Paraprofessional Educator Special Education Special Programs ECE

Job Summary

The Special Programs Early Childhood & Elementary Paraprofessional Educator implements special education services and supports under the direction of a special education teacher.

The paraeducator provides instruction assistance to special education students primarily in special education classrooms, but may support students in other settings within the schools.

The position has a retirement association with the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS).

Job Requirements

The following is required :

• A high school diploma or equivalent.
• 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.
• Basic literacy skills in reading, writing, and math.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and inspire confidence and cooperation of staff, parents, students, administrators, and the public.
• Ability to establish and maintain a professional relationship with staff, parents, students, administrators, and the public.

The following are preferred :

• Knowledge of first aid.
• One year of experience working in general education, special education, agency settings, or private school settings.
• Experience working directly with individuals experiencing disabilities.
• Basic experience with office equipment and computer literacy skills including word processing, printing, and e-mail.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as Individual Education Plans (IEPs), behavior plans, and lesson plans, etc.

under the direction of a special education teacher.

• Ability to remain calm and maintain a professional demeanor during times of conflict and make effective decisions under pressure.
• Ability to share essential information appropriately with fellow team members to aid in the development of individual student programs.
• Ability to train in specific instructional strategies, programs, techniques, and technology and to implement such training correctly and consistently.
• Ability to take direction and follow through on tasks independently.
• For Life Skills and Structured Learning classrooms : experience working with students with significant disabilities, and in implementing a variety of treatment or clinical therapy plans.

Lifting up to 50 pounds may be required at times.

• Must be able to readily implement details of individual students’ behavioral support plans.
• 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.
• For 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.

A valid Alaska driver’s license, ASD required vehicle insurance, and the willingness to use personal vehicle for department business.

Essential Job Functions

• Provides special education services and supports for students individually or in small groups under the supervision of a special education teacher.
• Prepares or modifies instructional materials including assistive technology devices for students’ use.
• Collects data in accordance with student(s) IEP goals and objectives as directed by certified special education staff.
• Collaborates and works cooperatively with colleagues and staff.
• Follows written and oral instructions and independently follows through on teacher directed programming / strategies.
• Provides special education services and supports for students as detailed in the IEP. Duties will include providing instructional services, planning and implementing accommodations and modifications, planning and implementing behavioral and social interventions, planning and implementing individual behavior improvement plans, and assisting students to and from buses.
• Attends to and provides for student’s daily hygiene, personal, and health related care including dressing, feeding, toileting / diapering, etc.

as directed by certified special education staff.

• Provides detailed, explicit information on student functioning and progress that will assist teachers or related service personnel to develop appropriate learning and behavioral supports.
• Assists in positioning / range of motion tasks for students such as lifting, repositioning, and transferring between apparatus.
• Assists with classroom management, such as organizing instructional materials, supervising students on field trips and during lunch / recess, to and from buses, and in learning activities outside of the special education classroom.
• Supports the Anchorage School District’s position of valuing diversity, promoting respect, and maintaining standards of confidentiality.
• Provides primary support in special education or regular education classroom environments. Provides additional support in other school settings per individual student need.

This may include providing assistance / monitoring during lunch periods, breaks, and recesses as specified in the IEP.

For Life Skills and Structured Learning classrooms : Provides primary support in special education or general education classroom environments.

Provides additional student support 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.

Implements ASD approved de-escalation techniques, protocols, and training for physical restraint as required by district behavioral programs.

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.