Job Description

Paraeducator

Location RSS - Windsor, Connecticut

Since 1966, the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) has been dedicated to providing innovative, high-quality, and cost-effective educational programs and services to meet the diverse needs of children and adults in Greater Hartford. Serving 33 member districts and reaching additional communities statewide, CREC supports approximately 12,000 students annually through more than 120 educational programs. Our offerings include professional learning and coaching for educators, specialized programming for students with diverse needs, and PreK-12 education across 16 interdistrict magnet schools. Additionally, CREC provides school construction, operations, and cooperative business services, while also delivering programs that help adults build real, job-ready skills.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Full time paraeducators are needed to work 26/27 school year under the direction of a special education teacher at the River Street School in Windsor, CT.

This position consists of 211 total workdays, including 182 regular school-year days and 29 summer days as part of a 6-week summer program.

River Street School is a Student Services School where area public school districts refer students based on needed supports for IEP or 504 plan. The student population at River Street School ranges in age from 5 years old to 21 years old. The majority of students have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and present with a variety of challenges, including but not limited to: physical and/or behavioral challenges, toileting issues, basic life skill supportive needs, non-verbal communication, etc. Therefore, the paraeducator will be responsible for utilizing the Applied Behavior Analysis methodology to provide instructional support in small and large group settings, teach daily living skills, and collect data on all IEP objectives. The paraeducator will work in collaboration with an assigned classroom teacher and support team including but not limited to Behavior Analysts, OT/PT, Speech Language Pathologists, and Interventionists.

In addition, the paraeducator is responsible for the following duties outlined below.

• Assist the teacher in classroom preparations and strategies for reinforcing instructional materials and skills according to individual student needs.
• Implementation of the behavior support plans and ensure a safe and orderly classroom.
• Utilize activities such as mealtimes and transitions as teaching opportunities.
• Accompany students on community outings providing supervision and instruction.
• Ensure on-task behavior throughout the school day.
• Follow all applicable safety rules, procedures and policies as outlined in the handbook.
• Utilize emergency interventions as prescribed by the Safety Care Curriculum and Connecticut State Regulations.
• Implement therapy plans in the areas of behavior, speech, occupational therapy, and physical therapy and support data collection.
• Utilize communication devices and techniques.
• Communicate effectively and appropriately with verbal and non-verbal students, colleagues, and administration.
• Work effectively within a multidisciplinary team approach.
• Perform any other related duties as assigned.

Equipment
Use of standard office equipment, including computers, faxes and photocopiers.

Physical and Mental Demands, Work Hazards

• Ability to lift greater than 25 pounds.
• Get from kneeling to standing and standing to kneeling with ease and without outside support.
• Kneel on one knee, both knees.
• Get up and down from the floor without assistance.
• Bend from the legs with ease.
• Shuffle quickly on your feet front to back, back to front, side to side.
• Work in standard office, school building environments, and on buses or vans.
• Ability to work outdoors during outdoor student activities.
• Demonstrate proficiency in de-escalation and restraint training (Safety Care)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to carry out instructions provided in written or oral form.
• Ability to work with a diverse group of individuals.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of information regarding students, employees, and others.
• Ability to establish a supportive and compassionate relationship with students with special needs.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with parents and staff
• Effective writing and verbal communication skills.
  

Requirements:

• Must be at least 18 years of age with a high school diploma.
• Have a strong interest in learning about working with students with disabilities;

In addition, the following is preferred:

• Pursuing a 4-year-degree in a related field such as psychology, education, speech pathology, etc. OR;
• 2-years experience working with a wide variety of people with disabilities
• Experience in human services/ providing direct care
• Must be able to pass a two-day safety care training program without restrictions

To access the job description and salary range please click https://www.crec.org/careers/jobs.php