Paraprofessional (Special Education) chez Camden City School District

Paraprofessional, Special Education

In our District, we put students first. Our vision: all Camden students will attend a high quality school where they are valued, challenged, and prepared for college and careers that positively impact their community and the world. High quality schools have a great teacher in every classroom, are housed in safe, clean buildings equipped to meet the needs of 21st century learners, with the support of an efficient and effective Central Office. All this is possible only with the right team members in place, working together with partners and the community to provide all students the academic, social, and emotional supports needed to succeed in school and beyond. Read more here.

The Superintendent invites qualified and interested candidates to apply for the position of Paraprofessional.

Across the District, our staff maintain a clear focus on ensuring that every student in the city is enrolled in an excellent school that meets his or her unique needs. The District believes in the power of high expectations and the extraordinary potential of our students.

A Paraprofessional in the Camden City School District will provide integral support to ensure exceptional instruction that affords all students the opportunity to excel academically and meet grade level standards. The Paraprofessional will utilize their instructional, organizational and communication skills to help equip students with the skills necessary to become informed, successful citizens in a global economy. The Paraprofessional will collaborate closely with teachers and other staff members to ensure that all students receive outstanding support and services. Through this role, the Paraprofessional will work collaboratively to increase student achievement levels by working to support rigorous academic and behavioral goals for students, assist in the monitoring of progress towards these goals, and identify ways to best support the classroom. The Paraprofessional will work to actively build positive and beneficial relationships with teachers, school staff, parents, guardians and community members in order to positively impact their students’ academic performance. 

Requirements and Qualifications

Minimum Requirements

• Demonstrated proficiency in written, oral and reading communication skills meeting Title 1 Compliance standards.

• Minimum of 48 college credits or Passing Score on the ParaPro Assessment

• Familiarity with Microsoft Office for Windows (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access)

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to interact with diverse groups of students and with all levels of school personnel    

• Required criminal history background check, physical and proof of U.S. citizenship or legal resident alien status

Preferred Requirements

• Prior experience teaching low-income students in an urban setting (strongly preferred)

Role & Responsibilities

Major roles and responsibilities for all Paraprofessional roles include, but are not limited to:

• Provide daily reinforcement activities to improve students’ mastery of key skills under the direction of the teacher

• Provide additional support to ensure high quality, differentiated instruction to students

• Assist in monitoring and enforcing rigorous academic and behavioral goals for students and investing students in these goals

• Collaborate with General/Bilingual/Special Education teachers to ensure that the academic and behavioral needs of each student are met

• Assist in tracking student achievement and behavioral data

• Consistently implement and enforce rules and consequences in the classroom setting and school-wide

• Maintain, monitor, and report students’ grade and attendance records

• Support students in need of special services (when applicable)

• Commit to continual professional growth that leads students to achieve the greatest learning gains

• Communicate effectively with teachers, students, families and colleagues in order to invest all stakeholders in the learning process

• Attend and actively participate in all professional development, team planning and data analysis meetings, when necessary

• Support projects and initiatives in other divisions and departments throughout CCSD on an as-needed basis

• Other duties as assigned by the Supervisor or Supervisor’s designee (may include but not limited to Teacher, Co-Teacher, Principal, Department Chair and/or Department Head)

Special Services

• Under the direction of classroom teachers, provide academic assistance to students with learning disabilities 

• Supports assigned student(s) to remain compliant with the students’ Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) and individual behavior plan

• Guides assigned student(s) towards socially appropriate behavior

• Assists Teacher in assessing assigned students’ abilities and contributes to the development and implementation of lesson plans and activities that address IEP goals and meet the learning needs of the student(s)

• Provides assistance to assigned student(s) towards educational goals and actively encourages the students’ independence within their ability limit

• Assists with classroom management and supports the implementation of classroom behavioral management strategies and/or individual student behavior plans under the guidance of certificated staff

• Assists student(s) with personal and hygienic care, when necessary. 

An ideal candidate for a Paraprofessional role will demonstrate the following and/or have experience with:

• A commitment to the success of all Camden students, specifically to raising the academic achievement of children in high-poverty communities

• An unwavering commitment to ensuring all students leave school with the skills necessary to succeed in life and further education and/or training

• A genuine belief that all students can achieve at high levels when they have access to high quality instruction and resources

• A drive to improve the minds and characters of students inside and outside of school

•  A desire to grow professionally and seek out new opportunities to learn

• Exemplary oral and written communication skills

• Outstanding interpersonal and teamwork skills

• Evidence of self-motivation

• An ability to thrive in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment

• A willingness to go above and beyond to contribute to the success of a dynamic team committed to a new future for urban education

• An ability to demonstrate the qualities of flexibility and grit through past experiences

Core Values

We are seeking individuals who will exemplify the district's core values:

• Respect and Humility: We serve our community by recognizing the strengths, experiences, and perspectives of others. We humbly recognize our own limitations and incorporate lessons we gain from our reflective practice.

• Evidence-based: We use evidence to inform decisions and to ensure that we are accountable to our students and families.

• Communication & Collaboration: We communicate openly and work collaboratively, recognizing that getting to the best possible decisions requires input from others. Honest communications build trust and establish a community that assumes best intentions.

• Solutions-oriented: With respect for the complexity of this work and the history that precedes us, we focus on persistence, resourcefulness, and inclusiveness to drive toward solutions.

Additional Information

• Reports To: Principal or a designee appointed by the Principal

• Evaluated By: Principal or a designee appointed by the Principal

• Salary Range: Paraprofessional A Salary Guide ($30,333 - $40,918)

• Employment Period: Ten-month, non-tenureable position

• Union Affiliation: Camden Education Association (CEA)

THE CAMDEN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER

(Pending availability of funds and Superintendent’s approval)

Benefits

• Full medical, dental, prescription and vision coverage, including spouse, child and family coverage

• Mandatory enrollment in NJ Pension (TPAF)

• Optional pre-tax benefits available, including flexible spending accounts for childcare, healthcare and transportation