JOB TITLE: Paraprofessional
REPORTS TO: Principal
POSITION STATEMENT: Paraprofessionals work collaboratively with classroom teachers, specialists, and building administration and work to enhance student achievement by assisting with student instruction.
Essential Functions:
- Assist with arrival and departure of students by:
- Monitoring and directing students in the hallways.
- Greeting students as they arrive or leave the building.
- Assisting with special needs equipment (ie. wheelchairs).
- Helping students enter or exit buses.
- Escorting students to the proper classroom.
Prepare classrooms for daily activities by:
- Generating and securing lists, charts, assignments and test materials.
- Assist teacher(s) with alternative/modified curricula as requested.
- Provide instructional assistance to students by: Reading to student(s), clarifying context, assist in research for assignment completion.
- Prompt students to stay on task.
- Give positive feedback to students by encouraging completion and accuracy of assigned work.
- Paraprofessionals must display positive role modeling.
- Provide classroom notes, handouts and assignments to resource room personnel.
- Monitor and provide documentation of a student’s performance by:
- Provides teachers with continuous feedback concerning student progress while providing small group, individual support.
- Assist the teachers in devising strategies for regular or special education students, for reinforcing material or skills based upon a sympathetic understanding of individual students, their needs, interests, and abilities.
- Administers, scores, and records such achievement and diagnostic tests as the teacher recommends for individual students.
- Provide out-of-classroom supervision for individual/small group testing as stated in Support Plan.
- Provide organizational support to students as required.
- Assist students in class work completion.
Monitor and assist with behavior management by:
- Provides teachers with continuous feedback concerning student behavior, and incidents which affect student well-being.
- Monitor student behavior in classrooms and hallways, intervene when necessary.
- Enhances student self-concept and esteem by providing positive feedback.
- Assist teachers with implementation of behavior plans throughout the day.
- Direct/re-direct students to stay on task. Provide follow-up on behavior consequences.
- Complete any required paperwork that pertains to behavior incidents throughout the day.
Ability to:
- Maintain cooperative and productive working relationships through the use of courtesy and tact when interacting and working with others.
- Implement and assist in the physical restraint of students if needed and according to established protocols and procedures.
Knowledge of:
- Knowledge and experience within education and working with children with special needs and disabilities.
- De-escalation techniques and active listening skills (CPI), CPR/First Aid.
Qualifications: Evidence of ability to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.
Education:
- Associates degree or a passing score on a ParaPro exam within one year of employment is required.
Benefits & Compensation:
Compensation range vary between hourly rates of $19.41 to $27.10 per hour, commensurate with education and experience.
Health & dental plans:
- Comprehensive options include Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO, PPO, and POS plans.
- Blue Cross Blue Shield Dental Blue Freedom (with Orthodontics)
- Blue 20/20 Vision
- Life Insurance
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
- Voluntary coverages: Short Term Disability, Accident, Hospital, Cancer, and Critical Illness plans
Provisions & Conditions of Employment:
Position governed by MGL Chapter 71 and the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Mount Greylock Education Association and the Mount Greylock Regional School Committee.
Employment is contingent upon successful completion of all pre-employment screenings:
- National Fingerprint-Based Criminal Background Check (NCBC)
- Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI)
- Sexual Offender Record Information (SORI)
All screenings must be completed prior to the start of employment.