Job Description:

Position Title: Special Education Paraprofessional - 3 hours/day

Location: Early Childhood Center

Department: Special Education

Reports To: Building-level Principal and Director of Special Education

Term: Ongoing position beginning with the 2024-2025 school year.

Schedule: Part-time position – 3 hours per day

Mon-Thurs (No Fridays) 9:00am - 12:00pm

-OR-

Mon-Thurs (No Fridays) 12:45 am - 3:45 pm

 The availability of the positions will depend on the needs of our enrollment, but the preference is typically mornings.

SUMMARY: The Special Education Paraprofessional operates within the Special Education department by supporting preschool learners at the Early Childhood Center (ECC) in the classroom and throughout their school day.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:  To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and requirement satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required for the role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: (Other duties may be assigned)

Collaboration:

Assists teachers and learners in routine classroom operations and daily activities.

Develops positive, working relationships with learners, colleagues, and the wider district community.

Aids in the supervision of learners while they are in the classroom, loading and unloading buses, in gym, in hallways, and on the playground.

Fosters an environment that establishes respect and rapport between the educator and learners.

Communication:

Uses exemplary communication skills to facilitate connection and sharing of thoughts and ideas through multiple formats and diverse audiences.

Assists learners with communication needs by using appropriate technology

Compassion:

Assumes responsibility for adapting to each learners’ special, physical, communicative, and emotional needs by creating an environment conducive to learning.

Demonstrates understanding of student’s disability, is courteous, respectful, fair, and maintains confidentiality of sensitive learner records. 

Fosters learner independence and works toward reducing and/or eliminating reliance on paraprofessional support.

Understands the complexities of cultural and global issues and how they relate to employee and learners’ experiences.

Creativity:

Connects with team members and shares ideas in an effort to improve the overall employee experience.

Critical Thinking:

Reasons, interprets, and analyzes information to generate new knowledge and understanding.

Collects and records progress on goals and objectives as indicated on IEP’s or behavior plans as directed by supervisor.

Proactively engages in problem-solving.

Reflection:

Attends in-service and/or training as required (per NDDPI regulations, 20 hours required during the first two years of employment).

Maintains communication with supervisor and/or principal regarding general feedback, career advancement opportunities, and areas of growth opportunities.

Resilience:

Maintains composure while dealing with stressful situations.

Proactively seeks out resolutions and takes initiative to resolve knowledge gaps.

Responsibility:

Supports the school and educators by offering support to special needs learners.

Assists in managing the behavior of learners and in crisis intervention under the direction of the supervisor (behaviors may include verbal and physical aggression).

Assists in therapies (physical, occupational, and/or speech) as directed

Assists learners who may have physical disabilities according to their individualized needs, including transferring to and from wheelchairs, lifting, or positioning.

Assists and instructs learners who may have personal care needs, such as feeding, bathroom needs, and personal hygiene.

Assists in inventory, care, and maintenance of equipment

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT: The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the essential duties and responsibilities of this role, the employee is regularly required to reach with hands and arms.

While performing the essential duties and responsibilities of this role, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, bend, talk, and hear.

The specific vision abilities required for this role include close and peripheral vision.

The employee must regularly lift 40 pounds and or push/pull up to 120 pounds.

The employee must be able to engage in two person lifts and one-person transfers.

The employee must be able to be outdoors and able to move around a playground area as needed in cold weather conditions for up to 45 minutes at a time.

The employee must work with the public and various WFPS staff while simultaneously managing several competing demands.

The employee may come in contact with bloodborne pathogens or other bodily fluids on rare occasions.

The employee will work in an environment that has a moderate to loud noise level.

Education and/or Experience:

High School Diploma or General Education Degree (GED)

Experience working with special needs learners is preferred.

Experience working in a pre-school setting is preferred.

Experience working with complex learner behaviors is preferred.

Language Skills:

Ability to read, write, and comprehend simple instructions and short correspondences in the English language.

Ability to communicate effectively verbally, expressively, and reactively.

Other Skills and Abilities:

Exercise confidentiality, discretion, and good judgement.

Adhere to the assigned work schedule by maintaining regular and punctual attendance.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

None.

Salary: Position follows the 2024-2025 Classified Salary Schedule: https://www.west-fargo.k12.nd.us/cms/lib/ND02203445/Centricity/domain/103/salary/2024-2025%20Classified%20Salary%20Schedule.pdf