PARAPROFESSIONAL, SPECIAL NEEDS BUS ASSISTANT - NORTHEAST BUS TERMINAL

Denver Public Schools; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 28,929 - 33,062; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Time off

Health and wellness benefits

PERA Retirement

Job summary

Denver Public Schools seeks a Bus Assistant to support safe transportation for students, including those with special needs, on assigned routes. This ongoing posting emphasizes securing passengers and equipment and maintaining safety practices.

The role requires a High School Diploma or GED and a valid Colorado driver’s license; CPR certification within 90 days is required. DPS offers competitive pay and benefits in a setting focused on equity and safety for every learner.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; preference for experience with special needs students.
• Valid Colorado driver’s license required; CPR certification within 90 days of employment.

Responsibilities

• Assist with safe boarding and unloading of students; secure proper equipment (lift, vest) as needed.
• Follow safety rules during bus operations and at stops and school drop-off locations.
• Communicate with passengers and students; monitor behavior for safety.
• Assist with student pickup/drop-off at neighborhood locations per district policy.
• Administer and know first-aid procedures; respond to emergencies as needed.
• Coordinate with students and parents about transportation issues; document incidents.

Skills

Safety awareness

Communication skills

Spanish language preferred

Microsoft Office

Time management

Problem solving

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)

Job description

Job Description

This is an ongoing, continuous opening for the 2026–2027 school year. If the position is not filled by then, we may consider applications submitted after the deadline. Interested applicants must apply online by visiting the Denver Public Schools job board at careers.dpsk12.org .

About This Job

Assists with the safe transportation (e.g., educational, special events) of special needs students for assigned bus route and in accordance with District, Federal, State, and local laws and regulations (e.g., Colorado Department of Education (CDE); training; policies and procedures; and safety rules and regulations.

What DPS Offers You

• A Culture that values Equity, Accountability, Integrity, Collaboration and Fun with a shared vision that Every Learner Thrives.
• Salary Range. $21.787 Click here for more information on compensation for these roles.
• In addition to competitive compensation, DPS has other Total Reward offerings such as; time off , health and wellness benefits , and PERA Retirement .

What You'll Do

• Assists with the proper securement of students during boarding and unloading, operating and installing proper special needs equipment (e.g., lift, vest) in accordance with proper policy and procedure; maintains current knowledge of assistive equipment use, technique, and installation
• Follows safety rules during bus operations, at bus stops, and at school drop-off locations
• Communicates with passengers and students
• Manages passenger and student behavior using student management skills to ensure safety of self and others
• Assists with student pick-up and drop-off at regularly scheduled neighborhood locations, following District policy
• Administers and maintains knowledge of first-aid procedures when passengers need first aid assistance
• Communicates and coordinates with students and parents about routine transportation issues
• Supervises and monitors students and reinforces positive student behaviors and related administration policies and rules
• Cleans bus daily and on an as needed basis
• Monitors student safety during bus travel

What You’ll Need

• High School Diploma or Equivalent Preferred
• Experience working with special needs population preferred
• A current and valid State of Colorado driver’s license is required; Must be certified by Red Cross for CPR (within 90 days after employment); Must be 18 years of age
• Knowledge with Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel and Outlook
• Effective time management and organizational skills
• Effective communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing
• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to problem solve and make decisions quickly according to guidelines with consideration of safety and health of others
• The ability to take responsibility for one’s own performance
• Ability to coordinate and work effectively with site staff and diverse student population
• Aptitude for variety and changing expectations and fast-paced environment with the ability to plan and organize work, at times with interruptions
• Ability to monitor and supervise assigned student activity for sustained periods of time to anticipate and maintain safe environment
• Ability to communicate in Spanish preferred
• Lead for racial and educational excellence and work to dismantle systems of oppression and inequity in our community, along with believing in and supporting all students so they feel seen and heard with access to high quality education.
• Live and work with a permanent home address in Colorado while working with us.
• Have the ability with or without accommodations to meet the physical demands of the position.

Denver Public Schools is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender expression, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), political affiliation, military service, or any other status protected by law or regulations. It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job‑related factors.

Students First. Integrity. Equity. Collaboration. Accountability. Fun

About Us

Denver Public Schools is committed to meeting the educational needs of every student with great schools in every neighborhood. Our goal is to provide every child in Denver with rigorous, enriching educational opportunities from preschool through high school graduation. DPS is comprised of nearly 200 schools including traditional, magnet, charter and alternative pathways schools, with an enrollment of more than 90,000 students. DPS has become the fastest‑growing school district in the country in terms of enrollment and the fastest‑growing large school district in the state in terms of student academic growth. Learn more at dpsk12.org.