Special Education Paraprofessional

Job Description

Paraprofessional are to assist, support, and work closely with teachers, academic leaders, and other operational team members in providing educational benefits for students and overall support for the organization.

Duties of this job include, but are not limited to:
-Works with individual students or small groups of students with special needs to reinforce learning of materials or skills initially introduced and outline by certified staff
-Work with special needs students according to their IEP or 504 plan with accommodations as needed.
-Covers classes for teachers as needed (Substitute). Must work with HR to obtain short call sub license if applicable.
-Assists the certified staff in devising special strategies for reinforcing learning materials and skills based on a sympathetic understanding of individual students, their needs, interests, and abilities.
-Monitors work, corrects papers, and supervises curriculum-based testing and makeup work as assigned by the certified staff.
-Serves as the chief source of information and help to any guest teacher assigned in the absence of the regular certified staff.
-Performs clerical, classroom maintenance, and instructional duties as assigned by the certified staff.
-Alerts the certified staff to any problem or special information about an individual student.
-Performs assigned supervision of students during breakfast/lunch periods, play periods, and on field trips.
-Performs assigned non-instructional classroom duties, such as snack time, toileting, and clothing routines.
-When requested, serves as a resource person to other departments
-Demonstrates ethical behavior and confidentiality of information about students in school environment and community.
-Participates in in-service training programs as provided and approved.
-Maintains safe working environment and encourages colleagues to be safety minded in the performance of all school-related duties.
-Assists as directed by certified staff in the effort to successfully maintain students with special needs in an integrated setting, as determined by the Special Education Team.
-Effectively collects and maintains evidence of meetings.

Qualifications

-Bachelor’s Degree or successfully pass the Para Pro Test
-Have at least 1 year of experience in an urban setting
-Aptitude for the work to be performed
-Interest in children and education
-Desire to assist students with special needs in a learning environment
-Emotional maturity and stability necessary for the specialized work involved
-Be committed to professional growth and development
-Have knowledge of best practices, instructional strategies, classroom management and behavior management
-Serve as a role model for promoting effective instruction and professionalism
-Demonstrate respect for children, colleagues, parents and school leadership
-Believe in and support the vision and mission of PSA

Institution Description

We are a K-12 public charter in Brooklyn Park serving nearly 850 students in Minneapolis and the smaller surrounding suburbs. Founded in 2004, PSA has grown and prospered to give thousands of students an outstanding education, and more importantly, to help students gain the knowledge and skills to become, in the words of PSA’s mission, “inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring citizens who help create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.” Our community prides itself on providing a welcoming, safe and caring atmosphere where staff and students have a strong sense of belonging, feel engaged in our shared work around academic, cultural and social emotional learning, and where everyone can continue to learn and grow in a healthy school environment.

Application Instructions/Comments

To apply, email the following to Crystal Vang at crystal.vang@psak12.org and Julie Vang at julie.vang@psak12.org:
1. Letter of interest
2. Updated Resume
3. Copy of MN Teaching License (if applicable)