VPK LEAD PARAPROFESSIONAL AIDE Job Description: Bonifay K-8 School has an opening for a VPK LEAD PARAPROFESSIONAL AIDE position in the 2026-2027 school year.
Applicants must meet one of the credentials in the Instructor Options. (SEE ATTACHED) Applicants must have 15 hours of Emergent Literacy Training (can be earned through the University of Florida Lastinger Center). Applicants will need to contact Northwest Florida Early Learning Coalition to request one of the following courses: "Preschool Language Development" or "The Building Blocks of Preschool Literacy". Interested applicants should contact Chey Bowers at chey.bowers@hdsb.org or Tiffany Steverson at tiffany.steverson@hdsb.org, or by fax (850)-547-3685 or phone (850) 547-3631.
Qualifications completed at least two years of study at an institution of higher education;
obtained an associate’s degree or higher;
met a rigorous standard of quality demonstrating, through formal state or local academic assessment, knowledge of and the ability to assist in the instruction of reading, writing, and mathematics. (Florida uses the ETS ParaPro Assessment to meet this qualification. Passing score is 464.)
Background Screening CARE PROVIDER BACKGROUND SCREENING CLEARINGHOUSE. (Implemented under the directive of House Bill 531(2025)) https://info.flclearinghouse.com Contact Name Chey Bowers or Tiffany Steverson Contact Number (850) 547-3631 Location Bonifay K-8.
Federal law maintains that each state is responsible for "maintaining qualifications to ensure that personnel necessary to carry out this part are appropriately and adequately prepared and trained, including that those personnel have the content knowledge and skills to serve children with disabilities" [IDEA Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1412 (2004)].
Both the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) outline expectations for school districts throughout the country to properly train and supervise paraprofessionals. Title I of the ESEA, as amended by the NCLB Act requires that paraprofessionals serving in an instructional capacity meet higher standards of qualification. Those qualifications include having earned a secondary (high) school diploma or a recognized equivalent. In addition, paraprofessionals must meet one of the following requirements:
