Special Education Paraprofessional

Primary Purpose: 

• Help special education teacher provide for physical and instructional needs of students with disabilities in special education and general education setting.

• Assist in implementation of classroom programs, including self-help, behavior management, and instruction programs.
•  Work under general supervision of principal and immediate direction of certified teacher. 

Qualifications:

 Education/Certification: High school diploma or GED 

Special Knowledge/Skills: 

• Ability to work with children with disabilities 
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions
•  Ability to communicate effectively Knowledge of general office equipment 

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

 Instructional Support 

•  Help teacher prepare instructional materials and classroom displays.
•  Help maintain a neat and orderly classroom.
•  Help with inventory, care, and maintenance of equipment.
•  Help teacher keep administrative records and prepare required reports. 
• Provide orientation and assistance to substitute teachers. 

Student Management 

•  Assist students with physical disabilities according to their needs, including transferring to and from wheelchairs, lifting, or positioning. 
• Assist students with physical needs and personal care, including feeding, bathroom needs, and personal hygiene. Help manage behavior of students. 
• This includes intervening in crisis situations and restraining disruptive or dangerous student behavior as needed.
•  Assume responsibility for learning and adapting to each student’s special medical, physical, communicative, and emotional needs. 
• Work with individual students or small groups to develop motor skills and conduct instructional exercises assigned by teacher. 
• Help supervise students throughout the school day, inside and outside the classroom. This includes lunchroom, bus, and playground duty.
•  Keep teacher informed of special needs or problems of individual students. Maintain confidentiality. 
• Participate in staff development training programs, faculty meetings, and special events as assigned. 
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Equipment Used:

• Wheelchair lift, ramp, personal computer, copier, and audiovisual equipment.

 Working Conditions: 

• Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors
•  Maintain emotional control under stress.
•  Frequent standing, stooping, bending, kneeling, pushing, and pulling; regular heavy lifting of students. 
• Biological exposure to bacteria and communicable diseases.