Paraprofessional (SPED)

Job Description

Job Description

NOLA Public Schools Vision

The vision of the NOLA Public Schools is that every student receives a high-quality education that fosters their individual capabilities, while ensuring that they thrive, achieve physical and mental wellness, and are prepared for civic, social, and economic success. 

Position Summary 

The Special Education Paraprofessional is a school-based position dedicated to supporting the academic, behavioral, and social-emotional development of students with disabilities. Working under the direct supervision of a certified special education teacher, this role assists in the implementation of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), provides targeted support to students with diverse learning and behavioral needs, and contributes to creating an inclusive, supportive learning environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist the special education teacher in implementing IEP goals, accommodations, and modifications.
• Work with individual students or small groups to reinforce learning, reteach concepts, or implement specialized interventions.
• Provide support to students with disabilities in general education classrooms, special education settings, and during transitions.
• Assist with behavioral support plans, including documenting behavior and implementing strategies as directed.
• Support students with self-care needs, including feeding, toileting, and mobility, as required by their IEPs.
• Monitor student progress and communicate observations to the teacher and related service providers.
• Aid in administering accommodations during testing (e.g., extended time, read-aloud).
• Help prepare instructional materials and classroom setups specific to SPED students.
• Ensure a safe, respectful, and structured environment for all students.
• Participate in IEP meetings or related trainings as requested.
• Support data collection and progress monitoring as part of compliance and instructional planning.
• Maintain confidentiality in accordance with FERPA and other applicable laws.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support students with disabilities.

Educational Background

• Hold a high school diploma  and pass the ETS ParaPro Assessment to be considered a highly qualified paraprofessional
• Complete a minimum of 48 semester credit hours (equivalent to two years of full-time study)
• Hold an associate degree or higher from an accredited institution

Other Knowledge, Skills or Abilities Required

• Previous experience as a Paraprofessional preferred. 
• Educational experience preferred.  
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. 
• Must possess the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, parents and staff. 

Salary Offers

Our salary offers reflect a commitment to equity and transparency. Each offer is determined by education, years of experience, and alignment with compensation across similar roles within the district.

Work Environment

Listed below are key points regarding environmental demands and the work environment of the job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.   

- Required to use motor coordination with finger dexterity (such as keyboarding, machine operation, etc.) part of the workday; 

- Required to exert physical effort in handling objects more than 30 pounds rarely; 

- Required to be exposed to physical occupational risks (such as cuts, burns, exposure to toxic chemicals) rarely; 

- Required to be exposed to physical environment which involves dirt, odors, noise, weather extremes or similar elements rarely; 

- Normal setting for this job is an office/school setting.     

Performance Evaluation

The employee will be evaluated based on the above position using either two methods: via COMPASS/LEADS or a NOLA-PS evaluating instrument. If the employee holds an Educational Leadership certification, he/she will be evaluated via COMPASS/LEADS to ensure renewal of certification.

EEOC Statement

NOLA Public Schools is committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, genetic information, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, lawful alien status, national origin, age, marital status, and non-job related physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.