Paraprofessional - Propel Homestead

Paraprofessional

We are looking for a dedicated and compassionate Paraprofessional to join our staff. The Paraprofessional plays an important role in providing scholars with the academic, behavioral, and social-emotional support they need to access and participate in their educational program.

Paraprofessionals support scholars in large and small groups and may provide individualized or 1:1 academic, behavioral, social-emotional, and/or functional support based on individual scholar needs and school assignments. Paraprofessionals may be assigned to provide 1:1 support for a specific scholar for part or all of the school day and may support scholars inside the regular classroom, in specialized settings, during transitions, and/or through pull-out support as directed by certified staff or school leadership.

Paraprofessionals work under the direction of certified teachers and/or other designated school staff to reinforce instruction, implement supports, collect and report student data, support classroom and school-wide expectations, and promote scholar independence and participation.

Key Job Elements

• Provide instructional support through small-group, one-on-one, and/or assigned 1:1 support under the direction of a certified teacher or special education teacher for the purpose of supporting and reinforcing instructional activities.
• Provide individualized 1:1 support to assigned scholars as needed, which may include academic, behavioral, social-emotional, communication, organizational, functional, and/or transition support.
• Remain with and support an assigned scholar across school settings and activities as appropriate, including classrooms, specials, lunch, recess, arrival/dismissal, transitions, field trips, and other school-related activities.
• Assist in the implementation and monitoring of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), Section 504 plans, behavior support plans, and other student support plans under the direction of certified staff.
• Implement accommodations, supplementary aids, services, and specially designed instructional supports as directed by certified staff and in accordance with scholar plans.
• Support certified teachers with data collection for the purpose of documenting student progress, behavioral patterns, participation, and/or implementation of identified supports.
• Accurately document and communicate relevant student information and data to the appropriate teacher or supervisor.
• Provide support for individual scholars inside and outside of the classroom to enable them to fully participate in instructional and school activities.
• Support scholars in developing independence, self-advocacy, appropriate social skills, organization, and school-appropriate behaviors.
• Assist with classroom and individual scholar behavior support for the purpose of maintaining a safe, positive, and productive learning environment.
• Follow established school procedures and staff direction when responding to behavioral, safety, or other student needs.
• Reinforce academic, behavioral, attendance, and school-wide expectations consistently and positively.
• Assist teachers with preparing instructional and curriculum materials, organizing learning environments, and other tasks that support instruction.
• Perform non-instructional duties, directed by a certified professional or other supervisor, such as monitoring study halls, cafeteria, playgrounds, homeroom, arrival/dismissal, and other non-academic or non-instructional areas.
• Assist scholars with daily personal tasks when deemed age- and/or developmentally appropriate, including tying shoes, assisting with coats, escorting to buses, and other routine needs.
• Provide appropriate physical and/or mobility support to scholars when assigned and trained to do so, consistent with school procedures and the scholar's individual needs.
• Participate in parent/family involvement activities as directed by school leadership or certified staff.
• Maintain confidentiality of scholar information and comply with all applicable school, state, and federal requirements regarding student records and privacy.
• Communicate professionally and effectively with teachers, administrators, related service providers, families, and other school staff as appropriate.
• Participate in required meetings, professional development, training, and other school activities.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities related to scholar support as assigned by the Building Principal or other designated supervisor.

Qualifications & Skills

Required:

• An Associate Degree or at least 48 college credits.
• Education-related field of study or relevant work experience.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a non-traditional, urban education environment.
• A positive, high-energy attitude.
• Demonstrable ability to build positive relationships with scholars.
• High level of personal organization and planning.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment when working with scholars and sensitive information.
• Ability to follow directions and implement instructional, behavioral, and student support strategies consistently.
• Ability to work effectively with scholars with a variety of academic, behavioral, social-emotional, communication, and/or functional needs.
• Willingness to participate in ongoing professional development and required training.
• A commitment to the Promising Principles of Propel.

Preferred:

• Bachelor's Degree.
• Experience working with children or adolescents in an educational, behavioral, or youth-serving setting.
• Experience providing individualized or 1:1 student support.
• Experience working with scholars receiving special education services.

Physical Demands

• Must be able to walk around the classroom and/or school environment at least 75% of the time while engaging with scholars.
• The person in this position constantly operates a computer and other technology in the classroom to support instruction and student learning.
• The person in this position frequently communicates with various internal and external stakeholders regarding curriculum, instruction, assessment, and scholar needs. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
• Must be able to move throughout the school building and supervise/support scholars in a variety of settings.
• When deemed age- and/or developmentally appropriate, assist scholars with daily personal tasks, including tying shoes, assisting with coats, escorting to buses, and other routine needs.
• When assigned and appropriately trained, may be required to provide physical assistance to scholars consistent with their individual needs and school procedures.
• May be required to respond to student behavioral or safety needs in accordance with training, school procedures, and the direction of appropriate school personnel.

Compensation and Benefits

• Compensation: Propel provides a competitive salary for paraprofessionals. Based on relevant prior work experience, our salary range for this role is $28,000 - $32,000.
• Relocation Allowance: A relocation allowance for new hires moving to the area from 60 miles away or further.
• Health Insurance: Medical, dental, and vision plan options at a low cost for individual employees and families.
• Retirement: New hires participate in a 403(b); Propel contributes 5% automatically and matches up to 4%. This increases after 5 years.
• Paid Leave: In addition to 2 paid Wellness days annually, all Specialists receive 5 sick days and 9 Personal Days.
• Tuition Assistance: Reimbursement of up to $3,000 annually upon completion of course and receipt of grades for coursework that meets our eligibility requirements.
• Wellness Benefit: Reimbursement of $20 per month for wellness activities including Gym Memberships, health programs, etc. Additionally, staff have the ability to earn up to $300 for participation in a Wellness Program each year.
• Professional Development: At Propel, we believe in supporting staff growth and provide substantial school-based and network-wide professional development support for specialists, including 8 Professional Development days annually.
• Leadership & Career Development: Leadership opportunities are extensive at Propel, both in and outside of the classroom. If you are interested in receiving your teacher certification, we have two available pathways through our in-house Teacher Residency Program. For candidates without a bachelor's degree, we offer support to attain your degree and receive a teacher certification. For candidates with a bachelor's degree, we have an in-house residency program to complete qualifications for teacher certification.

Organizational Overview