Summary: 

To support elemntary school age students individually or in small groups across a range of disabilities�including specific learning disabilities, ADD/ADHD, multiple disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and medically fragile conditions�to achieve their IEP goals under the direction and guidance of the special education teacher.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Must be trained as needed in medication-delegation by a school nurse.
• May be required to acquire and maintain current CPR certification.
• Implement individualized student behavior plans as directed and utilize targeted strategies to support positive behaviors, enhance student engagement, and promote effective learning.
• Must be trained in Physical and Psychological Management (PMT) or other similar training offered by the district.
• Must be trained as needed by a physical therapist or nurse in the use of mechanical lifts (Hoyer) for moving students and follow all safety procedures during their use.
• Must be cognizant of students with multiple disabilities that require frequent position change, and position students as directed by physical therapist or special education teacher.
• Must be able to clearly and safely implement student feeding programs as directed by related service providers (e.g., occupational therapist, speech-language pathologist, or school nurse), closely monitoring students for any feeding-related complications.
• Must be able to provide toileting assistance to students as needed or directed.
• Must be able to provide incontinence care to students as needed or directed.
• Must be able to receive direction from teachers and related service providers.
• Must be able to support students by following and implementing individualized health care plans, ensuring that medical needs, including seizure activity, are monitored and addressed as directed.
• Must be able to perform clerical duties such as record keeping, filing, making copies.
• Must be able to provide specialized instruction as outlined in student IEP and as directed by the student's teachers and related service providers.
• Implement carryover strategies provided by related service providers (e.g., occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, counselors) to ensure consistency and reinforcement of student learning across settings.
• Facilitate the student's use of augmentative communication devices as directed by the special education teacher and speech pathologist/assistant.
• Maintain a clean, orderly, and safe learning environment for students.
• Other duties as assigned by the supervising teacher, building administrator, or Director of Special Education.

Qualifications:

• Must possess minimum of Associate degree, 60 college credits or have passed the CT ParaPro exam
• Must possess the ability to read, write, and perform math at a minimum of a 12th grade level
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, staff and the entire school community
• Ability to articulate clearly and concisely in both oral and written communications
• Ability to work proficiently in basic computer applications
• Possess an awareness of all district policies and procedures

Physical Demands:*

• Must possess the ability to stand, sit, and walk unassisted and provide movement assistance to students as needed
• Must possess the ability to lower self to a seated position on floors, and to move from a seated position on floor to standing position unassisted
• Must possess normal visual acuity, with or without corrective lenses, and depth perception
• Must have the ability to lift up to 40 pounds

*The physical demands of this position are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

Work Environment:

• Often work indoors, moving between classrooms and other school areas
• May work outdoors during physical education and recess
• May be exposed to noise levels that are distracting
• May be exposed to hitting, kicking, biting and pushing by students in addition to objects thrown by students
• Work near others, often within a few feet
• Work related tasks may be subject to deadlines and time constraints

Work Days:

• Follows school calendar, with additional professional development days following the collective bargaining agreement

Work Scheduled:

• Based on hours of school operations

Compensation & Benefits:

• EWPS offers an exceptional benefits package, including paid time off, participation in the Town of East WIndsor sponsored retirement plan, and a percentage cost share for premium health, vision and dental insurance plans (percentage amount may be based on current collective bargaining agreement)
• Hourly compensation based on experience and the wage table in the current collective bargaining agreement; $22.22-$28.11 per hour