Intensive Instructional Paraprofessional, Salem Early Childhood Center

Salem Public Schools

Salem is a small, diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history. Salem Public School leaders are passionate about urban education and understand the urgency of improving student achievement. They respect and value the racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity of our students and their families, and have a strong commitment to the Salem community. Salem Public Schools seeks individuals who are able to serve all of our students, regardless of ability or language. Applicants who have experience working in urban schools and have bilingual skills are strongly encouraged to apply.

What You’ll Do:

Paraprofessionals assist teachers and/or other certified personal in providing an innovative, high quality education program designed to meet the unique needs of children with disabilities and their peers in the Salem Public School’s preschool. Paraprofessionals work with school staff to create an educational environment in which quality and continuity are key factors. In addition to sound reasoning and good organizational skills, paraprofessionals are expected to contribute to positive school culture and climate. Paraprofessionals are district-wide employees and subject to the negotiated Paraprofessional Contract, as well as the rules and regulations of Salem Public Schools

The position includes providing social and academic support and may include behavioral interventions and the use of technology. The right person for this position is eager to work with preschool-aged children, is dependable, organized, patient and who enjoys celebrating young students’ successes, whether big or small, as part of a collaborative team. The right person is flexible and willing to learn through hands-on experience, reading(s), professional development workshops and through consultation and observation with clinicians and specialists. Duties include providing supports during lunch meals, recess, and during student arrival and dismissal.

Responsibilities:

• Read students’ IEPs and demonstrate an understanding of assigned students profiles and learning needs.
• Engage in job-related professional development
• Support and collaborate with the special education teachers on an ongoing basis
• Reinforce lessons or lead activities with individual or small groups of students under the direction of the lead teacher
• Assist with classroom management & supervision; administer behavior modification programs/point systems, and engage in data collection under the direction of the classroom teacher
• Assist teacher in implementing accommodations, specialized strategies for instruction, and skill reinforcement
• Facilitate social interactions and model language between peers
• Escort and assist students as needed throughout the building, on community based experiences, and on/off the bus
• Follow direction of supervisor and assure safety of students at all times
• Other duties as prescribed by ECC Director, special education administrator and PPS Executive Director, as described within the Paraprofessional contract

Expectations for ECC, Life Skills, Autism Spectrum and Therapeutic Program Paraprofessionals may include:

• Assist in feeding, toileting and Activity of Daily Living (ADL) skills as determined by student need
• Maintain Safety Care Certification (required and provided by district)
• Must be physically capable of and willing to engage in positioning, lifting, escorting using a gait belt, and/or restraint, as required to meet the student’s individual needs

What You’ll Bring:

We are looking for candidates who have diverse backgrounds and experiences, are inspired by our mission and are highly motivated to change children’s lives through education. You’ll be right at home here if you are a reflective practitioner who values collaboration with colleagues and pushes yourself, your work and the people around you to the next level. We expect our SPS employees to:

• Hold a deep commitment to students and families and value diversity - The SPS community is vibrant, diverse in background, ethnicity, language, and perspective. You embrace and affirm the backgrounds of all members of the SPS community and view our diversity as a powerful resource that supports us each in learning and doing our best work.
• Hold high expectations for yourself, students, and colleagues – You see potential in all, especially our SPS students, and maintain high expectations for achievement, while providing the support necessary to meet that bar. You hold yourself to high expectations, modeling SPS values and seeking opportunities to continuously improve.
• Build authentic, caring relationships with colleagues, students, and families – You build strong relationships across students, families, and colleagues that are collaborative in nature and contribute to the individual and collective success of SPS. You partner with families and colleagues to make decisions in the best interest of students and learning.
• Embrace feedback – You are a reflective practitioner who learns from failure, using mistakes and challenges as opportunities for growth. You model persistence and growth mindset and thrive in a culture of feedback.

The selected candidate must have the skills, abilities and aptitude to meet all unique needs of their assigned students.

Skills and Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED
• Forty-eight (48) Credit Hours of College Coursework or an Associate’s Degree, or a passing score on one of the two following Formalized Standardized Assessments: ParaPro Assessment (http://www.ets.org/parapro/ ) or WorkKeys
• Safety-Care Trained or willing to be trained (District will provide training)
• Minimum of one year experience working with preschool or early elementary-aged children
• Possess effective written and oral communication skills
• Second Language Proficiency (Spanish) advantageous
• Current authorization to work in the United States

The Paraprofessional reports to the ECC Director, special education supervisor, students’ assigned classroom teacher(s) and Executive Director of Pupil Personnel Services.

Salary according to union contract.