Job Information
Mercer Island School District Paraeducator - Special Education in Mercer Island, Washington
POSITION SUMMARY
A Special Education Paraprofessional is a school employee who works under the direction of a certificated special education teacher to provide instruction and other services for children with disabilities. The certificated special education teacher is responsible for the overall management of the classroom or program, including the design, implementation and evaluation of the instructional program and monitoring of student progress. The Paraprofessional's responsibility is to implement the program as designed and directed by the special education teacher. The principal directly supervises the Paraprofessional and has the right to assign duties to the Paraprofessional.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Work as part of a special-education support team under the direction of a special education teacher.
Follow the day-to-day schedule as directed by the special education teacher.
Take direction from the special education teacher regarding instructional materials, methods and prompts (e.g. visual, verbal, gestural, physical).
Provide individual and/or small group academic, adaptive, social/emotional, vocational, communication, life skills and other instruction to students as directed by the special education teacher.
Promote generalization of targeted skills.
Assist and instruct students with personal hygiene and toileting.
Prompt and support student as needed in classes, during changes in schedule, school assemblies, on field trips, in vocational training settings in the community, and during other times as required.
Provide supervision, social scaffolding and support during unstructured activities such as passing periods, recess or lunch.
Assist teacher with daily classroom operation and management, which may include, but is not limited to: preparing instructional materials, copying, proctoring tests, assisting with classroom discipline, grading student work, recording graded student work in grade program, taking notes.
Maintain accurate student records (data sheets, progress notes, etc.)
Follow through with prescribed behavior management programs. Monitor behavior and redirect students as needed. Intervene with appropriate behavior interventions using de-escalation techniques, redirection, removal of student from the classroom, etc., using physical techniques only if safety is threatened or serious disruption to the instruction of others.
Follow school and district guidelines including completing written record whenever any restraint, physical escort or other "hands on" technique, or isolation is used and give to special education teacher immediately.
Attend required staff meetings, training, school events and meetings (e.g. IEP meetings, parent/teacher conferences)
Collaborate and communicate regularly with special education teacher and general education teacher regarding student progress and needs.
Maintain a substitute folder as directed by principal.
Use assistive technology devices as directed (e.g. picture exchange system, electronic systems, etc.)
Administer assessment tools as designated by the special education teacher.
Assist with loading and unloading of students from busses.
Assist and instruct students with eating/feeding skills.
Lift or assist with lifting students to and from wheelchairs.
Provide additional health support after training by qualified medical staff including clean intermittent catheterization (CIC), tube feeding, oxygen management, oral suctioning, etc.
Assist with physical therapy and occupational therapy routines after training and as supervised by specialist, if applicable.
Transferring/lifting of student and use of adaptive equipment
Positioning and facilitation of movement and r