Instructional Assistant Special Education I - Support - Part Time - O'Connor Elementary School
O'Connor Elementary
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Job summary
O'Connor Elementary School in Mesa, Arizona, seeks an Instructional Assistant Special Education I - Support for a part-time role (29 hours per week) to assist certified teachers with monitoring and instruction under IEPs and to support students’ academics, daily living and health care activities.
The role requires an Associate’s Degree or 60 college credits or a ParaPro Test; base hourly rate is $16.56 with annual performance pay.
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
Responsibilities
- Deliver, under teacher’s direction, classroom work/homework and/or reinforce classroom objectives, tutoring and guided practice
- Assist in the development of instructional materials and maintenance of the classroom
- Assist in the collection of data on academic and behavior goals as instructed
- In collaboration with certified personnel 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
- Transfer and/or lift non-ambulatory students to assist them in the performance of their daily activities
- Assist students with personal hygiene to provide for and/or develop students’ daily living activities and behavioral skills
- Assist students who need support in addressing personal care needs due to a severe medical condition and/or physical limitations
- Accompany students as they transition across campus
- Monitor individual and/or small student groups in classroom and/or on the playground to maintain a safe and positive learning environment
- 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
- Participate in various meetings to share information and/or improve one’s skills and/or knowledge
- Regular and on-time attendance required
- Perform other related duties, as assigned, to ensure the efficient and effective functioning of the work unit
- Assist other personnel as may be required for the purpose of supporting them in the completion of their work activities
- Assists with other assigned duties as appropriate to the area of assignment and Mesa Public Schools
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
- Forbes names 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.
Part-time (29 hours per week)
Base Hourly:
$16.56
Class/Calendar:
A11, 9.25 months
None
Performance Pay:
Available annually
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
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 the classroom.
- Assist in the collection of data on academic and behavior goals as instructed
- In collaboration with certified personnel 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
- Transfer and/or lift non-ambulatory students to assist them in the performance of their daily activities
- Assiststudents with personal hygiene to provide for and/or develop students’ daily living activities and behavioral skills
- 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 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 (i.e. copies, materials, billing)
- Participate in various meetings to share information and/or improve one’s skills and/or knowledge
- Regular and on-time attendance required
- Perform other related duties, as assigned, to ensure the efficient and effective functioning of the work unit
- Assist other personnel as may be required for the purpose of supporting them in the completion of their work activities
- 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
Preferred Qualifications:
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Experience working with children
- 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.
This job is also posted in Mesa USD 4
Application Deadline: Nov 09, 2026 11:59 PM (Mountain Standard Time)
Re-Posted: Sep 09, 2026 6:00 AM (UTC)
Starting Date: To Be Determined
- Forbes names 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.
Part-time (29 hours per week)
Base Hourly:
$16.56
Class/Calendar:
A11, 9.25 months
Benefits:
None
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 the classroom.
- Assist in the collection of data on academic and behavior goals as instructed
- In collaboration with certified personnel 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
- Transfer and/or lift non-ambulatory students to assist them in the performance of their daily activities
- Assiststudents with personal hygiene to provide for and/or develop students’ daily living activities and behavioral skills
- 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 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 (i.e. copies, materials, billing)
- Participate in various meetings to share information and/or improve one’s skills and/or knowledge
- Regular and on-time attendance required
- Perform other related duties, as assigned, to ensure the efficient and effective functioning of the work unit
- Assist other personnel as may be required for the purpose of supporting them in the completion of their work activities
- 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
Preferred Qualifications:
- High school diploma or equivalent
- 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: Part-TimeSalary: $16.56 Per Hour
Job Categories:
Instructional Support > Paraprofessional / IA
- High School/Trade School degree preferred.
- Citizenship, residency or work visa required
- Carolyn Henan , Secretary to Principal
- O'Connor Elementary
- Phone: 480-472-7877
- Email: cdhenan@mpsaz.org
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