Special Education Paraprofessional

Special Education Paraprofessionals will work with Special Education Teachers to provide students with special needs with a free and appropriate public education.

NOTE: Special Education Paraprofessionals work with students who have met the eligibility criteria for intensive level funding as set forth by the Department of Education and Early Development. This “intensive” level of funding is determined annually. Because the Special Education Paraprofessional position is tied directly to specific students, funding for the position may be discontinued when students leave the school or the District. When an intensive-level disability student moves to another school within our District, the special education paraprofessional may be reassigned to follow the student. The Special Education Paraprofessional may also be assigned to another school with intensive needs students or reclassified and assigned to another position if a position is available. If no positions are available for which the Special Education Paraprofessional is qualified, then the Special Education Paraprofessional may be laid off.

NSBSD Pedagogy

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

Education and/or Experience:

A high school diploma or an equivalent general education degree is required.

Applicants must meet one of the following three criteria:

• Earned an Associate’s Degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution of higher education; or
• Completed a minimum of two years, equivalent to 48 semester hours, of study at a regionally accredited institution of higher education; or
• Successfully passed the Paraprofessional Assessment Test (PAT).

Note: If the degree was earned from a foreign university, the applicant must obtain a foreign transcript evaluation. Please contact the Human Resources Department for further details.

Language Skills and Abilities:

• Effectively communicate (speak, read, and write) in English.
• Clearly present information and respond to questions from supervisors, staff, students, and the public in an understandable manner.
• Read and interpret procedures, policies, and regulations, including safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Write routine reports and correspondence.

Preference: Inupiaq-speaking and cultural experience preferred.

Mathematical Skills and Abilities:

• Perform basic arithmetic operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
• Apply these operations to units involving U.S. currency, weight, volume, and distance measurements.

Reasoning Ability:

• Resolve practical problems and handle a variety of non-standard situations.
• Interpret various types of instructions provided in written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule formats.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

This position requires six hours of special education training annually.

Other Skills and Abilities:

• Work with children with disabilities.
• Ability to present a lesson.
• Experience working with office machines.
• Capable of lifting up to 70 pounds.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist intensive level multiple disability students during the school day.
• Assist assigned students in physical tasks and personal hygiene, including feeding and toileting.
• Assist teachers in instructional supportive services.
• Instruct small-groups.
• Tutor a student one-on-one.
• Assist in classroom management.
• Conduct parent involvement activities.
• Provide instructional support in the library, media center, and computer lab as needed.
• Supervision of students on morning and afternoon buses, in the gym, hallways, etc as assigned.
• Communicate effectively with students, staff, agencies, and community members.
• Assist the student with studies, tutor the student, and monitor student progress.
• Prepare instructional material and supplies for the use by student.
• Accompany the student to whom assigned when trips are necessary.
• Report accidents, assault destruction of property, and abusive behavior immediately.
• Operate all classroom and office equipment.
• Adhere to all District policies and regulations.
• Perform such other tasks and assume other responsibilities as the supervisor may assign.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described below are representative of what an employee must be capable of to perform the essential functions of this position successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to fulfill these essential functions.

While performing the job duties, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls, and reach with hands and arms. The employee frequently must stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and communicate verbally and listen. Occasionally, the employee may be required to climb or balance.

The employee must be able to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds regularly. Specific visual abilities required for this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Environmental Conditions

The work environment characteristics described here are typical of those an employee encounters when performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to assist individuals with disabilities in performing these essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is generally moderate.

Work Year: School-Year

Range and Minimum Salary Grade:

• Grade 17

$31.45 - $48.85 (Based on Experience)