SUMMARY:
A Special Education Special Needs Paraprofessional supports individual students and groups of students in The Academy’s special education and general education to be successful within a highly modified and supported learning environment.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Provide one‑on‑one or small group support to students with special needs or behavior needs.
Assist students in maintaining personal and mental health functions as needed; may assist with personal care, safety support, feeding needs, and other daily living activities throughout the school day.
Collaborate closely with classroom and special education teachers, supporting special education students within the general education environment and implementing behavior intervention plans as needed.
Guide an individual student or small group of students with special needs through a modified daily schedule and provide supplemental academic instruction as needed.
Demonstrate flexibility, patience, and a love of children and teenagers.
Create and maintain good working relationships with staff and families, exercising tact and discretion in professional interactions.
Maintain data collection records on specific behaviors and goals.
Perform other duties as assigned.
REQUIREMENTS: EDUCATION AND RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE
High School Diploma or equivalent.
Experience working with school‑age students with learning disabilities in an instructional environment.
Must meet the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) requirements: either an Associate’s degree or 2‑year college degree, completion of 48 college semester hours, or passing of a state CDE‑approved paraprofessional examination.
LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS OR CERTIFICATIONS
Criminal background check required for hire.
First Aid certification required within 30 days of entering position.
Complete Safety Training Class within 30 days of entering position.
Crisis prevention training, preferred.
Applied behavior analysis training or RBT training, preferred.
TECHNICAL SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES
Ability to diffuse and manage stressful situations; maintain confidentiality.
Knowledge of Colorado School Law, authorizer policies, The Academy mission, philosophies, policies, and administrative procedures.
Effective communication and cooperation with people from diverse ethnic and educational backgrounds.
Understand importance of safety; follow safety rules; report unsafe conditions.
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT OPERATING KNOWLEDGE
Operating knowledge of personal computers and peripherals.
Operating knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
Experience with all software used by the SPED department.
Experience with typical office equipment such as telephones, copier, fax machine, e‑mail (preferred).
REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS & DIRECTION/GUIDANCE
Reports to: Principal, Assistant Principal, or Dean. No direct reports.
BUDGET AND/OR RESOURCE RESPONSIBILITY
This job has no budgetary responsibilities.
Physical Requirements: Stand – Predominantly over two‑thirds of the shift.
Walk – Predominantly over two‑thirds.
Light lifting up to 10 lbs – Lightly to moderately; no lifting beyond that.
Verbal communication – Predominantly over two‑thirds.
Data recording – Partial monitoring required.
Any additional duties as assigned by the administration.
