Paraprofessional (MTSS-academic support) presso Whitehall-Coplay School District

Paraeducators support students in various classrooms across all grade levels, and may be placed on a yearly basis in multiple classrooms based on student need. Paraeducators may be transferred to different positions and primary locations based on student needs and caseloads from year to year. Paraeducators may be assigned to classrooms with the primary purpose of support in special education, mathematics, reading/literacy, ESL, general education classrooms, or a combination thereof.

A paraeducator assisting in the area of reading/literacy supports the reading/literacy specialist and/or classroom teacher by providing literacy and/or academic support to both individual students and small groups of students within the classroom.

A paraeducator assisting in math classrooms supports the instructional program by providing math interventions and monitors the progress of students on the caseload while working cooperatively with all the members of the professional staff.

A paraeducator assigned to support students in the ESL program assists the academic needs of those students attaining English language proficiency. The support may include one-on-one or group review and instruction of material being taught by certified staff including test accommodations.

A paraeducator assisting in special education supports and assists the academic or physical needs of students with special needs in instructional programs and services. The support and assistance includes one-on-one or group review of material taught by certified staff, classroom management and implementation of positive behavior support plans. Special education paraeducators may be assigned based on need based on administrative discretion to any of the following classrooms/programs: multiple disabilities classrooms, emotional support classrooms, learning support classrooms, life skills support classrooms, be assigned as a 1:1 support, or a combination thereof. Specific daily requirements vary depending on the assignment.

Qualifications:

Education:

1. High School Diploma or GED Equivalent
2. Meet one of the requirements below: 

1. Have completed at least two (2) years of postsecondary study;
2. Possess an associate degree or higher
3. Meet a rigorous standard of quality as demonstrated through a State or local assessment; OR
4. "Paraeducator Credential of Competency'' as issued by PDE.
5. All paraeducators must attain Highly Qualified status by the last student day of the year they were hired regardless of the time in the year they were hired.
6. All paraeducators are required to maintain Highly Qualified status once attained by completing a minimum of 20 hours of yearly professional development (subject to approval by supervisor).

License: N/A

Experience:

Experience working in an educational setting is preferred.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities: 

1. Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
2. Ability to effectively communicate with students, staff, parents, and administrators.
3. Ability to build and maintain working relationships and positive rapport with students, staff, parents, and administrators.
4. Ability to organize and plan effectively.
5. Ability to lead small groups of students to reinforce academic and/or behavioral skills.
6. Ability to effectively work with students who may be aggressive or disruptive.
7. Ability to attend work regularly at assigned work hours subject to lawful leave rights and responsibilities.
8. Ability to use all applicable technological equipment and software to support student learning.
9. Ability and knowledge to use technology to communicate with students, parents, staff, and administrators.
10. Ability to carry out assigned tasks with limited supervision. 
11. Ability to assist with daily functional behaviors when needed such as organizational skills, toileting, feeding, and/or basic hygiene requirements.
12. Basic familiarity with adaptive and/or medical equipment as required for individual students.
13. Understand and comply with confidentiality protocols.
14. Understanding of foundations of special education.
15. Understanding of diversity as related to disability, learning styles, and cultures
16. Understanding the process of delivery of instruction.
17. Understanding learning environments and social interactions.
18. Understanding components and reasons for assessment.
19. Understanding of responsibility for professional and ethical practice demonstrated by fairness and impartiality.
20. Understanding of the process of collaboration.
21. Demonstrates the ability to work in a team environment.
22. Demonstrates the ability to maintain complete confidentiality.
23. Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills, demonstrated by patience, understanding, and congeniality to effectively work with exceptional learning needs students and staff.

Functions/Duties/Responsibilities:

1. Primary

1. Assist with an individual student or groups of students as required by the IEP or the School District to reinforce educational skill development including but not limited to academic content areas and/or daily living skills.
2. Provide a safe, secure, and positive educational environment through appropriate student supervision and intervention.
3. Use strategies and follow protocols for behavior management to meet the unique needs of each individual student as required by IEP and/or Employer.
4. Prepare, adapt, and modify educational materials and supplies to enhance student understanding and learning.
5. Performs appropriate lifting, positioning, and transferring techniques in accommodating students’ needs.
6. Monitors/assists students with all personal hygiene/toileting/diapering/ changing of clothes/feeding activities.
7. Complete successfully all staff development training and/or meetings as required by the employer.
8. Practice appropriate hygienic precautions for students, self, and the work environment.
9. Twenty (20) hours of staff development activities related to assignments completed annually between July 1st and June 30th each year in accordance with Chapter 14.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk, and hear.  The employee may regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  The employee may, in certain situations, be required to physically redirect, correct, and/or move students of varying body weight.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Must be able to hear (40 decibels maximum) and verbally communicate.

Work Environment:

The noise level in this environment is quiet to loud, depending on the activity in the particular part of the day.  The information contained in this position description is in compliance with state and federal law (ADA, EEOC).

Terms of Employment:

Salary, work year, and other terms and conditions of employment as established by contract between Whitehall-Coplay School District, Superintendent, and the Whitehall-Coplay School District Board of Directors.

Physical Requirements which are requisite to complete the functions/duties/responsibilities listed above:

1. Ability to stand, bend, stoop, sit, lift, reach, communicate (vision, hearing, and speech), carry, or convey sufficient weight to safely and effectively carry out functions, duties, and responsibilities.  
2. Ability to independently ambulate in and around school buildings and office areas.  
3. Ability to travel to and from assigned work locations without employer support.  
4. Ability to de-escalate students who are exhibiting physical and/or aggressive behaviors such as hitting, spitting, kicking, biting, etc.
5. Ability to provide behavioral support which includes physical management (training provided upon hire).

This job description may be updated and/or altered at the sole discretion of the employer.  

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each primary function/ duty/responsibility at acceptable standards as set by the employer.  In accordance with both state and/or federal law, reasonable accommodations will be considered upon employee request.