Special Education Paraprofessional

West End Public Schools RE-2

SPECIAL EDUCATION PARAPROFESSIONAL

Nucla Elementary School is seeking a part-time paraprofessional to support students K-6th grade who have specialized learning needs. This candidate will be teachable, kind, and team oriented. Candidate must be flexible and adaptable, dealing well with change. Candidate must be reliable and professional as well as work well with children and adults. The candidate will be part of a dynamic team of Special Education teachers, classroom teachers, and other paraprofessionals who work together to help our most at-risk youth.

TITLE: SPECIAL EDUCATION PARAPROFESSIONAL

· This position will be part-time for 2024-2025 school year

o 28 hours/week

o Working with K-6th grade students

· Please call for questions regarding wage at 970-864-7350

· Comprehensive benefits package (health, vision, dental, life, pension, 401K)

QUALIFICATIONS:

· High School Diploma or GED required

· Must pass a general background check (BCI/CBI)

· Experience with Restorative Practice and/or Pyramid a benefit but not required

· Experience working with high needs youth a benefit but not required

• Previous experience in child development, working with children, and/or working in a classroom environment is preferred.

REPORTS TO: SPED DIRECTOR & CLASSROOM TEACHER

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS:

· Work well with young students

· Work collaboratively with other adults

· Willing to work with students of all ability levels and behaviors

· Take direction and correction well from persons of authority (i.e., Principal, Special Education Director, Classroom Teacher)

· Help provide a safe, honest work environment for students

· Report to the Classroom Teacher and/or the SPED Director daily with comments, concerns, or questions about your responsibilities

· Ability to maintain a calm and patient demeanor

· Appropriate and professional dress required

· Reliable, punctual, and responsible

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

Work year and salary to be established by the Board of Education. Benefits and leaves determined per Board policy.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, & REGISTRATIONS:

CPR and First Aid certifications is required and can be obtained after hire. (Training provided by the district)

POSITION SUMMARY:

Assists regular and/or special education teachers in obtaining educational goals for students and maintains a safe and comfortable environment conducive to learning. Reinforces curriculum, activities, and/or skills with small group of students or one-on-one, and collaborates with teacher to implement lesson plans and/or to determine appropriate modifications and/or accommodations for individual students. Supervises students in various school locations and activities. Supervises student behavior and safety, and implement discipline and emergency procedures as needed. May assist teacher with clerical and organizational duties.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Other duties may be assigned.
• Supervise and monitor students in various school settings. Spend up to 100% of time supervising/instructing students.
• Reinforce curriculum, activities, and skills with small groups of students or one-on-one by tutoring, instructing, demonstrating/modeling, explaining assignments, creating opportunities for cognitive and motor development, administering tests, utilizing adaptive learning and communication equipment, and/or adapting assignments to student capabilities.
• Assist with maintaining a safe and comfortable environment for learning, assisting with special needs, and assisting with acceptance and integration into all schools’ environments.
• Supervise student behavior and safety in the classroom, in the lunchroom, on the playground, on field trips, in crosswalks, getting on and off the bus, and/or between classes. Implement appropriate discipline and emergency procedures as needed.
• Assist with student health and hygiene needs as required, may include administering basic first aid, diapering, toileting, dressing, and/or feeding.

Encourage good hygiene habits and encourage students to be self-sufficient in these areas, as appropriate.

• Observe student cognitive and/or motor skills, development, and/or behavior and communicate findings to teacher. Keep necessary documentation as needed.
• May collaborate with teacher to implement lesson plans and/or to determine appropriate modifications and/or accommodations for individual students.
• May assist teacher with clerical and/or organizational duties, including grading assignments, making copies, laminating, completing paperwork, word processing, assembling bulletin boards and teaching tools, organizing classroom supplies and activity centers, and/or cleaning play areas.
• May attend staff, team, and/or IEP meetings.

JUDGMENT AND DECISION MAKING:

Work is assigned by regular education and/or special education teacher(s), principal, occupational therapists, and/or speech therapists. This position requires strong judgment, organizational skills, and general knowledge of child development and/or challenges. Additionally, this position requires the ability to follow teacher instructions, lesson plans, and policies and procedures to appropriately reinforce and/or adapt curriculum and environmental situations; to discipline students; to manage behavior; and to ensure the safety, comfort, and health of students. Work is guided by federal, state, and district laws, policies, and procedures and student challenges and/or abilities. Decision making may require collaboration with teacher(s), principal, therapists, parents, staff, and/or coworkers. Paraprofessionals are expected to follow through with assignments given to them by the teacher/supervisor.

SAFETY TO SELF AND OTHERS:

May have high exposure to hernia and/or repetitive motion/stress due to lifting students and/or moving students with adaptive equipment. Moderate to high exposure to self to disease due to working with sick or injured students and/or handling body fluids. Low to medium exposure to self to bruises and cuts due to typical classroom accidents, emotionally charged students, and/or operating and moving adaptive equipment (e.g., wheelchairs). Low to high exposure to students to bruises, cuts, fractured bones, and/or disease if a person in this position fails to maintain a safe learning environment, provide adequate supervision, respond quickly to hazardous situations, and/or follow medical/health protocols.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, & EQUIPMENT:

• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Good English language and communication skills.
• Proficient reading, writing, and math skills.
• Ability and willingness to work with children from diverse backgrounds and with various abilities and challenges.
• Knowledge of child development, behavioral management, and age-appropriate instructional techniques preferred.
• Basic operating knowledge of office equipment and personal computers may be required at hire; required within one month after hire.
• Operating knowledge of various adaptive equipment (e.g., electronic wheelchair, dynavox, braces, lifts, etc.) also may be required within one month after hire.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: (Physical demands may vary based on the assignment.)

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl. The employee is occasionally required to taste or smell. The employee may frequently lift or move up to 10 pounds. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. The employee may occasionally assist with the transfer of students or equipment that is weight bearing with proper training. Lifting or moving more than 50 pounds will require additional assistance. Specific vision abilities required by this job may include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: (Work environment may vary based on the assignment.)

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may frequently be exposed to moving mechanical parts (e.g., adaptive equipment). The employee is frequently exposed to outdoor weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

MENTAL FUNCTIONS:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate, coordinate, instruct, and use interpersonal skills.

Frequently required to analyze, evaluate, and negotiate. Occasionally required to copy, compute, compile, and synthesize.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

· Position open until filled

· Apply online at www.westendschools.org

· Submit a letter of interest and up-to-date resume that includes references and completed application to Sara Bray, Principal, sbray@westendschools.org

West End Public Schools is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: From $15.50 per hour

Expected hours: 28 per week

Benefits:

• Paid time off
• Retirement plan

Grade school specialties:

• Elementary school

Physical setting:

• Public school

Ability to Relocate:

• Nucla, CO 81424: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person