***This job opening is with the Elkhart County Special Education Cooperative (ECSEC), and may or may not be housed within Middlebury Community Schools. If you are interested in this position, please contact ECSEC directly at 574.533.3151.***

 

POSITION PURPOSE: The preschool paraprofessional will be a member of the transdisciplinary team of individuals serving
students in the instructional program ages 3-5. The role of the preschool paraprofessional is to work under the
supervision/direction of classroom teachers/speech therapists or related service personnel and to assist them in personal,
social and instructional needs.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: The duties assigned to the preschool paraprofessional will include but are not be limited to:

• Assisting and maintaining children’s safety, including lifting a student onto a changing table and performing 1-2 person lifts and/or transfers according to training specifics by ECSEC physical therapists
• Assisting and caring for personal needs of students, including diapering, dressing, feeding and toileting needs
• Implementing activities/skill practice developed by the teacher from the IEP
• Assisting students with the use of alternative modes of communication
• Provide instruction in school and community setting (as prescribed by teachers/therapists)
• Maintaining confidentiality of all information regarding the student
• Collecting and summarizing student progress data as directed by the classroom teacher
• Providing general supervision to students under the teacher’s direction
• Monitoring student’s IEP objectives through written documentation and observation (in collaboration with classroom teacher)
• May participate, when asked in IEP conferences
• Displaying flexibility to adapt to the changing needs of the students
• Maintaining adequate records in collaboration with supervising staff
• Know and implement emergency procedures
• Representing ECSEC in an acceptable manner
• Other duties as assigned

REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Possess a high school diploma or equivalent
• One of the following is required:
  -Have 48 hours of college credit or higher
  -ParaPro Assessment with a score of 460 or higher
  -Child Development Associate (CDA) credential
  -Be willing to complete 10 modules in the online training platform Paraeducator within 2 months of employment at GCS (free training resources provided)
• Six months to a year of related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience is preferred.
• Ability to change school locations during the school day

QUALIFICATIONS: Paraprofessionals will be employed based on the following qualifications and criteria. The applicant must:

• Possess an ability to follow directions
• Possess an ability to adapt and be flexible to formats within the educational procedure (community-based instruction and inclusive teaching models)
• Be prompt and assertive
• Demonstrate the ability to organize
• Demonstrate the ability to cooperate with administration and faculty
• Demonstrate a willingness to improve
• Be able to perform job duties without supervision
• Be able to accept constructive criticism
• Be able to establish rapport with staff and children; ability to maintain discipline
• Possess tact; courtesy; good judgment
• Dress appropriately in accordance with building policy/expectations
• Be eligible to work in the United States
• Be in good physical health
• Wear footwear that provides protection and support in the event a staff member may need to move quickly, i.e. no open toe shoes
• CPI trained
• CPR trained
• Student specific training in cooperation with supervising staff

WORK CALENDAR: School year; 180 days per year; 32.5 hours per week

WAGES AND BENEFITS: Wages and benefits are according to Board approved rates and Classified Handbook

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is
required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls: reach with hands and arms.

The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific
vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee
encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable
individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT: Demonstrate professionalism per the expectations adopted by the school corporation.

EVALUATIONS: Evaluation of performance on this job will be in accordance with the classified performance evaluation and
the provisions in the policy handbook.

TERMS: Length of year and salary to be determined by the School Board.