Middle & High School Special Education Paraprofessional

Sylvania; Whitmore Lake (MI); On-site; USD 33,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Retirement plan options

Full-family health coverage

Long-term disability

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Professional development

Job summary

Whitmore Lake Public Schools is seeking a dedicated staff member to join our school community at Whitmore Lake Middle & High School. This full-time position supports teachers, implements IEPs, and uses CPI techniques to manage student behavior within a general education setting.

Starting at $18.76/hr, the role offers growth with experience and is structured to align with the school calendar, Monday–Friday during the school year.

Qualifications

• Associates degree or 60 college credits or MTTC Basic Skills/ETS to show Highly Qualified status.
• Ability to implement strategies for student independence with the general education curriculum.
• Ability to follow data collection to support functional behavioral assessment.
• Knowledge and skills in working with student behavior management in general education.
• Ability to use CPI techniques and other behavior strategies.
• Understands how exceptional conditions interact with development to support learners.
• Creates a positive, engaging classroom environment.
• Team-oriented to develop and implement quality programming.
• Participates in special instructional activities to meet program and student goals.
• Assists teachers in preparing materials, keeping records, recording student progress and other data collection measures.
• Assists in integrating individuals with exceptional learning needs into general education environments.
• Assists in creating learning targets and communicates them to students.
• Assists in implementing and monitoring IEP through related service areas.
• Integrates support service activities into the curriculum and school day.
• Manages and instructs students with positive behavior support strategies.
• Uses technologies to support instructional planning and individualized instruction.
• Participates in professional development and keeps current in pedagogy.
• Participates in district and school initiatives and improvement plans.
• Acts as a public relations agent for the district.
• Provides assistance to the operation of the total school program.
• Adheres to district and school rules and procedures.
• Demonstrates collegiality and professionalism.
• Maintains regular, predictable attendance.

Responsibilities

• Supports teachers and staff in preparing materials and recording student progress.
• Assists in data collection to monitor student progress and IEP goals.
• Helps implement and monitor IEP goals across related services (PT, OT, Speech, etc.).
• Works with general education staff to include students with exceptional needs.
• Contributes to lesson targets and communicates them clearly to students.
• Supports classroom management and positive behavior strategies.

Skills

Behavior management

Student independence strategies

Data collection & progress tracking

Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (CPI)

IEP implementation support

Collaboration/Teamwork

Classroom management

Adaptability to diverse learners

Education

Associates degree / 60 credits / MTTC Basic Skills

Job description

Closing Date: Until Filled

Starting Date: 8/19/2026

WHO WE ARE:

Whitmore Lake Public Schools serves approximately 800 students in preschool-12th grade and their families in Whitmore Lake and the surrounding area. Whitmore Lake Middle/High School is a 6th-12th grade building. We are dedicated to providing exceptional, personalized education to all. At the heart of all we do is our tight-knit Trojan community including our students, their families and our staff. We work hard and take pride in making every day a great day to be a Trojan. #TrojanPride

SALARY and FTE:

Starting at $18.76/hr, increasing with experience

Full-time position, Monday-Friday during school year, 7:30 am- 3:00 pm

WORK LOCATION:

Whitmore Lake Middle & High School

7430 Whitmore Lake Rd.

Whitmore Lake, MI 48189

WHAT WE NEED:

A hardworking, self-starter ready to be a positive contributor to our fun, energetic school community.

WHAT YOU NEED:

• Associates degree, or 60 hours of college credits, or passing MTTC Basic Skills/ETS test to demonstrate Highly Qualified status
• Must be able to implement strategies that foster student independence with the general education curriculum.
• Must be able to follow data collection information to support functional behavioral assessment.
• Must have exceptional knowledge and skills in working with student behavior management in the general education setting.
• Must be able to use "Non-Violent Crisis Intervention" CPI techniques and other behavior strategies.
• Understands how exceptional conditions can interact with the domains of human development and uses this knowledge to respond to the varying abilities and behaviors of individuals with exceptional learning needs.
• Creates a positive, engaging classroom environment that is conducive to learning and appropriately responds to the maturity level and interests of the students.
• Works as a team member to solve problems, develop and implement quality programming.
• Participates in special instructional activities to meet program and student goals
• Assists teachers and support staff in preparing materials, keeping records, recording student progress and other data collection measures in an objective manner.
• Assists general education colleagues with the integration of individuals with exceptional learning needs in general education environments and engages them in meaningful learning activities and interactions.
• Assists in creating and defining learning targets and communicates them effectively to students.
• Assists in implementing and monitoring IEP through group and individual instruction, including demonstrable skills in following IEP goals to specific related service areas (PT, OT, Speech, augmentative devices, etc.).
• Integrates support service activities into the program's curriculum and the school day.
• Manages and instructs students on appropriate behavior, using positive behavior support strategies consistent with Board policy and the student's behavior plan, if applicable.
• Uses appropriate technologies to support instructional planning and individualized instruction.
• Participates in professional development, maintains appropriate certification and qualifications and keeps current in changing pedagogy.
• Participates in district and school initiatives, adheres to building and district school improvement plans.
• Acts as a public relations agent for the success and image of the district.
• Provides assistance to the operation of the total school program.
• Adheres to district and school rules and procedures.
• Conducts behavior to demonstrate collegiality and professionalism.
• Regular, predictable attendance
• Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate and acceptable.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job:

• Ability to lift and carry up to 40 pounds regularly
• Frequent standing, walking, bending, crouching, kneeling, sitting on the floor, and getting up from the floor
• Ability to see and hear to supervise students and respond to their needs quickly
• Frequent reaching, pushing, pulling, and grasping to interact with students and maintain classroom environment
• Ability to move quickly and respond calmly in emergency situations
• Ability to speak clearly to communicate with children, parents, and staff
• Must be able to work indoors and outdoors in a variety of weather conditions during recess, arrival, and dismissal

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Alternative requirements that may be appropriate and acceptable to the Board of Education may be considered. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

WHAT WE PROVIDE:

Competitive salary structure

Customized retirement plan options

Excellent compensation package including up to full-family health coverage with long-term disability, medical, dental, vision and life insurance

Health Insurance Opt-Out Cash Bonus

Childcare tuition discount

Professional development, career growth, and promotion opportunities

Small school with a positive school culture built on support and collaboration

Whitmore Lake Public Schools, 8845 Main Street, Whitmore Lake, MI 48189 does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, physical handicap, height, weight, marital status, veteran status, political belief or age in admission, treatment or participation in its programs, services and activities or in employment. For further information about this policy, contact the Superintendent's Office, 8845 Main St., Whitmore Lake, MI 734-449-4461