Special Education Paraprofessional

Job Description

Job Description

Description:Overview

The Special Education Paraprofessional works under the supervision of a certified special education teacher and school administrator to provide instructional, behavioral, social-emotional, and personal support to students with disabilities. The paraprofessional assists in implementing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), supporting inclusive classroom instruction, facilitating hands-on STEMM and healthcare learning experiences, and promoting student independence.

This position is ideal for compassionate, patient, flexible individuals who enjoy working directly with students and believe every child can learn, grow, and contribute to their community.

Our Ideal Candidate

At AIM, paraprofessionals are educators, mentors, and advocates. They foster confidence, independence, resilience, and belonging while maintaining high expectations for every student.

The ideal candidate:

• Believes every student deserves access to rigorous instruction and meaningful inclusion. 
• Builds positive relationships with students, families, and colleagues. 
• Demonstrates patience, empathy, professionalism, and flexibility. 
• Enjoys working collaboratively as part of an interdisciplinary educational team. 
• Embraces innovative instructional practices and continuous learning. 
• Supports AIM's CARE Expectations: 
  • Come Prepared  
  • Act Responsibly  
  • Respect Others  
  • Engage in Learning  

Key Responsibilities1. Student Instruction & Academic Support

• Provide instructional support to students individually and in small groups under the direction of a certified teacher. 
• Assist students in accessing grade-level curriculum aligned to Georgia Standards of Excellence. 
• Implement teacher-developed lesson plans, accommodations, and modifications. 
• Support students during classroom instruction, laboratories, simulations, field experiences, and community-based learning. 
• Reinforce academic concepts using evidence-based instructional strategies. 
• Promote student independence rather than dependence. 
• Assist with organization, study skills, executive functioning, and self-advocacy. 

2. Special Education Support

• Assist in implementing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). 
• Collect and document student progress toward IEP goals. 
• Support behavior intervention plans and individualized accommodations. 
• Assist with communication supports, adaptive equipment, and assistive technology. 
• Participate in IEP meetings and team meetings as requested. 
• Maintain accurate documentation while protecting student confidentiality. 

3. Student Health, Safety & Personal Care

When required by student needs:

• Assist students with feeding, toileting, grooming, dressing, and personal hygiene. 
• Provide mobility assistance using adaptive equipment. 
• Support students with medical protocols as trained. 
• Respond appropriately during emergencies. 
• Maintain a safe, clean, and welcoming learning environment. 

4. Behavior & Social-Emotional Support

• Build positive, trusting relationships with students. 
• Implement proactive classroom management strategies. 
• Utilize restorative practices and PBIS strategies. 
• Support students in developing emotional regulation, communication, and social skills. 
• Redirect behavior respectfully while preserving student dignity. 
• Assist students in developing independence and self-management skills. 

5. Collaboration & School Culture

• Collaborate with teachers, therapists, administrators, and families. 
• Participate in professional learning and instructional planning. 
• Model professionalism and AIM's CARE Expectations. 
• Support school-wide events, field experiences, and healthcare partnership activities. 
• Contribute to a positive, inclusive, mission-driven school culture. 
• Perform additional duties as assigned by the CEO, Assistant Principal, or Special Education Coordinator. 

QualificationsRequired

• High School Diploma or GED. 
• Associate degree, completion of 48 semester hours of college coursework, or successful completion of an approved Georgia Paraprofessional Assessment. 
• Current CPR and First Aid Certification or ability to obtain within three months of employment. 
• Ability to obtain Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) or approved de-escalation training within six months. 
• Successful criminal background check and fingerprint clearance. 
• Ability to work effectively with students with diverse learning needs. 

Preferred

• One or more years of experience working with students with disabilities. 
• Experience in inclusive classroom settings. 
• Experience implementing behavior intervention plans. 
• Experience supporting students with autism, emotional and behavioral disabilities, intellectual disabilities, or multiple disabilities. 
• Bilingual (Spanish preferred). 
• Experience with assistive technology. 
• Experience in STEM, healthcare, or project-based learning environments. 

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Successful candidates demonstrate the ability to:

• Build positive relationships with students and families. 
• Maintain confidentiality. 
• Communicate professionally with students, parents, and colleagues. 
• Support diverse learners using differentiated instructional strategies. 
• Implement behavioral supports with consistency and compassion. 
• Work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams. 
• Collect and maintain accurate student data. 
• Adapt quickly to changing student needs and instructional priorities. 
• Organize multiple responsibilities effectively. 
• Model professionalism, patience, flexibility, and kindness. 
• Foster student independence and self-advocacy. 
• Uphold high expectations while providing appropriate support. 

Physical Requirements

The employee must regularly:

• Stand, walk, sit, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and lift. 
• Assist students with mobility and daily living activities. 
• Lift up to 50 pounds independently and assist with moving heavier weights using appropriate equipment or team lifting techniques. 
• Move quickly to respond to student safety needs. 
• Work both indoors and outdoors. 
• Occasionally assist with adaptive equipment including wheelchairs, lifts, standers, and other mobility devices. 

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Working Conditions

This position works in classrooms, laboratories, community-based learning environments, clinical simulation spaces, and school facilities where students with diverse academic, behavioral, communication, and medical needs are served.

Employees may be exposed to:

• Loud classroom environments 
• Bodily fluids 
• Medical emergencies 
• Student behavioral crises 
• Outdoor learning activities 
• Frequent interaction with families, healthcare partners, and community organizations 

AIM Compensation & Benefits

• Salary-$30,000-$35,000
• 190 days
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance. 
• Participation in the Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS), if eligible, or other applicable retirement benefits. 
• Paid professional development. 
• Opportunities for career advancement. 
• The opportunity to help build Georgia's first healthcare-focused public charter school and make a lasting impact on students' lives.

Requirements:

Working Conditions and Demands

Mental & Physical Ongoing Demands Maintain emotional control under stress. 

Work with frequent interruptions/deadlines and prolonged or irregular hours. 

Frequent walking, standing, stooping, bending, pulling and pushing. 

Mental & Physical Occasional Demands Lifting and carrying 10-25 pounds frequently, 25-40 pounds occasionally. 

Travel to other locations as needed for training, supervision, or school events. 

May be required under specific circumstances to provide physical restraint of students to prevent harm to self or others, in accordance with training, school procedures, and legal and regulatory requirements. 

Environmental Factors Ongoing: Frequent exposure to temperature extremes (hot and cold), humidity extremes, noise. 

Occasional: Exposure to biological hazards (communicable diseases, bacteria, insects, mold, fungi, etc.)