Paraeducator - Special Education - Group 1 Bus

Special Education Paraeducator Bus Rider Group 1 Tracey Elementary School

Under the direct supervision of a special education, the paraeducator supports students to participate in their educational program. Essential functions include assisting in the implementation of the Norwalk Board of Education administrative policies, rules, regulations, and directives, following Norwalk school policy to ensure student safety, receiving and following oral or written instructions from special education teachers or supervisors, including health or safety plans, IEPs, or 504 accommodation plans, and immediately reporting accidents, assaults, destruction of property, and abusive behavior to the transportation supervisor and building supervisor. The paraeducator ensures that students wait, board, and depart buses in a safe and orderly fashion, works with drivers and transportation supervisors in resolving problems with students, keeps abreast of new information, innovative ideas, and techniques, adheres to all district health and safety policies, demonstrates highly effective organizational and problem-solving skills, maintains student discipline, interacts with unique students, parents, and faculty in a positive and proper manner, maintains respect for confidential information, and may be required to document attendance on the bus on a form prescribed by the District.

Additional responsibilities include performing all responsibilities listed above for all paraeducators, following teacher's oral or written directions to assist in the implementation of Individualized Education Plan (IEP) goals, assisting the teacher with the implementation of a toilet schedule and program, and/or feeding program, providing escort and mobility assistance to students, assisting and supporting students during community-based activities, assisting and supporting students to develop independent living skills, implementing behavioral programs developed by the teacher, providing data collection of student learning activity as developed by the teacher, and providing teacher information for progress monitoring and/or daily reports for the teacher to share with parents.

Required knowledge, skills, and abilities include the ability to communicate ideas and directives clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, effective, active listening skills, ability to record data with accuracy, ability to work effectively with others, ability to implement teacher directives related to instructional and behavioral goals effectively, organizational and problem-solving skills.

Other duties and responsibilities include interacting in a positive manner with staff, students, parents, and visitors, promoting good public relations by personal appearance, attitude, and conversation, maintaining a level of approachability by administration, staff, parents, and visitors, responding to questions and requests in a timely and appropriate manner, attending meetings and professional development activities as recommended by teacher, supervisor, Principal or ELL Instructional Specialist, and performing other related duties as assigned by teacher, Principal, Special Education Supervisor or ELL Instructional Specialist.

Qualifications/Certificates include a high school diploma or equivalency and ParaPro Certificate, bachelor's degree preferred, associate's degree in education or related field or ParaPro Certificate or two (2) years of college required, two (2) years of experience working with children or young adults in a school setting preferred, and specific experience working with students with high management needs preferred. May require fluency in Spanish.