Cheney School District Cheney , WA 99004
Posted 1 week ago
2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR
ANTICIPATED START DATE: AUGUST 20, 2024
POSITION:
Behavior Specialist-Student Connections, Instructional Paraeducator (IP)*
SCHEDULE:
7 hours per day; 8:20 a.m.-3:50 p.m.*; Monday-Friday; School Year
LOCATION:
Student Support Services/Betz Elementary
SUPERVISOR:
Building Principal(s); Department Director(s0
POSITION TYPE:
Classified, Ongoing
COMPENSATION:
$18.99-$23.65/hour depending on comparable experience; Pay is annualized over 12 months (if hired after start of school year, spread over remaining months of fiscal year (Sept-Aug))
Some assignments include an additional $1.00/hour for hygiene-related duties - see specific absence within substitute system for details
OTHER COMPENSATION:
For paraeducator positions only:
$1.00/hour additional pay for positions assigned student hygiene duties as a regularly-scheduled part of daily duties
Degrees eligible for a salary enhancement as follows, regardless of degree program or position with the district (cannot be stacked in the case of multiple degrees (highest degree stipend will be applied))
AA, BA, MA degree, or PhD, adds $0.50/hour, $1.00/hour, $1.50/hour, $2.00/hour, respectively*
BENEFITS:
Medical, dental, vision, and basic life and AD&D insurance; retirement plan; deferred compensation (DRS and TSA); paid holidays; paid leave
QUALIFICATIONS:
High school diploma or equivalent; Passing score (461) on state-approved Paraeducator Assessment, OR hold AA degree or higher OR have earned 72 quarter or 48 semester credits with college-level courses (100 level or higher)*; Current first aid/CPR card (training may be provided by District); WSP/FBI criminal history background clearance
Documentation will be required upon hire
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Paraeducators are an integral part of the learning and teaching team. Paraeducators providing behavioral support to students work closely with counselors, families and students in order to provide consistent expectations and cues across settings. Vital responsibilities for Instructional Paraeducator Behavior Specialists include promoting/implementing consistent expectations, modeling positive responses in high stress situations and maintaining consistency in crisis situations. Understanding how environment, child development, and adults' expectations impact a child's behavioral response is critical to this position. The ability to adapt and respond to individual student needs while maintaining high expectations is also an essential element of this position.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
An instructional paraeducator may perform all or some of the responsibilities defined below:
Support implementation of teacher designed instructional activities and classroom routines
Conduct teacher/therapist-designed instructional experiences
Work with individual and small groups of students
Supervise, model, and teach expected behaviors across educational settings, including classrooms, lunchroom, playground, hallways, etc.
Implement individual and school wide behavior support plans and positive interventions
Implement district-adopted de-escalation and restraint strategies
Foster social and language development through play activities and active engagement with children
Promote students' best interests through positive role modeling and student advocacy
Administer assessment materials as trained or delegated
Assist in preparation of instructional materials and perform clerical duties associated with general instruction program
Consistently and respectfully respond to student needs while maintaining confidentiality
May administer medications pursuant to Board policy and pursuant to state and federal law
Assist with care and hygiene needs, as required
Monitor highly structured environments
Coordinate with transportation department to arrange transportation for students at conclusion of ASD as needed and monitor students until they are on their bus or picked up by a parent or guardian.
Perform first aid
Implement teacher-directed programs with students on a one-to-one and/or small group basis in special education classroom as well as during general education inclusion time.
Lead or support de-escalation/restraint procedures.
Assist student(s) with diet, feeding, personal care, hygiene, movement, and mobility needs.
Assist with learning tasks/activities appropriate to students with moderate to significant disabilities and aligned to IEP goals, under direction of special education teacher.
Assist with implementation of positive support interventions and academic support for identified students.
Provide appropriate supervision on designated bus routes.
Collect and enter behavioral and academic data from various settings.
Assist in preparation of behavior plans and supporting materials.
Perform clerical duties associated with behavioral supports and instructional program.
Serve as crisis team responder in designated buildings.
POTENTIAL ADDITIONS
Transport students as necessary
Provide transportation support as necessary. When transportation support is required:
Supervise student behavior on the bus to ensure safe travel for all students and passengers
Assist students with mobility restrictions on and off the bus
Assist in loading and unloading of wheelchair bound students
Assist in properly securing wheelchairs
Work together with the driver on issues such as safety and comfort on the bus and working with the driver to ensure students are transported safely and in comfort
Assist with management of children with special health problems, e.g. seizures
The preceding list of duties and responsibilities is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary.
Each of the positions at the specific school serves as one unit of the whole team, and as such, is subject to assignment to tasks in other areas within the classification.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Must be able to work in a team setting and take direction
Ability to balance firm and consistent discipline with positive behavior intervention and supports (PBIS)
Ability to remain calm in times of high stress
Ability to move quickly to meet student needs, maintain safety and respond to crisis
Ability to maintain confidentiality
Ability to supervise recess/unstructured activities, including ability to respond quickly to an emergency or student need
Must possess organizational skills and the ability to work independently
Ability to build and maintain positive relationships with students, parents, and co-workers
Ability to learn and apply both positive and corrective behavior management techniques
Ability to use proper grammar, spelling, and language in both oral and written communication, as well as basic math skills
Willingness to be trained in district-approved de-escalation and restraint procedures at the first available opportunity
Demonstrate basic computer skills, including the ability to create and modify documents and to adapt to new technologies
Ability to learn and operate a variety of educational/office equipment
Must have access to reliable transportation
Willingness/ability to be trained in lifting techniques and fine/gross motor skills
Physical ability to participate in student restraint and ability to move quickly to evade
Ability to maintain consistent limits
Demonstrated ability to promote students' best interests through positive role modeling and student advocacy
Experience in assisting with instructional strategies preferred
POTENTIAL ADDITIONS
MENTAL DEMANDS
Required to deal with a wide range of student, staff and public behaviors and needs in a positive and service-oriented manner
Will experience shifts in work schedule and/or work site according to district needs
Will frequently deal with distraught or difficult students or parents
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
Amount of sitting, standing and walking may vary depending on the age of students and classroom assignments. Generally, the job requires 20% sitting, 40% walking, and 40% standing.
The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands: the employee frequently will stand and walk and use hands for repetitive grasping and significant fine finger dexterity. The employee is occasionally required to sit, bend at neck and back, use hands to push/pull and lift/carry; squat, kneel, climb stairs or ladders, reach overhead, lift overhead, and knee stand.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
High school diploma or equivalent (documentation required prior to beginning employment)
All instructional paraeducators must meet one of the following*:
Have a passing score on the state-approved Paraeducator Assessment (https://www.ets.org/parapro), OR
Attained an AA degree or higher, OR
Have earned 72 quarter or 48 semester credits with college-level courses (100 level or higher)
Documentation required at time of application
Experience working with students in an educational setting and/or evidence of an interest in supporting learning experiences preferred
Training and/or experience in Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) preferred
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT
Paraeducator Classification on Public School Employees of Cheney Salary Schedule
School year position: 180 days; hours per day and days per week vary by position; district may revise assignment and job location as needed
CLEARANCES
WSP/FBI criminal history background clearance
EVALUATION
The employee shall be evaluated per the terms of the Public School Employees (PSE) Collective Bargaining Agreement by the building principal, department director, or designee. The process shall include an evaluation of the employee's performance of the above Duties and Responsibilities and Knowledge, Skills and Abilities.
CONTINUING EDUCATION/TRAINING
Must complete school safety training within thirty (30) calendar days from hire date and annually thereafter
Must acquire and maintain CPR/First Aid card within sixty (60) calendar days from hire date and as scheduled thereafter
Must fully complete the Paraeducator Fundamental Course of Study within two years of hire
Attend designated trainings as specified by supervisor and/or department director in order to maintain knowledge/skills
HISTORY
Job description and format updated: April 2021
CLASSIFICATION:
Paraeducator
LOCATION:
SSS/Betz Elementary
REPORTING
RELATIONSHIPS:
Position is supervised and evaluated by the building principal or department director. Position takes direction from classroom teacher and building principal and/or department director.
COMPENSATION:
Placement on the PSEC Salary Schedule
Position may be entitled to additional funds for provision of special hygiene functions as defined in Section 20.5 of PSEC Collective Bargaining Agreement.
REPRESENTATION:
Public School Employees of Cheney (PSEC) a local chapter of Public School Employees Union (PSE) SEIU Local 1948
Cheney Public Schools 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, economic status, pregnancy, familial status, marital status, disability, or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal, and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions: Title IX/Chapter 28A.640 Officer/Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator/ADA Coordinator
Tom Arlt, Assistant Superintendent, Cheney School District, 12414 S. Andrus Rd. Cheney, WA 99004 Phone: (509) 559-4550; Section 504 Coordinator
Franklin Day, Director of Student Support Services, Cheney School District, 12414 S. Andrus Rd., Cheney, WA 99004 Phone: (509) 559-4507.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Cheney School District