.875 FTE Special Education Assistant

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District; Palmer (AK); On-site; USD 22,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District is seeking a Special Education Assistant in Palmer, AK. The role supports IEP implementation, assists instructors with student activities, and provides essential care and classroom help in a special education setting.

Starting wage is $19.77 per hour with a 0.875 FTE; shift hours are 7:45–2:15. Training, supervision, and opportunities to contribute to student learning are provided within a collaborative school environment.

Qualifications

• Highly Qualified prior to the end of the probationary period as defined by NCLB.
• High school diploma or GED, AND two years of college (48 credits) or an associate's degree.
• Pass the ParaPro Assessment and the Paraprofessional Standards Checklist.

Responsibilities

• Enter IEP data into the district computer system and print data files.
• Prepare and return classroom materials; locate supplies and set up materials.
• Provide attendant care and support for students during the day, including bus assistance.
• Assist with grading, attendance, and materials distribution under supervision.
• Support planning and implementing IEPs for individuals or small groups.
• Schedule parent conferences and IEP meetings with staff; accompany student visits to the nurse.
• Provide other administrative tasks as needed (proctoring, reminders).
• Make programmatic communications between teachers and parents.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

IEP data entry

Classroom prep

Student care

Grading/records

Individualized instruction

Parent conferences

Administrative support

Phone communication

Bus/transport assistance

Education

High school diploma or GED

Two years college (48 credits)

Associate's degree

Para Pro test/Checklist

Job description

• Position Type:
  Classified Positions/ Special Education Assistant
• Date Posted:
  10/22/2026
• Closing Date:
  10/30/2026

Position: Special Education Assistant
Position FTE: .875
Pay Grade: 7
Starting Wage: $19.77
Days Per Year: 202
Shift hours: 7:45-2:15pm

Class Summary

Under supervision performs a variety of teaching support functions in an emotionally disturbed/behaviorally disordered or self-contained environment. Assists Special Education instructors in planning and implementing student Individualized Education Plans (IEP's), provides teaching assistance to individual students and/or small groups, and provides requisite student care as necessary to ensure the effective delivery of student learning activities.

Distinguishing Characteristics

• 1 Enters student Individualized Education Plans (IEP's) into a computer system and prints student data files/ information according to established procedures. Daily A1
• 2 Prepares and returns materials for classroom use and related activities. Locates necessary supplies (e.g. books, movie projectors and VCRs), reproduces class
  notes and/or handouts, prepares bulletin boards and craft projects and cleans/organizes classroom upon completion of daily activities.
  Daily
  A1
• 3 Provides attendant care for moderately and severely handicapped and/or emotionally disturbed/behaviorally disruptive students throughout the course of the school day. May assist students off/on buses; monitor student activities and safety during class, recess, lunch breaks and field trips; and assist with feeding, dressing and toileting needs.
  Daily
  A1
• 4 Professional staff by typing, filing, duplicating and organizing materials for distribution; grades student projects/exams using specified criteria; maintaining attendance records; and assisting instructors and/or professional staff with
  screening and testing procedures for students referred for Special Education.
  Daily
  A1
• 5 Assists Special Education instructors in planning and implementing student Individualized Education Plans (IEP's). Provides teaching assistance to individuals and/or small groups in a variety of educational areas; monitors student performance; and provides information.
  Daily
  A1/ B2
• 6 Assists Special Education instructors in scheduling parent conferences, Individualized Education Plan meetings with professional staff and student visits to
  school nurse. As Needed
  A1
• 7 May be required to provide other administrative assistance (e.g. proctoring student detentions, picking-up student prescriptions and transporting/accompanying students to therapy sessions/jobs. As Needed
  A1
• 8 May be directed by Supervising teacher to make phone contacts concerning meetings, however, all programmatic communication flows between teacher and parents.
  Daily
  A1
• 9 Other duties as assigned. As Needed

Knowledge

Knowledge: Applicants must be Highly Qualified prior to the end of the probationary period. *Highly Qualified meansyou have met the paraprofessional requirements as defined by No Child Left Behind (NCLB). The NCLB minimum requirements for paraprofessionals are defined in NCLB Sections 1119(f) and 1119(c)(1) as:
High school diploma or GED, AND

• Two years of college (at least 48-semester hour credits);
• ?Associate's (or higher) degree;
• Pass the Para Pro Assessment and the Paraprofessional Standards Checklist.

Skills

(position requirements at entry)

Training and Experience (position requirements at entry): Previous education, training, work or life experience which provides reasonable evidence of the successful performance of the various tasks listed. Such experience may be evidenced by six (6) months of providing attendant care within an emotionally disturbed/behaviorally disordered and/or self-contained environment.

Licensing Requirements (position requirements at entry): A valid Alaska Driver's License.

Physical Requirements: The physical requirements described here 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 functionsWhile performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and sit. The employee is frequently required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl to assist students. The employee continuously uses hand-strength to grasp items such as classroom supplies, feeding instruments, or testing material. The employee will occasionally lift, carry, push and/or pull to 40 lbs, such as a wheelchair, student, or other assistive devices. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and depth perception.

Medium Work

• Lifting/carrying a maximum weight of 40 pounds (lbs.) occasionally (less than 33% of the time, or 1-100 times per day to move objects
• Pushing a maximum force of 40 ft./lbs. to move objects
• Pulling a maximum force of 40 ft./lbs. to move objects