Position: Paraprofessional

Term: 9 months

Classification: Classified/Non-Exempt 

Location: South Middle School

Qualifications:

• 60 college credit hours; or
• Associate’s degree or higher; or
• Missouri ParaPro Assessment passing score (before September 23, 2013); or
• Missouri Paraprofessional Assessment passing score (after September 23, 2013); or
• Completed Missouri’s 20-hour online substitute training program

Click Here for DESE Information

Supervisory: No

Reports to: Building Principal

Code: 001.1221.6161.3030.44100.4.000

Position: 15

The job of the paraprofessional is to support the teacher-classroom in the development, implementation and monitoring of a program designed to enhance the success of students academically and behaviorally.

General Expectations

• Supports the mission of Joplin Schools.
• Supports the value of education.
• Become familiar with, enforce, and follow all applicable Board policies and regulations, administrative procedures, other directions given by district administrators and supervisors, and state and federal laws.
• Properly supervise students at all times, if applicable to essential job functions.
• Obey all safety rules, including rules protecting the safety and welfare of students.
• Care for, properly use, and protect school property.
• Maintain courteous and professional relationships with students, parents/guardians, other district employees and the public.
• Communicate effectively with supervisors, department staff, all members of the school district, and community as required. 
• Provides excellence in customer service both internally and externally.
• Complies with privacy rights and safeguards confidential and/or sensitive information pertaining to staff and students.
• Reacts to change productively and receive and transmit constructive criticism as it relates to job duties.
• Actively participate in professional development and obtain skills and information necessary to effectively perform job duties.
• Conduct all official business in a professional and timely manner, utilizing district technology resources.
• Arrive to work and leave work at the time specified by supervisors and attend all required meetings pertinent to the position.
• Maintains accurate records and filing systems for accountability and audit purposes as required by law and Board policy.
• Solve practical problems utilizing math functions as needed to complete job duties. 
• Read and interpret documents such as work orders, safety rules, and handbooks and apply to job duties.

Essential Functions:

• Demonstration of the communication and collaborative skills necessary for the teaching assistant to act as a member of an effective educational team
• Implementation of instructional strategies developed for students 
• Perform duties designed to support skills being learned
• Under the direction of the teacher, reinforce or reteach skills previously learned
• Provide the support needed to assure that all needs of students are met: educational, behavioral, and physical
• Prepare for classroom instruction, including such activities as grading, copying, and taking roll as directed
• Implement, under the direction of the teacher a variety of effective teaching techniques in order to meet the individualized needs of students
• Implement preventative behavior strategies and interventions.
• Teach behavior related skills to individuals and small groups.
• Provide for individual differences
• Model behavior interventions and classroom management strategies for teachers.
• Respond to student needs removing barriers to learning.
• Effectively implement the modification and accommodation of classroom
• Carry out all other duties as assigned

Physical Demands

• Occasionally lift 50 pounds
• Frequently walk up and down stairs while assisting students
• Frequently walk on a variety of ground surfaces, including, but not limited to, paved, gravel, grass, or dirt
• Frequently bend and twist the torso and neck
• Frequently squat or kneel to the ground
• Frequently use repetitive arm, wrist and hand movements
• Use close, distance and peripheral vision as well as depth perception

Attendance

Regular and consistent attendance is an essential function of this position.

The work conditions and environment described here are representative of those that an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Conditions and Environment

The conditions and environment reflect that of a typical classroom setting.

Note: The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees, and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.