2026-2027: Personal Care Assistant

Sylvania; Manassas Park (VA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Manassas Park City Schools is seeking a Full-Time Personal Care Assistant at Cougar Elementary School. The role provides one-to-one support for a student with special needs and collaborates with certified staff to deliver instructional and personal care services.

The position requires a high school diploma or equivalent, eligibility to complete ParaPro within 30 days, and strong interpersonal skills to work with a diverse student population.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalency required.
• Experience supporting people with disabilities preferred.
• Ability to work with a diverse population.
• Must complete ParaPro Course within 30 days of hire.
• Must obtain a qualifying score on the ParaPathways Assessment within 30 days of hire.
• Always displays a positive role model for students.
• Maintains confidentiality.
• Ability to speak clearly and write effectively.
• Exhibits sound and accurate judgment.

Responsibilities

• Delivers educational interventions designed by Special Education teachers to help students meet educational, academic, life skills, behavioral, physical, social, and emotional goals.
• Assists teachers with Special Education students to enable learning with minimal disruptions to other students.
• Assists students with basic dress and grooming self-care.
• Administers medications as trained, assigned, and directed.
• Attends to the physical needs of students, including handling equipment and mobility aids.
• Attends to health care needs of students, including potential feeding and toileting tasks.

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Confidentiality

Follow instructions

Education

High school diploma or equivalency

Job description

POSITION: Personal Care Assistant

Location: Cougar Elementary School

Reports To: Special Education Teacher and/or Building Principal

Employment Type: Full-Time

Position Length: 7.5 hours/day | 186 days

Salary Schedule/Grade: Classified Pay Scale, Grade 5

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

JOB SUMMARY:

The Personal Care Assistant provides one-to-one support and assistance to a student with special educational needs. This position includes but is not limited to, supporting daily living skills and monitoring and supporting health and behavior. A personal care assistant may provide support to more than one student, but not at the same time. When the personal care assistant is not working with an individual student in meeting personal care needs, the personal care assistant may be reassigned.

A personal care assistant is a paraprofessional who works under the direction of a certified staff member to support and assist in providing instructional, behavioral, functional, and personal care services to a child with disabilities. This person reports to the school principal.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

• High school diploma or equivalency required
• Experience in supporting people with disabilities or medical needs preferred
• Ability to work with a diverse population
• Must complete ParaPro Course within 30 days of hire.
• Must obtain a qualifying score on the ParaPathways Assessment within 30 days of hire.
• Always displays a positive role model for students
• Maintains confidentiality
• Ability to speak clear ly and write effectively
• Exhibits sound and accurate judgment
• Ability to work with a significant diversity of individuals and/or groups, including teachers and administrators, parents, agency representatives, other school districts, and community groups
• Demonstrated strong interpersonal skills and flexibility to function as a positive, contributing member of an education team
• Strictly follows standing orders, policies and procedures
• Report on time for all assignments

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

(including but not limited to the following)

• Delivers educational interventions designed by Special Education teachers to help students meet educational, academic, life skills, behavioral, physical, social, and emotional goals.
• Assists teachers with Special Education students to enable learning with minimal disruptions to other students.
• Assists students with basic dress and grooming self-care.
• Administers medications as trained, assigned, and directed.
• Attends to the physical needs of students. This may include handling equipment such as prone standards (muscle inactivity so student is changed manually), wheelchairs and braces, (how to refit once removed, now to use properly, and physical lifting).
• Attends to health care physical needs of students, which may include feeding, toileting, diapering, and responding to medical emergencies.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The position requires the ability to:

• Communicate effectively through phone and in-person interactions.
• Operate office equipment including computers, copiers, calculators, etc.
• Perform physical activities such as climbing, standing, walking, lifting, reaching, and bending.

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS:

• Successful completion of a Criminal Justice Fingerprint/Background Clearance.
• Negative Tuberculosis (TB) Screening.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Manassas Park City Schools is committed to providing equal employment and educational opportunities for all individuals, regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, or any other legally protected category. Reasonable accommodations are available to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role.

This job description reflects the major responsibilities and requirements of the role but is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Duties may be added, modified, or removed as necessary.