Para-educator
-2025-26 School Year
-7hrs/day - 35 hrs/week
-181 days per school year
-Salary Range:  Per contract, Level A, B, or C, depending on education and experience.
-Contract Link - https://www.qps.org/wp-content/uploads/QF-Local-809-CBA-07.01.25-06.30.27-for-Website4.pdf
-District

Qualifications to obtain this para license:

• Must have 60 college credit hours OR completion of Workkeys assessment at John Wood Community College (this requires no degree)
• Must complete the paperwork process at Regional Office of Education (217-277-2080) to obtain an IL Para License 

If you have questions,
please contact:

Eryn Beswick
Special Education Director
217-223-8700

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Updated 10/3/25
Quincy Public School District #172
JOB DESCRIPTION
TITLE: Special Education Paraeducator
REPORTS TO: Principal
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Any combination: Work Keys Certificate (JWCC) or anything higher than 60
hours of college credit/Associates Degree.
CLASSIFICATION: Classified
WORK YEAR: 181
WORK DAY: 7 hours
SALARY: Per Contract Schedule
EVALUATOR: Principal
BASIC FUNCTION
The Special Education Paraeducator works closely with one or a few students with disabilities on a regular
basis in an effort to provide the physical and academic help and the emotional support needed for those
students to reach their potential in the district’s special education program.
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of:
1. Special needs, issues and requirements of students with learning disabilities
2. Basic subjects taught in District schools including arithmetic, grammar, spelling, language and reading
3. Safe practices in classroom and playground activities
4. Reading and writing communication skills
5. Interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy
6. Assistive devices and safety requirements
7. Safety risks and necessary precautions
8. Basic record keeping techniques
9. Correct English usage grammar, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary
10. Classroom procedures and conduct
Ability to:
1. Communicate effectively both orally and in writing with children and adults
2. Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others
3. Assist certified staff with instruction and related activities for learning
4. Assist students in developing self-help and social skills
5. Perform clerical duties such as filing, duplicating and maintaining records
6. Print and write legibly
7. Make arithmetic calculations quickly and accurately
8. Understand and follow oral and written directions
9. Lift, restrain and discipline students according to approved policies and procedures
10. Lift and transfer 60+ lb. student from wheelchair to other assistive devices such as a potty-chair, a
stationary chair or a stander
11. Work independently
12. Operate instructional and office equipment

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DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Assist student with day-to-day activities including eating meals, bathrooming, toileting and diapering,
hygiene, school assignments, getting from one class to another, grooming, handwashing, face washing,
bib and clothes washing, and gathering homework and packing bookbag.
2. Support classroom teacher in instructional interaction
3. Support classroom teacher in planning and preparation
4. Interact with students, helping to address individual needs
5. Attend and participate in IEP meetings, etc.
6. Collaborate with teacher on home visits and required assessments
7. Listen to the student(s) in recitation, reading and other curriculum tasks, guiding and helping them, but
not teaching them
8. Work with small groups of students to reinforce material initially introduced by the teacher
9. Prepare lessons and instructional materials for individual students as directed by teacher; maintain daily
records of achievement
10. Support one- on-one student with physical assistance
11. Perform simple errands and tasks for student(s) such as sharpening pencils, carrying lunch trays, and the
like
12. Accompany the student(s) to whom assigned on trips to the office or the school nurse
13. Prepare student(s) for mainstreamed classes according to established procedures
14. Communicate with and draw support from teacher, occupational therapist, physical therapist, and special
needs teacher to maximize academic benefits
15. Collaborate with physical education teacher to adapt lessons to student’s physical abilities
16. Assist student with day to day activities including eating meals, bathrooming, toileting and diapering,
hygiene, school assignments, getting from one class to another, grooming, handwashing, face washing,
bib and clothes washing, and gathering homework and packing bookbag
17. Provide instruction and assistance to handicapped students in social, self-help and community skills
18. Establish as full as possible a supportive and sympathetic relationship with the student(s) without
fostering or encouraging intense emotional involvement
19. Serve as a resource person if requested to the student personnel evaluation team conferring about one of
the students to whom assigned
20. Supervise interaction with other children for physical safety reasons
21. Perform a variety of clerical duties such as preparing and duplicating instructional materials, ordering
supplies and recording grades
22. Provide support to the teacher by setting up work areas, displays and exhibits, operating audio-visual
equipment, operating educational training equipment and distributing and collecting paper and supplies
23. Assure the health and safety of students by following health and safety practices and procedure; assist in
maintaining a clean and orderly classroom environment
24. Participate in appropriate school and district training programs
25. Inspect District property and observe activities on District property for unsafe conditions which may
lead to injury; correct any unsafe practices and conditions and to report all other potential safety hazards
to their supervisors.
26. Work with supervisors to develop and maintain a program of safe conditions and practices for the
welfare of the students, faculty, employees, volunteers, visitors and other invitees.
27. Certified in CPI as needed
28. Follow the safety guidelines specified in the Safety and Risk Management Plan for Quincy Public
School District #172

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29. Perform other tasks and assume other responsibilities as assigned by the building principal

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