Banning Lewis Academy - SPED Paraprofessional - SY 25-26

About the Team

ACCEL Schools is seeking a highly-qualified Special Education Paraprofessional in Colorado Springs, CO. The Special Education Paraprofessional provides essential administrative support to the Special Education department at Banning Lewis Ranch Academy in Colorado Springs, CO. This role involves managing paperwork, maintaining records, and assisting in the coordination of services for students with special needs.

At Banning Lewis Academy, we blend the tradition of character development and values with modern technology and tools to create an engaging learning environment that accelerates student achievement and readiness without losing sight of student well-being and personal development. Our mission is to create a safe, positive environment that fosters intellectual curiosity and a thirst for discovery where students and staff success through exceptional programs.

At Banning Lewis Ranch, we serve students in Grades K-5. Highlights include our Capturing Kid's Hearts Program, Celebration of Learning Nights, 5th Grade Capstone Field Trip to Washington DC, and a well-rounded student schedule that includes Spanish, Art, PE, Music & Technology.

At Banning Lewis Prep, we serve students in Grades 6-12. We carefully transition students into Middle School with purposeful social activities and programs as LEAD our leadership development program, sports through the Central Colorado Athletic League, and numerous clubs and electives. In High School, we offer traditions such as Homecoming, Prom, and Student Senate. We focus on Concurrent Enrollment opportunities, Service Learning Projects, Senior Capstone Projects, and college and career readiness (such as online courses, career & technical business programs, foreign exchange program opportunities and much more. At the High School level, our athletes compete in the Tri-Peaks League and have many additional extracurricular opportunities such as Mock Trial, Jazz & Concert Band, National Honor Society, and more.

About the Opportunity:

Responsibilities and qualities of the Special Education Para Educator include-

• Provides appropriate behavioral support to students using research-based interventions and strategies as directed by the special education teacher.
• Provides research-based, data driven specialized instruction to address the instructional goals and objectives contained within each students' Individualized Education Program (IEP) as directed by the special education teacher.
• Reinforces a positive learning environment with emphasis on individualized instruction.
• Administers instruction to align with provided curricula including Extended Evidence Outcomes (EEO's) as needed.
• Maintains record of students' activities, progress, behaviors, observation sheets, point sheets and other data collection as directed.
• Provides program and lesson modifications for individual students to enhance appropriate academic, social, emotional and cognitive skills as directed by special education and general education teachers.
• Provides clerical assistance to teachers by grading papers, making copies, collating packets, running errands, etc.
• Utilizes district provided CPI training appropriately and consistently.
• Demonstrates leadership qualities including role modeling, diffusing volatile and stressful situations and following through on appropriate discipline per guidelines.
• Administers behavior modification as directed.
• Acts as a liaison between special and general education teachers including relaying messages, input and feedback on how things are working.
• Provides support for substitute teachers so the classroom can run effectively in the absence of a regular teacher.
• Assists and supervises students' assessments, including national, state and teacher generated testing as assigned.
• Participates in special education, in-service training and building level staff meetings.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

About You:

• No experience required; experience working with special needs children preferred.
• Training or willingness to train in nonviolent crisis intervention (CPI) techniques preferred.
• Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal relation skills.
• Basic math and accounting skills.
• Customer service and public relations skills.
• Critical thinking and problem solving skills.
• Organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and tasks with frequent interruptions.
• Ability to communicate effectively with various stakeholders.
• Ability to maintain excellent attendance.
• Ability to understand and follow complex oral and written instructions.
• Ability to perform responsibilities without the necessity of close supervision.
• Must be proficient in the use of personal computers and common software applications including Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Google Apps.
• Criminal background check required for hire.
• Valid Colorado driver's license required for hire.
• CPR and First Aid within 6 months of hire.
• CPI within 6 months of hire.

About Us

"We believe that every child should be able to be anything they want in life, regardless of their birthplace and circumstances." – Ron Packard, CEO & Founder

ACCEL Schools is a network of 80 high-performing, public charter schools serving PK-12 students. We proudly advocate for school choice and work to address educational inequities throughout the United States. Our schools are inclusive and widely differ to reflect the unique values of the many urban, suburban, and rural communities we serve. Our brick-and-mortar, virtual, and hybrid schools specialize in closing educational gaps and offer innovative models such as career-technical education, sports training, bilingual programming, and more. We have been recognized and praised by legislators, authorizers, and researchers for providing exceptional education options to students in historically under-resourced communities.

Compensation and Benefits:
The compensation and benefits information below is accurate as of the date of this posting. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, with or without notice, subject to applicable law.

The starting hourly rate for this position is $21.37/hour. Factors which may affect starting pay within this range may include geography/market, skills, education, experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.

We offer the following benefits for full-time positions, subject to applicable eligibility requirements: medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, life insurance, long-term disability insurance, short-term disability insurance, 10 paid holidays annually. All eligible employees will participate in Colorado's Family & Medical Leave Insurance Program, in accordance with state law.

Paid Time Off: The amount of Paid Time Off (PTO) employees accrue is determined by both their position and the length of their employment term. Employees could accrue up to 10 days of paid time off for 10-month roles, 11 days of paid time off for 11-month roles and 15 days of paid time off for 12-month roles.

We offer several plans to choose from, with a wide range of deductibles and co- insurance levels. We offer plans with set co-pays for certain medical services, as well as a high deductible plan with set co-insurance levels after deductibles have been met. All plans offer both in-network and out-of-network coverage. We also offer flexible spending and health savings accounts.

Application Instructions:
The deadline for applying for this position is May 31, 2025. Visit our careers page at https://blracademy.org/careers/ to apply.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Banning Lewis Academy and ACCEL Schools are equal opportunity employers committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. It is our policy to abide by all federal, state and local laws prohibiting employment discrimination based solely on a person's race, color, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy, childbirth, physical disability, mental and/or intellectual disability, age, military status, veteran status (including protected veterans), marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, familial status, gender (including sex stereotyping and gender identity or expression), medical condition, genetic information, sexual orientation, or any other protected status except where a reasonable, bona fide occupational qualification exists.