BASIC FUNCTION:

The para educator position is either instructional or delivers other direct or indirect services to children, youth, and/or their parents or guardians. The position supports: the creation of a safe, positive teaching and learning environment; student development in the intellectual, physical, social, emotional, behavioral domains; nurturance of positive productive relationships; integration of technology to support student learning; and exposure of students to ethical and professional role models.

Duties are performed under the direction of teachers or other licensed staff. Specific activities and responsibilities vary considerably among several types of para educator assignment. The following general functions include those aspects which, in any combination, may become a part of a para educator assignment.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Classroom assistance: Under the direction of a licensed employee, a para educator may prepare instructional materials, correct student work, record grades, monitor/record/chart/graph student progress, directly assist individual students or small groups in the performance of instructional activities, and create or maintain bulletin boards or other aspects of the physical classroom environment.

• Supervision: Under the direction of a licensed employee, a para educator may be assigned supervision of students (lunchrooms, playgrounds, study halls, passageways, classrooms, bus loading/unloading areas, regular bus travel to and from school, field trips and such other supervisory functions as may be assigned).

• Special Needs: working with individual or groups of students with special needs which may include, but not be limited to, Individual Education Plans (IEP), Individual Health Plans(IHP), 504 disability accommodation plans; when necessary, lifting, carrying, or correctly positioning students with physical disabilities; English Language Learners (ELL) whose first language is other than English.

• Activities of daily living: Para educators may assist students with their dietary needs, including feeding; escorting students to restrooms and assisting them with toileting, diapering as needed, incontinence care; and attending to their hygiene needs.

• Office functions: Para educators may be assigned clerical/secretarial duties including, but not limited to, word processing, data entry, bookkeeping, filing, laminating, machine operations, conference and registration material preparation, cumulative folder entries, lunch accounting, and attendance duties.

• Media assistance: Para educators may assist licensed media staff and the instructional staff at the building level with tasks in all library functions; in print center, public library and AEA library/media communications; assisting individuals and student groups in their library experiences, book fairs, and checking out of materials; and assisting in inventories and A-V, electronic and printed material accounting.

• Other duties: Para educators may also be assigned such other duties and responsibilities as may be appropriately determined by the building principal including, but not limited to, participation in building and/or district professional development.

QUALIFICATIONS:

In order to perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty in a satisfactory manner. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

• Experience Required:

• Skills : oral and written communications; listening; providing clear and concise instructions; basic use of a Personal Computer

• Knowledge

• Ability: calm under pressure; organized; maintain confidentiality; tactful; developing self-confidence in others; dependable; capable of de-escalating emotionally/physically charged situations; follow directions and instructions; work collaboratively; develop positive and productive relationships with adults and students; empathetic; exercise good judgment

• Licenses, Certifications, Bonding, and or Testing Required: high school diploma or equivalent.

Note: Professional certification for example Child Development Associate (CDA) and/or post secondary education, i.e., associate’s degree or above, may be required under certain circumstances including, but not limited to, meeting state or federal regulatory requirements.