Paraprofessional

Sylvania; Alpena (MI); On-site; USD 23,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Pied Piper School is seeking a paraprofessional to assist teachers and students in learning lesson plans for students with moderate to severe cognitive impairment.

The role involves supporting students under the direction of the classroom teacher and specialists, aiding in lesson planning, and participating in planned activities. Strong communication and physical capability to assist students is required.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Valid Michigan Driver’s License required.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally.
• Ability to carry out tasks independently and follow directions.

Responsibilities

• Aids students in self-help skills such as dressing, toileting, eating.
• Assists in developing pre-academic and academic skills as directed by teachers.
• Provides prescribed programs from therapists under supervision.
• Transports handicapped students as needed.
• Implements teaching strategies using technology to meet student needs.
• Supports IEPC meetings and preparation of reports.

Skills

Communication skills

Independent task execution

Basic computer knowledge

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Valid Michigan Driver’s License

Job description

Paraprofessional

Department: Pied Piper School

Reports to: Pied Piper Principal / Special Education Supervisor

Summary

The paraprofessional provides assistance both to teachers and students in learning lesson plans. They work in a classroom for students with moderate to severe cognitive impairment and is directly responsible to the Supervisor of Pied Piper and the classroom teacher. They work in specialized programs or on an individual basis with students requiring close supervision and special assistance. The paraprofessional provides support, explanation, and re-teaching.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Aiding students in dressing, toileting, eating and other self-help skills. Since some students are non-ambulatory, this may require lifting of adult students from wheelchairs onto commodes.
• Aiding in the developing of pre-academic, academic, prevocational, vocational and psychomotor skills as directed by the classroom teacher. This may involve transferring students from wheelchairs onto mats or assisting in the physical lifting of students.
• Providing prescriptive programs to the students as developed by occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech and language therapists and other support personnel under the direction of the classroom teacher.
• Aiding in the transportation of handicapped students as needed.
• Aiding in lesson planning, performance objective assessment and updating and general program planning under the direction of the classroom teacher.
• Participating in all planned activities including activities in the physical education, vocational education and leisure activity areas for the mentally impaired.
• Aiding in preparing for IEPC meetings, in preparing quarterly reports and providing input into the diagnostic process as directed by the classroom teacher.
• Implementing teaching strategies utilizing a variety of technology including microcomputers to best meet the needs of the individual student as directed by the classroom teacher.
• Carry out the daily plans as developed by the classroom teacher in accordance with the policies of the ISD and the individual plans for each student.
• Assist the team in supporting students with behavioral needs.
• Must maintain a high level of confidentiality.
• Remain free of any alcohol or non-prescribed controlled substance abuse in the workplace through their employment in the district.
• Presence on the job is an employee’s fundamental obligation. Regular, reliable and punctual attendance is required.
• Other duties as assigned by Supervisor.

Essential Functions

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

While performing the duties of this job, the paraprofessional must be able to do the following:

• Transfer children and heavy objects.
• Help physically limited children on and off of buses.
• Assist toileting, feeding and dressing physically limited students.
• Provide various levels of physical assistance in moving students from class to class or within the classroom, able to lift or move up to 50 pounds.
• Clean up after accidents (bend, squat, sit).
• Accompany and assist students on field trips into the community (walk distance, sit, steps).
• Acute vision required or correction including close vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• Must be able to have repetitive wrist/hand/finger movements to work on computer and/or related office
• Presence on the job is an employee’s fundamental obligation. Regular, reliable and punctual attendance is required.
• Remain free of any alcohol or non-prescribed controlled substance abuse in the workplace through their employment in the district.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Michigan Driver’s License
• Successful experience in working in a classroom situation with cognitively impaired persons.
• Ability to carry out the physical demands of the job, including the physical ability to pass CPI certification and carry out restraints of students as necessary.
• Coursework in child development is preferred.
• Ability to independently carry through assigned tasks.
• Must have basic computer knowledge including Internet awareness.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written form.
• Ability to pass a criminal history check.

Starting Salary

$17.12-$18.80 per hour

Paraprofessional staff who advance or have advanced their learning with an associate’s degree in an area approved by the supervisor shall receive a permanent salary increase of $2,000 (prorated).

Posted: September 8, 2026

Posting Expires: Open until filled. Interviews will be scheduled upon application.

Notice of Non-discrimination: It is the policy of the Alpena-Montmorency-Alcona Educational Service District that no discriminating practices based on race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation or sexual identity), disability, age, religion, height, weight, marital or family status, military status, ancestry, genetic information or any other legally protected category be allowed during any program activity, service or in employment.