Educational Assistant (K-4)

Brainerd Public Schools; United States; On-site; USD 23,000 - 24,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full benefits package including health

PERA Pension & 403b

Paid sick and personal leave

Job summary

Brainerd Public Schools is hiring an Educational Assistant (K-4) at Riverside Elementary School for the 2026-27 school year. The role is non-exempt, 8 hours per day, 173 duty days with full benefits including health, dental, vision and pension. Compensation ranges $16.50-$17.15 per hour, depending on education and experience.

The assistant will support students with IEP goals across multiple settings, collaborate with teachers, and help implement therapies and accommodations as prescribed.

Qualifications

• Experience working with students with physical, cognitive and mild behavioral needs.
• Handle with Care Training within three months of being hired.
• Para Educator Assessment within three months of being hired.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills; able to be a team member.
• Flexibility based on program and student needs.
• Ability to follow IEPs and assist in various settings.

Responsibilities

• Carry out duties and responsibilities in a student's IEP.
• Assist students in individual and group settings in resource or inclusive settings.
• Provide instructional interventions and accommodations per IEP.
• Collaborate with teachers and related service providers to ensure safety and success.
• Model appropriate developmental and behavioral skills through interaction.
• Support self-help and daily living skills as needed.
• Supervise students during lunch, recess, field trips and bus duty.
• Maintain confidentiality and professional communication.

Skills

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Adaptability

Empathy

Education

Handle with Care Training

Para Educator Assessment

Job description

• Position Type:
  Support Staff/ Special Education Assistant
  
  
• Date Posted:
  9/11/2026
  
  
• Location:
  Riverside Elementary School
  (High-Needs School)
  
  

ASSIGNMENT DETAILS

Position Title: Educational Assistant (K-4)
Location: Riverside Elementary School
Assignment: 2026-27School Year - Ongoing
Hours: 8hours per day
Duty Days: 173duty days per school year
Compensation: $16.50-$17.15 per hour (Based on education and experience; wages outlined in Educational Assistants contract located ondistrict website)
Non-Exempt
Benefits: Full Benefits including paid sick and personal leave, Health, Dental, Vision, Life, LTD, PERA Pension & 403b (visit our website for more information)
Union: ED MN - Educational Assistant

JOB SUMMARY:
The Special Education Paraprofessionalwill assist and carry out the goals, objectives and adaptations in the individual education plan of special needs students in various settings; classrooms, physical education, lunchroom, bus loading area, cafeteria and common spaces.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Essential functions may include, but are not limited to:

• Carrying out the duties and responsibilities outlined in a student's individual education plan.
• Assist student(s) in individual and group settings whether in the resource room or inclusive educational setting. This could include in the community or volunteer setting.
• Provide specialized instruction/interventions/accommodations as outlined in the IEP.
• Team with the classroom teacher and/or special education teacher to deliver classroom instruction.
• Demonstrate and model appropriate developmental and behavioral skills through play or interaction with the child.
• Assist the individual student in self-help and independent living skills – this can include the following 1. Dressing and undressing, 2. Toileting – which may include changing diapers, training pants, cleaning the child and implementing toilet training techniques, 3. Supervise and assist with eating skills, this could include but is not limited to adapted feeding utensils or feeding tube, 4. Supervise and assist child with an assistive device, this could include but is not limited to, any prosthetic device, brace, wheelchair, communicative or assistive technology device. 5. Support students in Developmentally Adaptive Phy Ed activities and Special Olympics events and activities.
• Supervise student(s) during lunch, time out situations, recess, field trips, and emergency situations or in temporary absence of the teacher due to emergency or restrictive procedure situation.
• Monitor classroom instruction for purpose of ensuring student progress and a safe learning environment.
• Bus duty that could involve riding the bus and following through with prescribed bus programs, meeting the bus, and reporting about student's bus behavior/needs to the case manager.
• Participate physically with the students in activities being taught.
• Collaborate with Special Education Teachers, Classroom teachers and related service providers to ensure student safety and success.
• Maintain confidentiality
• Developeffective working relationships with students.
• Support building and classroom discipline policy.
• Maintaingood communication skills and a cooperative working environment with other school staff.
• Participatein assigned professional development.
• Maintain knowledge of building procedures manual and school district policies.
• Work cooperatively with the building administrator, accepting constructive feedback and direction.
• Address disagreements with fellow employeesconstructively and respectfully.
• Monitor student progress on assigned tasks.
• Follow school district policy in reporting suspected abuse/neglect.
• All other duties as identified by the team in the IEP process for individual situations.
• Other special education related duties as assigned by the proper administrative authority.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience working with students with physical, cognitive and/or mild behavioral needs
• Handle with Care Training - certification required within three months of being hired and maintained during employment.
• Para Educator Assessment - certification required within three month of being hired.
• Must possess strong communication and interpersonal skills and be able to be a member of a team.
• Ability to be flexible based on program and student needs.
• Ability to assist students in individual or group settings whether in the resource room or inclusive education setting as well as in the community as a job coach.
• Ability to implement and follow through on specific therapies and programs for an individual as prescribed by the individual education plan. This could involve lifting, transferring, positioning, assisting with daily living activities such as toileting, feeding, and restrictive procedures when necessary.
• Ability to collect data on student progress as defined in the Individual Education Plan.
• Ability to remain calm and patient in volatile situations and react and respond quickly in a variety of situations.
• Ability to work under the supervision of a site principal and/or special education teacher.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks at once while dealing with constant interruptions.
• Ability to work with students, families, professionals, and staff of various cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
• Ability to interact with and maintain cooperative relationship with all levels of staff and the public.
• Must possess the ability to maintain confidentiality and professionalism.