What are the responsibilities and job description for the 2025-2026 Paraprofessional - Special Education position at Warren Easton Charter High School?
Description
Warren Easton Charter High School is one of the highest performing open-enrollment high schools in the city of New Orleans. Our legacy of educational excellence stems back over 100 years. At Warren Easton Charter High School, academic excellence is the highest priority. Our slogan is "The Easton Way is the Only Way.” Maximum individual academic growth is stressed and good study habits are established in a nurturing and well-disciplined environment. Our school community believes that a structured environment is necessary for the assimilation of knowledge and the development of cognitive skills.
Our mission is to provide rigorous and relevant instruction for all students at all academic levels to ensure each has the opportunity to achieve their maximum potential.
Special Education Paraprofessionals will assist classroom teachers in general daily activities by implementing instructional and behavioral strategies for our students with Individualized Educational Programs (IEPs), IAP (504) plans, or other set of specialized academic goals (e.g., goals set because of students’ status as an English Learner or need for behavioral supports). Paraprofessionals will also collect data and proctor tests/quizzes as needed. Other duties may be assigned as needed.
In addition to teaching a regular class schedule, teachers and other academic staff are also expected to support student needs by:
- Working with individual or small groups of students as needed during and/or after the formal school day
- Supporting school operations, including lunch duty and/or homeroom duty, as needed
- Inputting grades and attendance daily
- Communicating with families on a weekly basis
- Submitting annotated lesson plans aligned to Tier I curriculum a week in advance
- Attending a weekly one-on-one meeting with their supervisor to discuss performance, student needs, school needs, and other items that may arise
- Works with individual or small groups of students to reinforce skills/concepts
- Provides assistance to substitute teachers
- Assists with specific tasks as required by student needs (e.g.., Braille, signing, crisis intervention, augmentative communication devices, etc)
- Assists with materials to help meet individual differences
- Assists with organizing and arranging instructional activities
- Performs other instructional duties as assigned by teacher
- Follows all regulations and policies of the school and school board
- Attends faculty meetings and parent conferences when requested
- Provides assistance in meeting the physical needs of the disabled students, e.g., catherization, etc. after proper training is provided
- Provides assistance with physical restraints and behavior intervention techniques after training such as crisis intervention
- Attends and participates in pre-service and in-service workshops and training as requested
- Assists with meals and snacks
- Helps students to office, first aid room, rest room, recess etc.
- Maintains discipline standards according to the regulations of the school system and the assigned
- Assists with specific tasks as required by IEP (e.g., diapering, feeding, toileting, wheelchair assistance, etc.)
- Performs other related duties as assigned by classroom teacher and/or site administrator(s)
TRANSPORTATION (On the bus)
- Attends to the physical, emotional and behavioral needs of the special education students
- Assists the bus driver in loading and unloading special education students
- Assists the bus driver in maintaining an orderly and calm atmosphere
The essential functions for the position Paraprofessional - Special Education include the physical and mental involvement requirements noted in this position description in addition to regular reliable attendance given the limited number of employees available to perform the essential functions of this position. It is also essential that the Paraprofessional – Special Education be able to follow the directives of superiors in insuring the harmonious operation of the department.
Requirements
Must meet definition of highly qualified status as mandated by No Child Left Behind Act by earning 48 college credit hours that includes 15 hours of general education requirements such as English Composition (3), English/Reading (6) and Mathematics (6), obtaining an Associate's Degree from an accredited university or college or by passing the Paraprofessional Exam with a score of 450 or above.
All employees hired after September 17, 2021 must be able to provide documentation that either the new-hire employee has received a COVID-19 vaccination or has requested and been granted a reasonable accommodation from the WECHS Human Resources Director to be exempted from the requirements of this policy.
Warren Easton Charter High School adheres to the equal opportunity provision of the Federal Civil Rights laws and regulations that are applicable to this agency. Therefore, no one will be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, or national origin (Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964); sex (Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972); disability (Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973) in attaining educational goals and objectives and in the administration of personnel policies and procedures.