Special Education Paraprofessional

SUMMARY OF POSITION

Provides direct support and/or services for students in the special education program who require assistance with personal tasks, with safe movement, and for behavior on task. The hours of the position are roughly 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. The times may vary as you may be assigned to ride the school bus to support students. Your scheduled days of the week and hours are subject to change based upon the educational staffing and safety needs of the District.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES

Essential functions, as directed by the Special Education Teacher:

The position will follow the standard Paraprofessional essential functions. The additional Special Education Paraprofessional essential functions are:

• Provide instructional support by working individually or in small groups of students with learning, cognitive, emotional, or physical disabilities, to reinforce learning of materials or skills initially introduced and outlined by the Special Education teacher.
• Assists in devising special strategies for reinforcing learning materials and skills based on the students’ needs, interests, and abilities
• Provide behavioral support by assisting teachers in maintaining discipline and encouraging acceptable behavior of students (in alignment with the student’s IEP or BIP)
• Assist with personal health care of students including changing diapers, toileting students, changing students’ clothing, showering students, tube feeding, and catheterizing.
• Transfer students in and out of holding and on/off buses, vans, etc.
• Facilitate student’s use of mobility equipment such as leg braces, walkers, mobile standers, and tricycles, wheelchairs, chairs.
• Assists teachers on field trips by helping students with supervision of students, physical and behavioral needs, and reinforcing learning situations.
• Uses physical restraint or seclusion in compliance with state and federal law and District policies and procedures in instances where there is danger to the student or other students after being trained in the schools preferred method.
• Responds to the physical and behavioral needs of students in cooperation with the bus driver, during transportation to/from school.
• Administer first aid and provide basic nursing care as directed or authorized by a school nurse.
• Assists with playground, lunchroom, noon-hour, and bus supervision, including before or after school day as mutually agreed
• Consults and collaborates with Special Education and Regular Education teachers, preparing IEP's as requested.
• Serves as the chief source of information and help any substitute teacher assigned in the absence of the regular teacher.
• Apply work-related legal issues concerning the education of children and youth.
• Adheres and follows work-related health, safety, and emergency procedures and practices.
• Assists in data collection as directed by the special education teacher.

General Responsibilities:

• Adheres to and supports the mission of MJ Care, Inc.
• Understands, adheres to, and upholds the vales and Code of Conduct of MJ Care, Inc.
• Responsible for always maintaining strict confidentiality of information and records.
• Displays commitment to continuous learning, including professional development as well as sharing information and learning with other team members.
• Maintains compliance with TB, and flu, and COVID vaccine requirements for MJ Care and assigned school.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Licensing:

• Special Education Program Aide License (883), OR any valid Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (WDPI) license.
• Have at least two years of post-secondary education that is equivalent to at least 48 semester hours from an accredited higher education institution, OR have obtained an associate (or higher) degree, OR Have met a rigorous standard of quality and be able to demonstrate, through a formal state or local academic assessment, knowledge of and the ability to assist in instructing reading, writing, and mathematics (or, as appropriate, reading readiness, writing readiness, and mathematics readiness).
• CPR Certification - preferred

Experience:

• 1 years of experience working in school setting, or with children and students, preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Proficient computer skills including Microsoft Office, Google Programs and billing software. Ability to use electronic records systems accurately and efficiently.
• Strong communication skills including concentration, ability to learn, and good listening.
• Must be dependable, punctual and have a good attendance record.
• Accurate problem solving, organization, attention to detail, and math skills.
• Ability to interact in a personal and professional manner with students, parents, health care professionals and other staff members.
• Ability to work as a collaborative team member.
• Ability to provide health care services under pressure.
• Must maintain confidentially.

LEVEL I ACCESS

Protects access of Personal Health Information specific to the patients assigned to them for the purposes of screening, consultations, evaluations, mandatory site-specific meetings, chart audits, payment and health care operations and therapy.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is predominantly in a classroom, school environment. Work involves frequent disruptions of daily schedule, with flexibility to adjust to continuously changing situations. Work involves frequent deadlines under pressure to complete assigned tasks in a timely manner.

While performing the duties of this job, the associate is frequently required to talk and hear; stand and walk; bend and/or kneel; squat, balance, and/or crawl; reach above shoulder level; push, pull, and/ or twist up to 75lbs; walk up/down stairs; lift and /or carry up to 50lbs; and use fine dexterity. Specific vision abilities required by this job include being able to read documents, read computer screen, and observe students and work space. Specific hearing abilities required by the job include being able to hear in a moderately lead work environment (open area with multiple people conversing). Job includes risk of biohazard (i.e. blood borne pathogen). Works in limited space with equipment or exposed to equipment not conducive to pacemakers.