Paraprofessional Special Education Summit Maugansville Elementary School

Washington County public Schools; Hagerstown (MD); On-site; USD 27,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington County Public Schools is seeking a Paraprofessional for the Maugansville Elementary School. The role involves assisting teachers with individual students or small groups, and providing behavior and emotional support in learning support and general education settings.

Qualifications include a High School Diploma or GED and state parity with paraprofessional requirements; experience with challenging student populations is preferred.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Highly Qualified status or passing Paraprofessional Assessment Test.
• Two years of experience with emotionally disturbed/behavioral students or equivalent education/experience.
• Ability to handle stressful situations calmly.

Responsibilities

• Assist the teacher by working with individual students or small groups.
• Support behavior and emotional needs of students in learning support and general education classes.
• Participate in crisis response, de-escalation, and safety procedures as needed.
• Help maintain classroom organization and reinforce instructional strategies.
• Supervise students during instructional and non-instructional activities.

Skills

Calm under stress

Student support

Crisis de-escalation

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Highly Qualified status or Paraprofessional Assessment

Tools

Physical restraint training

Job description

Paraprofessional Special Education Summit

Maugansville Elementary School

Grade 6 Step 1 with a starting hourly rate of $19.26. Potential future earnings for this position on the ESP Salary Scale are $19.26 – $34.84. Additional steps will only be considered for PreK-12 teaching experience under state-issued professional licensure. This position qualifies for a program differential valued at ten percent (10%) of the step one (1) value of the position’s grade in addition to their current hourly rate.

7 Hours/Day, 10-Month Work Year

Reports to Building Administrator
Employee Benefits Summary

Role Overview

To assist the teacher to achieve teaching objectives by working with individual students or small groups. To provide behavior and emotional support to students who are participating in the learning support classroom and participating in the

general education classes. To help students achieve individual student objectives.

Minimum Requirements

• High School Diploma/GED
• Highly Qualified status (A.A. Degree, 48 credit hours, or have successfully passed the Paraprofessional Assessment Test).
• Two years’ experience working with children with emotional disturbance/behavioral issues or combina�tion of education and experience totaling two years.
• Ability to handle stressful situations by remaining calm and professional while working with students who are verbally and physically aggressive.
• Ability to lift between 30-50 pounds in specified situations.
• Ability to participate in physical restraint maneuvers when needed.
• Regular and predictable attendance which is an essential function of this position.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Competency with fundamental reading, writing, arithmetic, and communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work harmoniously with staff, students, and community.
• Training and experience working with populations relevant to the assigned school.

Role Responsibilities

• Work with individual students and small groups of students to reinforce skills introduced by the teacher(s).
• Assist students in generalizing learned social skills and problem solving skills in the general education environment.
• Participate as part of a crisis response team which includes engaging in verbal de-escalation of students and physical restraint in emergency situations.
• Assist the teacher in devising special strategies for reinforcing skills and instruction.
• Assist the teacher in maintaining classroom organization and a positive learning environment.
• Operate and assist with the care of the classroom equipment.
• Assist with supervision and management of students during instructional and non-instructional activities.
• Assist with physical care and physical management of students as needed and appropriate.
• Follow through to carry out individual programs designed by the teacher.
• Participate in and/or provides input for team planning functions as appropriate.
• Demonstrate courteous and professional demeanor to all stakeholders of Washington County Public Schools.
• Other duties as assigned.

Environmental Factors and Physical/Mental Requirements

The Environmental Factors and Physical/Mental demands represent 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.

• Required periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer and other office equipment.
• Ability to sufficiently and efficiently move throughout the building and grounds for extended periods.
• Must have the use of sensory skills in order to effectively communicate and interact with others as normally defined by the ability to see, read, talk, and hear.
• Ability to maintain emotional control under stress.
• Ability to move, raise, lower, and carry objects up to 20 lbs. on an irregular basis.
• Must be able to bend, crouch, stoop, reach, and climb.
• Will be subjected to loud noises, interactions, and traffic flow associated within a highly populated office environment.