours per day, school year position

Job Summary: 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.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Associate's degree

• CPI training

• Experience working in an academic environment

• Ability to maintain the confidentiality of students, schools, teachers and classrooms

• Experience working with secondary school age youth

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a team

• Excellent organizational, communication, and recordkeeping skills

Essential Job Functions:

• Special education paraprofessional in the high school Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) program

• Assist the classroom teacher(s) with the delivery of instructional materials. paraprofessionals may: 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; and related activities

• 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; and related activities

• Provide emotional assistance and discipline for student(s) as necessary including: monitoring and avoiding unnecessary environmental cues that may distract and disturb the student(s); using calming techniques; assisting the teacher with developing behavioral intervention program(s) for the student(s); removing the student from the room when necessary; safely restraining the student when necessary; and related activities

• May participate in a variety of meetings related to the student(s) including: IEPCs, parent conferences, home visits, special education staff meetings, general staff meetings, etc. May act as an advocate for the student(s) and contact parents as necessary

• May escort or accompany student(s) while traveling in the school, may supervise student(s) during lunch and recess periods. May assist student(s) with field trips, community based outings, and the like. May provide assistance in vocational job site settings

• May provide clerical and general support for the classroom teacher by straightening and organizing classroom materials, organizing materials for bulletin boards, making copies, checking and recording attendance, maintaining student records, assisting with audio visual and computer equipment, assisting with medications, and the like

• Attending staff meetings as requested

• Attending professional learning as requested

• Consistent and reliable attendance

• Perform other duties as assigned

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to 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). The employee must 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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Work Environment:

The noise level in the work environment is usually loud to moderate. Work may be performed indoors and/or outdoors. The employee is directly responsible for the safety, well-being and work output of students.

Mental Functions: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to compare, analyze, communicate both orally and in writing, copy, coordinate, instruct, compute, synthesize, evaluate, use interpersonal skills, compile and negotiate.

Evaluation: In accordance with the Administrative Support Staff Agreement

Terms of Employment:

The employee shall remain free of any alcohol or non-prescribed controlled substance abuse in the workplace throughout his/her employment in the District.

Revised

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