Instructional Assistant Special Education I - Self-Contained - Visually Impaired Support

Mesa Public Schools

Mesa (AZ)

On-site

USD 23,000 - 28,000

Full time

3 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Sick leave

Holidays

Retirement matched

Health insurance

Life insurance

Performance pay

Job summary

Mesa Public Schools in Mesa, Arizona is seeking an Instructional Assistant Special Education I for self-contained visually impaired support. The role supports certified teachers with monitoring and instruction of students under IEPs, assists with daily living tasks, and frees teachers from routine clerical duties.

Responsibilities include delivering guided practice, preparing materials, collecting data, and implementing behavior plans.

Qualifications

Associate’s Degree or 60 college credits required at time of hire or pass the ParaPro Test
Experience working with children
Support students with disabilities per IEPs and assist with academic, daily living and health care activities

Responsibilities

Deliver classroom work/homework under teacher direction, reinforce objectives
Assist development of instructional materials and maintain classroom
Collect data on academic and behavior goals as instructed
Implement positive behavior intervention plans for students with challenging behaviors
Assist with personal care needs as required to support functioning in school
Accompany students during transitions across campus
Monitor small groups to maintain a safe, positive learning environment
Maintain classroom equipment and materials
Perform clerical tasks to support the teacher and student files
Attend meetings to improve skills and knowledge

Skills

MPS Portrait of a Graduate

Commitment to MPS Promise

Special education support

Verbal & written communication

Stress management

Computer proficiency (Word, Excel)

Classroom organization

Education

Associate’s degree or 60 college credits

ParaPro Test (district)**

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Instructional Assistant Special Education I - Self-Contained - Visually Impaired Support

Mesa USD 4 Specialized Student Services - Mesa, Arizona Open in Google Maps

This job is also posted in Mesa USD 4

Job Details

Job ID: 5901669
Application Deadline: Aug 31, 2026 11:59 PM (Mountain Standard Time)
Posted: Aug 25, 2026 6:00 AM (UTC)

Starting Date: To Be Determined

Job Description

Forbes named Mesa Public Schools in their list of Best Employers in Arizona for multiple years.
East Valley Tribune names Mesa Public Schools as Best Place to Work in East Valley for multiple years.

Employment Type:

Full-time (32.5 hours per week)

Base Hourly:

$17.57

Class/Calendar:

A11b, 9.25 months

Benefits:

Sick leave, holidays,retirement matched through the Arizona State Retirement System, health, and life insurance

Performance Pay:

Available annually

New Hire Experience:

1% of the base hourly rate granted for each year of verified like experience (within ten years) beyond the requirement, up to a ten -year maximum

New Hire Education:

1% of the base hourly rate awarded for an AA or higher degree if not required for the position

Job Summary:

To assist, under direct supervision of certified teachers and specialists, in themonitoring and instruction of special education students implementing the Individual Education Plans; to assist students in performingtheir academic, daily living and health care activities; to relieve teacher of routine clerical tasks.

Key Responsibilities:

Deliver, under teacher’s direction, classroom work/homework and/or reinforce classroom objectives, tutoringand guided practice
Assist the development of instructional materials and maintenance of classroom
Assist in the collection of data on academic and behavior goals as instructed
Implement positive behavior intervention plans for students who display challenging behaviors including verbal and physical aggression
Respond to problem behaviors according to the student’s positive behavior intervention plan and district crisis intervention policy
May be required to assist students who need support in addressing personal care needs due to a severe medical condition and/or physical limitations (i.e. toileting, feeding, dressing suctioning, etc) to ensure their functioning in a school environment
Accompany students as they transition across campus
Monitor individual and/or small student groups in classroom and/or on the playground to maintain asafe and positive learning environment; facilitate social peer interactions
Maintain classroom and student equipment to ensure a safe environment
Model professional, safe, responsible and respectful behavior
Perform general clerical tasks to support the teacher in the maintenance of student files and to provide classroom materials
Participate in various meetings to share information and/or improve one’s skills and/or knowledge
Regular and on-time attendance required
Assists with other assigned duties as appropriate to the area of assignment and Mesa Public Schools

Required Qualifications:

Associate’s Degree or 60 college credit hours required at time of hire OR pass the ParaPro Test provided by the district free of charge
Experience working with children

Skills & Competencies:

Models the attributes and skills of the MPS Portrait of a Graduate
Demonstrates commitment to the MPS Promise that every student is known by name, served by strength and need, and graduates ready for college, career and community
Ability and willingness to work with special education students who may require specialized instruction to meet academic, social, and behavior goals
Ability to work well with students, staff and parents; good verbal and written communication skills
Ability to work well in stressful situations
Computer proficiency to include use of basic software applications (Word, Excel, etc)
Ability to operate standard office equipment
Ability to organize and prioritizeand to followclassroom guidelines as put forth by classroom teacher

Work Environment & Physical Requirements:

Works closely with special education teachers, general education staff, therapists, and administrators
May be resource rooms, inclusion settings, or self-contained classrooms
Supports students with disabilities, which may include intellectual, developmental, emotional, or physical disabilities
Each day can vary based on student needs, schedules, behavior, and support plans
Must be able to stand, walk, sit, bend, and kneel frequently throughout the day
May need to lift or assist students who have physical disabilities, including transferring students to and from wheelchairs, standing frames, or other equipment (commonly 25–50 lbs, but sometimes more)

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement:

Mesa Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding equal employment opportunity and anti-discrimination. The District strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

Applicants and employees may contact Human Resources to request reasonable accommodations needed to perform the essential functions of this position.

Position Type: Full-Time
Salary: $16.56 Per Hour
Job Categories:

Instructional Support > Paraprofessional / IA

Job Requirements