Special Education Paraeducator

DEFINITION OF POSITION:  The Special Education Paraeducator will serve as an instructional assistant under the immediate supervision of the Special Education/Resource Room Teacher. A change in assignment and/or location may occur based on student specific needs and variances in school enrollment.

IMMEDIATE SUPERVISORS:  Building Principal and Special Education/Resource Room Teacher

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Completed at least 2 years of study (72 quarter credits or 48 semester credits) at an institution of higher education OR obtained an associate's (or higher) degree OR completed the ETS ParaPro Assessment; scoring 461 or higher
• Possess or be willing to complete the 14 core competencies: 1-6 within the first 6 months and 7-14 within the first year of hire
• Possess or be willing to complete Right Response Training within 3-5 months
• Evidence of in-service training and/or successful experience working with students with special needs
• Ability to lift 50 lbs 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Experience/training in special education
• Experience working with students with physical disabilities
• Experience/training in alternative communication
• Experience/appreciation of diverse student population

ESSENTIAL JOB-RELATED ACTIVITIES:

Depending upon individual assignment, the paraeducator may perform all or a combination of several of the following duties. 

• Instruct moderately to severely handicapped students individually or in small groups in a variety of learning activities to promote student understanding of materials presented
• Provide encouragement, reinforcement and achievement of educational objectives and goals defined by certificated staff
• Assist in the administration of objective tests or other measurements
• Work directly with students as defined by their individual programs
• Work in multiple settings, meet multiple demands in pressure situations and maintain high levels of quality work
• Attend to student physical and safety needs; monitor students for medical risks such as seizures and behaviors that may result in harm to themselves or others
• Correct behaviors and maintain discipline according to established policies and procedures
• Assist students with interpersonal and personal skills mastery; help feed students and teach social aspects of eating with others
• Assist students with basic living skills and pre-vocational activities
• Work with students to develop communication skills; facilitate integration of students with age-group peers to the extent possible
• Establish and maintains effective communication with students, staff and parents for student progress and safety, and community relations
• Possess and practice strong interpersonal skills with a wide variety of people both inside and outside the organization (staff, parents, community members, other agencies)
• Provide clerical and computer assistance to the special education personnel for record keeping and reporting; prepare, duplicate, collate and distribute materials; operate a variety of office equipment
• Work collaboratively under the direction of the Special Education/Resource Room Teacher
• Be a positive team builder who works in a collaborative manner
• Take directions and follow through without direct supervision
• Communicate with certificated staff concerning individual student progress; adjust methods to meet the needs of a wide variety of students; consult with certificated staff concerning remediation or enrichment activities
• Locate, prepare and/or modify materials for student use, enrichment activities and special projects under the direction of certificated staff
• Regularly demonstrate professionalism in appearance, actions, decisions, and overall performance
• Maintain confidentiality consistent with district ethical guidelines
• Maintain cleanliness and hygiene of classroom, implements and equipment; wash dishes, clean and disinfect tables and counters, and wash/dry clothes, towels, washcloths and bibs
• Assist certificated staff in maintaining records, logs, charts, assignments and other records for assessment of student progress
• Provide physical assistance to students such as lifting or positioning
• Use adaptive equipment to communicate with students; follow and document procedures established by physical/occupational therapist
• Assist students with toileting, which may include catheterization and diapering; attend to the personal hygiene needs of students, assists students in washing hands and face, brushing teeth and hair, and taking showers
• Work with minimal supervision and be flexible
• Willingness to be trained
• Perform related duties consistent with the scope and intent of the position 

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS:

Reports to the school principal or assigned administrator; receives guidance from certificated staff.

MENTAL DEMANDS:

May experience frequent interruptions; required to deal with a wide range of student behaviors and academic abilities; required to deal with a wide range of physical or emotional disabilities; may occasionally deal with distraught or difficult students.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Potentially exposed to ordinary infectious diseases carried by students; exposed to student noise levels; required to lift and position students and their special equipment such as wheelchairs; required to work in non-routine positions for extended periods; may be required to attend to students' personal hygiene; may be exposed to biting behavior; may need to take precautions to avoid exposure to student bodily fluids; playground supervision requires working outdoors in inclement weather.

TERMS OF CONTRACT:

• Salary: Special Education Paraeducator:  $20.30 - $24.10/hour
• Length of Contract: 7.0 hours/day (8:35 a.m. - 4:05 p.m.), 180 day/year plus two additional district directed days
• Benefits/Leaves: Medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability coverage is provided through SEBB (School Employee Benefits Board) for employees who work at least 630 hours per academic year.  Retirement benefits are provided through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS).  Additional benefits may include sick/emergency leave and personal leave as per the collective bargaining agreement between the Pullman Paraeducators Association (PPA) and the Pullman School District. 

The Pullman School District Board of Directors and the Pullman School District shall provide equal educational opportunity and treatment for all students in all aspects of the academic and activities programs without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, honorably-discharged veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation (including gender expression or identity), marital status, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, participation in the Boy Scouts of America or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. The district will provide equal access to school facilities to the Boy Scouts of America and all other designated youth groups listed in Title 36 of the United States Code as a patriotic society. District programs will be free from sexual harassment. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Civil Rights Coordinator and Title IX Coordinator, Assistant Superintendent, (509) 332-3144, and Section 504 Coordinator, Director of Special Services, (509) 332-3144. 240 SE Dexter Street, Pullman, WA 99163. Applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations in the application process by contacting the Personnel Coordinator at (509) 332-3584. 

PULLMAN SCHOOL DISTRICT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER