Paraprofessional Educator, Special Education Behavior Support

Position Type:
Classroom Support/Parapro Educator Spec Ed Behavior Support

Date Posted:
8/30/2021

Location:
WHALEY SCHOOL

Bargaining Unit: TOTEM
Work Year: 9 months
Work Day: 7.0 hours per day
FTE: Full time, .875 FTE
Salary: T-10, $16.13 - $16.98 Per Hour, DOE

This position receives an additional $4.00 for each hour worked, not to exceed 8 hours per day.

The successful candidate will receive a 2% increase to their base hourly pay rate once the state of Alaska qualification for paraprofessionals has been met and approved by ASD Talent Management.

Job Summary
The Behavior Support Paraprofessional Educator provides academic and behavioral support for students experiencing emotional disturbance, social and behavioral challenges, or mental health impairments. The position has a retirement association with the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS).

Job Requirements
The following are required:

1. A high school diploma or equivalent.
2. Must meet paraprofessional requirements for the state of Alaska through one of the following methods: 48 college semester credits from a regionally accredited institution, OR a passing score of 459 or greater on the ETS Paraprofessional Assessment exam, OR passing the WorkKeys by ACT assessment, OR passing the ASD provided Master Teacher paraprofessional training.
3. Basic literacy skills in reading, writing, and math.
4. Excellent communication and customer service skills.
5. Ability to maintain confidentiality and inspire confidence and cooperation of staff, parents, students, administrators, and the public.
6. Ability to establish and maintain a professional relationship with staff, parents, students, administrators, and the public.

The following are preferred:

1. Knowledge of first aid.
2. Experience working with students in a job related capacity such as in a school, specialized class, clinic setting, residential facility, or agency setting.
3. Two years of experience working in general education, special education, private school, agency, clinic, residential treatment, or other mental health settings.
4. Basic experience with office equipment and computer literacy skills including word processing, printing, and e-mail.
5. Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
6. Ability to read and interpret documents such as Individual Education Plans, behavior plans, and lesson plans, etc., under the direction of a special education teacher.
7. Must be able to readily recall details of individual students' behavioral support plans.
8. Ability to resolve problems, handle conflicts, and make effective decisions under pressure.
9. Ability to share essential information appropriately with fellow team members to aid in the development of individual student programs.
10. Ability to read and interpret information from a variety of professionals, including psychologists, behavioral specialists, counselors, and mental health specialists and under the direction of these specialists and the special education teacher, appropriately use the information to support students.
11. Ability to remain calm and maintain a professional demeanor during times of conflict.
12. For behavior programs in neighborhood schools: Overall physical conditioning and ability to provide physical support for students in a variety of settings within the classroom or school. Ability and willingness to be trained on a variety of topics, including Positive Behavioral Supports, positive reinforcement techniques, appropriate behavioral interventions and de-escalation techniques.
13. For behavior programs in special schools: Overall physical conditioning and ability to provide physical support for students which will include activities such as running, carrying students, getting up and down from the floor, and if appropriate in behavioral program, sanctioned physical restraint techniques. Ability and willingness to be trained in district sanctioned de-escalation techniques and appropriate physical restraint techniques.

Essential Job Functions

1. Provides instructional services in reading, math, writing, etc., to students individually or in small groups under the supervision of a special education teacher.
2. Prepares or modifies instructional materials for students as specified by special education teacher.
3. Collects academic and behavioral data in accordance with student(s) IEP goals and objectives as directed by certified special education staff.
4. Collaborates and works cooperatively, as a team member, with colleagues, staff, and community agency personnel.
5. Follows written and oral instructions, and independently follows through on teacher directed academic and behavioral programming/strategies.
6. Implements and provides special education services and support for students as detailed in the IEP. Duties will include providing instructional services, accommodations and modifications, behavioral and social interventions, individual behavior improvement plans, personal hygiene assistance and assisting/monitoring students to and from buses.
7. Implements ASD approved de-escalation techniques, protocols, and training for physical restraint as required by district behavioral programs.
8. For behavior programs in neighborhood schools: Majority of hours spent in special education or general education classroom environments. However, student support may be required in other school settings such as restrooms, corridors, lunch rooms, gyms, conference rooms, or playgrounds. This also includes assistance/monitoring during lunch periods, breaks and recesses, and assisting students to and from buses as specified in the IEP.
9. For behavior programs in special schools: Majority of hours would be spent in special education classrooms, however, also works in other school settings such as restrooms, corridors, lunch room, gym, playground. Required to attend students during outside recess on playground and to and from the bus.
10. Supports the Anchorage School District's position of valuing diversity, promoting respect, and maintaining standards of confidentiality.

Physical /Mental Demands
The physical demands of this job require frequent standing, walking, sitting, speaking and hearing. Specific visual abilities are also required. The employee is regularly required to reach with his/her hands and arms and occasionally lift items weighing less than 40 lbs. Additionally, the employee must be able to understand vague and implicit instructions, be able to readily recall facts and details, handle conflict and make effective decisions under pressure. The employee must have the ability to effectively manage the stress of working with students, parents, and other employees representing diverse cultures, personalities, and work styles in a dynamic work environment.

The Anchorage School District is committed to providing reasonable accommodations, according to applicable state and federal laws, to all individuals with a qualified physical or mental disability.

Work Environment
Work is performed in a professional environment with a wide variety of individuals having differing functions, personalities and abilities, including working with diverse groups of people in a variety of different settings.

While performing the duties of this job the employee may be regularly exposed to a video display. The employee may be exposed to outdoor weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Additional Job Information
This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job related duties as requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments.

Anchorage School District (ASD) employees must possess the ability to read and write in English. This also includes the ability to communicate in English with school staff, co-workers, and the public; as well as have the ability to comprehend and carry out oral and written directions and understand and follow English instructions and written documents.

Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a satisfactory criminal background check. For certificated positions, this is in addition to the background check conducted through the certification process with the Alaska State Department of Education and Early Development (DEED).

This position may be required to work in ASD facilities on the military installations (JBER). Please visit the government REAL ID website for additional information.

The Anchorage School District is an equal employment opportunity employer.

Salary : $16 - $17