Paraprofessional, Special Education (Sped) - Moderate Needs

Job Title: Paraprofessional, Special Education (Sped) -  Moderate Needs
Pay Program: Support Staff Non-Exempt
Pay Range: Range 7 $18.45 - $20.57
Work Year:  Student Contact Days (School Calendar) (173 Days / 7.5 Hours)
Reports to:  Building Leader/Special Education Coordinator
Direct Reports:  This position has no supervisory responsibilities. 

Summary
Operating under the direction of the Building Leader and licensed special education staff, this position provides instructional, behavioral, and personal-care support to students with moderate needs.  This position assists with the implementation of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), supports academic and social-emotional skill development, reinforces positive behavior strategies, and helps maintain a structured and supportive learning environment.  This position also assists with data collection, personal care needs, delegated health services (as appropriate), and safety procedures across school settings.  This position may involve working with individual students or small groups and requires strong communication, teamwork, and adaptability to meet diverse student needs.
 
Essential Responsibilities - To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential responsibility satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Frequency of responsibility, percent of time and work year may vary based on department or building assignment.

 Education and Experience 
Acceptable demonstration of acceptable education and/or experience will be at the sole discretion of the District.

• High school diploma or equivalent required
• Associate's degree, completion of at least 48 semester hours of college coursework, or a passing score on the WorkKeys assessment (or other approved assessment) required for Title I schools
• Experience working with children or students in educational or childcare settings preferred
• Prior school district experience preferred
• Experience supporting students with disabilities or diverse learning needs preferred
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) language skills required when assigned to a bilingual program

 Licenses, Registrations or Certifications

• Criminal background check required for hire
• Valid Colorado driver's license or valid Colorado identification required
• Must be able to lift 35 pounds. Lift test required at time of hire
• Quality Behavioral Solutions certification (QBS) must be obtained within 60 days of hire
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) certification required within 60 days of hire
• Ability to obtain and maintain required district trainings (e.g., restraint training, first aid/CPR if assigned)

 Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to follow teacher-directed instruction and implement accommodations and interventions.
• Skill in using prompting, cueing, modeling, and adaptive supports to reinforce student learning.
• Understanding of assistive or adaptive technology (training provided).
• Ability to remain calm when faced with challenging student behavior, including physically or verbally aggressive behavior
• Ability to support behavior intervention plans, routines, and SEL instruction.
• Ability to build supportive, respectful relationships with students and maintain appropriate boundaries.
• Ability to adapt to changing needs, manage frequent interruptions, and maintain focus in a busy school environment.
• Ability to supervise students safely in a variety of settings and respond appropriately in crisis or emergency situations.
• Ability to follow district safety procedures and report concerns promptly.
• Ability to be adaptable and flexible with collaborative critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities
• Ability to assist students with toileting, feeding, hygiene, mobility, or positioning following training.
• Ability to follow health plans and safety protocols with accuracy.
• Understanding of infection-control and sanitation procedures.
• Clear and effective written and verbal communication skills
• Strong customer service skills, with the ability to provide support in a professional and approachable manner
• Commitment to handling sensitive and confidential information with the highest ethical standards
• Strong interpersonal skills to collaborate with staff and various stakeholders
• Ability to lead, communicate, interact and work effectively and cooperatively with people from diverse ethnic and educational backgrounds
• Ability to follow applicable federal, state, local laws and Board of Education policies, in addition to building and department procedures
• Ability to recognize the importance of safety in the workplace, follow safety rules, practice safe work habits, utilize appropriate safety equipment and report unsafe conditions to the appropriate administrator
• Basic operating knowledge of computers, district-approved devices, and common educational technology tools.
• Ability to use email, word processing, spreadsheets, and other standard office software.
• Ability to operate typical office equipment such as copiers, printers, and telephones.

 
Salary & Benefits:
View all salary schedules for the current school year at: https://www.d51schools.org/departments111/human-resources/salary-schedules
Information regarding D51 Benefits can be found here: https://www.d51schools.org/departments111/human-resources/employee-benefits