Paraprofessional

Paraprofessional

The role of the Paraprofessional is to form interpersonal relationships with each student to help them feel more motivated about classroom achievement. In addition, the Paraprofessional strives to enrich each student's experience by working with and monitoring students in and out of the classroom attending to students' physical, personal, academic, and emotional needs.

Essential duties include:

• Ability to work effectively in a classroom or one to one environment providing responsive instructional and behavioral support to assigned student(s)
• Knowledge of positive behavior and intervention strategies to motivate students
• Assists with the behavioral management system under the direction of the teacher and under the direction of the classroom teacher or District BCBA, chart academic and behavioral progress
• Ability to effectively communicate with teachers, parents, and administration
• Assist student(s) with classroom activities under the direction of the teacher
• Assists with instructional modifications recommended by the planning team
• Checks notebooks, correct papers and supervises testing and make-up work relevant to the assigned student(s)
• Assist with reading and math interventions
• Participates in appropriate staff development programs
• Assists teacher in duties related to the supervision of lunchroom, playground, and bus activities
• Assist student(s) with dressing, undressing, feeding, toileting, and health needs as necessary
• Follows all applicable safety rules, procedures, and regulations governing the proper manner of assistance for all students, including those with disabilities or other special needs.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of information regarding students, employees, and others.
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications include:

• Paraprofessional certification registered with ISBE is required
• Experience working with children and youth in classroom settings is preferred
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Ability to assist in classroom instruction and learning
• Great attention to detail
• Ability to work effectively with children supporting their social & emotional needs
• Ability to remain calm and patient at all times
• Maintain boundaries as a professional and understand your role versus the students
• Excellent teamwork skills
• Knowledge of classroom subject
• Will be required as needed to work in all five school buildings when necessary

Mental demands include foundational knowledge in a specific field, ability to read, analyze, and interpret procedures and regulations, ability to communicate verbally and perform technical writing, correspondence, and procedure manuals, ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of staff, students, administrators and the general public, ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and Board of Education policies.

Physical demands include standing, walking, talking or hearing, using hands to handle or feel instructional and technological resources, sitting, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling, lifting and/or moving up to 50 pounds, and specific vision abilities.

Work environment includes working in a building setting with children, working in outdoor weather conditions, and being subject to noises associated with both an educational environment and other settings.

Adopted and updated November 2024