Paraeducator - Non-Mainstream Special Education - Structured Program

Bethel School District 403; Spanaway (WA); On-site; USD 3,444,000 - 4,133,000; Full time

Job summary

Bethel School District 403 seeks a paraeducator for a non-mainstream special education structured program. Position supports students in self-contained classrooms, providing individual or small group instruction and assisting with daily living skills.

Responsibilities include behavior support, documentation, and collaboration with certificated staff. Must complete required certifications and Right Response training within specified timelines to be considered.

Qualifications

• Must be 18 years or older and have a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Must complete Right Response training and qualify within 3–5 months.
• Completion of state paraeducator certificate program or approved alternative per state funding.

Responsibilities

• Instructs moderately to severely handicapped students in groups to meet educational goals.
• Maintain records and logs to assess student progress.
• Attend to student physical and safety needs and monitor medical risks.

Skills

Communication with students

Reading and writing

Flexibility

Organizational skills

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Washington StateParaeducatorAssessment or higher

Two years of college coursework

Tools

PECS

Visual schedules

Visual supports

Job description

Paraeducator - Non-Mainstream Special Education - Structured Program JobID: 14671

• Date Posted: 8/31/2026
• Location: SPANAWAY LAKE HIGH (High-Needs School)
• Closing Date: 09/07/2026

POSITION HOURS AND PAY: This position is for 6.5hours per day at 178days per year. 7hours per day for 4days for the first year and 2 days each year following until certification is completed. Position pay: PSE Salary Schedule Lev5 - $ 25.40

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Official Hire Date - Your hire date with the Bethel School District is based on School Board approval. This date depends on multiple factors and may change without notice. Please contact HR with any questions. Required Training - Must complete Right Response Training and receive qualifications within 3-5 months. Renewal of Right Response certification must be completed annualy prior to expiration date. Person hired for this position must complete the online Autism Spectrum Disorder course within 3 months of hire.

*Must successfully complete the Fundamental Course of Studies (FCS) and General Paraeducator Certificate of the state mandated Paraeducator Certificate Program per State requirements. Paraeducator Certificate Program is dependent upon State funding.

IMPORTANT: In order to be considered for an interview for this instructional paraeducator position you must meet the following federal minimum employment requirements.

• Must be 18 years of age; and
• Hold high school diploma or its equivalent; and one of the following
  • Successfully passed the ParaPathways Assessment orPearson Paraprofessional assessment
  • AA degree or higher
  • Earned seventy-two (72) quarter credits or forty-eight (48) semester credits at an accredited institution of higher education
  • Completion of registered apprenticeship program offered by the Washington State Dept. of Labor & Industries
  • Successful completion ofThe Master Teacher Inc. Paraeducator Online Training Program

You may provide unofficial transcripts in your application but will be required to provide official ones upon hire. Not providing required documents could significantly delay your official hire. Please contact HR with questions.

Description: This position's responsibilities are to assist certificated staff with instructional and non-instructional activities for non-mainstreamed special education students, generally in a self-contained classroom, and including instructing students individually or in small groups, assisting students with basic life skills, and supervising student behavior activities. Activities may include personal care, toilet teaching, feeding and communication development in addition to academic or pre-academic instruction.

Job Summary:

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Instructs moderately to severely handicapped students individually or in small groups in a variety of learning activities to promote student understanding of materials presented. Provides encouragement, reinforcement and achievement of educational objectives and goals defined by certificated staff. Assists in the administration of objective tests or other measurements.
• Communicates with certificated staff concerning individual student progress; adjusts methods to meet the needs of a wide variety of students; consults with certificated staff concerning remediation or enrichment activities.
• Assists certificated staff in maintaining records, logs, charts, assignments and other records for assessment of student progress.
• Attends to student physical and safety needs; monitors students for medical risks such as seizures and behaviors that may result in harm to themselves or others. Corrects behaviors and maintains discipline according to established policies and procedures.
• Assists students with toileting, which may include catheterization and diapering; attends to the personal hygiene needs of students. Assists students in washing hands and face, brushing teeth and hair, and taking showers.
• Assists students with interpersonal and personal skills mastery; helps feed students and teaches social aspects of eating with others.
• Assists students with basic living skills and pre-vocational activities. Works with students to develop communication skills; facilitates integration of students with age-group peers to the extent possible.
• Establishes and maintains effective communication with students, staff and parents for student progress and safety, and community relations.
• Provides physical assistance to students, such as lifting or positioning. Uses adaptive equipment to communicate with students; follows and documents procedures established by physical therapist.
• Monitors need for first aid for students and refers for treatment as appropriate.
• Maintains cleanliness and hygiene of classroom, implements and equipment. Washes dishes; cleans and disinfects tables and counters; washes and dries clothes, towels, washcloths and bibs.
• Alerts qualified district staff to student problems.
• Locates, prepares and/or modifies materials for student use, enrichment activities and special projects under the direction of certificated staff.
• Prepares, duplicates, collates and distributes materials; operates a variety of office equipment.
• Maintains physical appearance of classroom and other assigned areas; maintains, assembles and stores therapeutic and other equipment as assigned; maintains supplies as assigned.
• May serve on various district committees and/or departmental work teams. Models appropriate and cooperative behavior, including protecting confidential information, consistent with district ethical guidelines.
• Performs related duties consistent with the scope and intent of the position.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

Reports to the school principal or assigned administrator; receives guidance from certificated staff.

MENTAL DEMANDS

May experience frequent interruptions; required to deal with a wide range of student behaviors and academic abilities; required to deal with a wide range of physical or emotional disabilities; may occasionally deal with distraught or difficult students.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Potentially exposed to ordinary infectious diseases carried by students; exposed to student noise levels; required to lift and position students and their special equipment such as wheelchairs; required to work in non-routine positions for extended periods; may be required to attend to students' personal hygiene; may be exposed to biting behavior; may need to take precautions to avoid exposure to student bodily fluids; playground supervision requires working outdoors in inclement weather.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience Education, training, skills, and experience necessary to carry out the assignment, with experience working with school age children and special needs students preferred. Non-violent crisis intervention, development and use of PECS, visual schedule systems, and visual supports, use of Social Stories, universal precautions and toilet teaching for special needs, understanding of child development and the needs of students on the Autism spectrum, and sensory processing. Completion of the Autism Spectrum Disorder course.For Title One and Title One School-wide Special Education positions there is an associate degree, or proof of completion of the Washington State Paraeducator Assessment, or two years of higher education requirement per the Federal "No Child Left Behind" Act.

Allowable Substitutions Not applicable.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Demonstrated skill in reading, writing and communicating. Knowledge of basic subject areas, such as reading and math. Ability to deal with students in a warm and confident manner. Ability to remain flexible in changes in assignments. Ability to organize activities. Ability to follow and give instructions. Ability to be fair and consistent when working with students. Ability to learn and implement effective behavior management techniques. Ability to learn and implement effective instructional techniques. Knowledge of a variety of behavior and learning disorders. Knowledge of student safety rules and procedures. Ability to remain flexible and calm when schedules change or student becomes agitated. Ability to learn the use of computers and various software packages for student instruction and record keeping. Ability to learn the operation of general office machines. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students and staff. Ability to diffuse situations and resolve conflicts. Requires some confidentiality.

Licenses/Special Requirements Requires fingerprinting and background check to determine that there have been no convictions involving physical molestation, abuse, injury or neglect of a minor. Must complete training in and adhere to district infection control plan. May be required to obtain first aid and CPR certification. Hepatitis-B immunization is offered. Must complete Right Response Training and receive qualifications