Special Education Para Educator 4 - 2024-25 - Newport Heights Elementary - Bellevue School District

POSITION OBJECTIVE:

The position of Para Educator IV is done for the purpose of assisting and supporting students as identified within a specialized program or with specialized instruction.

COMMITMENT TO EQUITY:

The Bellevue School District is committed to a diverse workforce representative of our students, one that embraces and models cultural competency as an international community.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: (These duties are a representative sample; position assignments may vary.)

• Has a primary focus on supporting activities of daily living, (toileting, feeding), and other adaptive/life skills.
• Provides for the physical, health and safety needs of students.
• Provides social, emotional, behavioral and educational support for students with significant disabilities as needed.
• Provides direct academic, functional, vocational and specifically designed instruction.
• Serves as advocate and support of students with disabilities in their least restrictive environment.
• May support students with significant emotional regulation challenges • Encourages and fosters student independence in all settings.
• Collects functional behavior assessment data on individual students as appropriate for the assignment.
• Implements components of Individual Education Programs (IEP's) as required.
• Ensures the safety of students and staff when dealing with escalated behavior based upon needs of students.
• May collect other data as directed by the case manager/teacher.
• Provides coaching and support for staff as required for the position.
• For some position assignments, may be required to assist students in reaching post-secondary goals including, but not limited to the Aquatic Center, Community Center, etc.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS:

• Reports directly to and is supervised by building administrator, receives direction from assigned certificated staff.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE (positions in this class typically require):

Required:

• High school graduation or equivalent.

And have at least one of the following:
• ETS Paraeducator Assessment, or
• Have an Associate of Arts degree (original transcripts), or
• Have earned 72 quarter credits or 48 semester credits at an institution of higher
• education (original transcripts), or
• Have completed a registered apprenticeship program (certificate);
• Foreign degrees accepted if evaluated by a NACES member company.

Preferred:

• Experience working with students in self-contained learning settings
• Experience working individually with students with diverse aptitudes and levels of achievement.
• Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) training
• Right Response Training
• Experience working individually with students with diverse aptitudes and levels of achievement and/or with behaviorally disabled students.

LICENSING REQUIREMENTS (positions in this class typically require):

• First AID/CPR certification required.
• Required to complete specified courses related to the General Paraeducator Certificate as identified by OSPI

KNOWLEDGE (position requirements at entry):

• Understands the basics of child development and the behavior of children
• Knowledgeable of reading, writing and arithmetic
• Understands safety procedures for students and staff
• Understands behavior modification programs, including restraint techniques
• Utilizes adaptive technology and equipment to meet student needs
• Demonstrates non-violent crisis intervention techniques, including de-escalation strategies as needed for the specific assignment
• Utilizes basic therapy techniques and procedures
• Knowledgeable of functional life skills/activities of daily living, including tube-feeding and toileting
• Demonstrates proper lifting techniques.

SKILLS (position requirements at entry):

• Demonstrates effective oral and written communication skills
• Work with students in a warm and confident manner
• Demonstrates appropriate techniques related to activities of daily living and proper lifting techniques as required
• Demonstrates the ability to work effectively as member of a team
• Possesses ability to follow oral and written directions
• Demonstrates ability to model and monitor appropriate student behavior
• Maintains confidentiality and respect between students, parents and teachers
• Maintains positive relationships with students, staff, parents and the public
• Able to perform all physical activities and meet all physical requirements indicated above
• Able to perform activities of daily living including feeding and toileting by various means
• Able to provide appropriate care for students who experience seizures
• Able to provide proper physical restraint of students with severe behavior that poses a danger to themselves or others
• Demonstrates multicultural sensitivity with the ability to effectively and collaboratively work with diverse populations
• Ability to perform all duties in accordance with all applicable Board policies and district and legal requirements
• Ability to meet and maintain punctuality and attendance expectations

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Positions in this class typically require: stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, finger dexterity, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions.

Heavy Work: Exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of forces constantly to move objects. Employee may be subject to testing to determine ability to meet the lifting requirements.

Incumbents may be subjected to moving mechanical parts, odors, chemicals, extreme temperatures, inadequate lighting, workspace restrictions, and intense noises.

Employee may be subject to determination of fitness to perform the essential duties of the position.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

The location of the position may change during the school year. This position will require mandatory continuing professional education per state requirements.

AISP Paraprofessional pay schedule range 4 $ 30.46/hour to $ 32.41/hour (starting hourly rate $ 30.46 based on negotiated collective bargaining agreement) 32 hours/week for a 195-day annual assignment (Mon, Tues, Th, and Fri 7:45am to 3:00pm; Weds: 7:45am to 12:45pm). Medical, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life-insurance eligibility is based upon 630 hours worked within a school year. Retirement provided through Washington State Department of Retirement Systems.

NOTE:

Bellevue School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts of America and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:

Civil Rights, Racial Discrimination, and Gender Expression or Identity Discrimination:
Civil Rights/Nondiscrimination Compliance Coordinator Nancy Pham, (425) 456-4040 or phamn@bsd405.org

Sex-based Discrimination, including Sexual Harassment:
Title IX Coordinator: Jeff Lowell, (425) 456-4010 or lowellj@bsd405.org

Disability Discrimination:
Karen Dejong, (425) 456-4277 or dejongk@bsd405.org

Mailing address for all three: 12111 NE 1st Street, Bellevue, WA 98005.