Part Time Para Educator

Penns Valley Area School District; Centre Hall (Centre County); On-site; USD 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Penns Valley Area School District in Centre Hall is seeking a Para Educator for the 2026-2027 school year to support students with disabilities under a certificated staff member’s direction. The role includes one-on-one or small group instructional support and classroom management under supervision.

Applicants must meet education requirements (two years postsecondary or an associate degree) and maintain CPR/AED and First Aid certifications.

Qualifications

• Two years of postsecondary study or an Associate degree or higher, in any subject.
• CPR/AED and First Aid certifications must be current.
• Clearances including state police and child abuse history must be submitted within one year.
• Staff development: para educators must complete 20 hours of activities each school year.

Responsibilities

• Escort students to and from class and other areas, and provide support during activities.
• Assist teachers with the presentation of learning materials and activities as needed.
• Support individual students or small groups to reinforce objectives and skills.
• Tutor students individually to reinforce learning activities.
• Attend to student needs including IEP goals and behavior plans as assigned.
• Operate classroom equipment and maintain confidentiality of student information.

Skills

Communication

Teamwork

Adaptability

Computer literacy

Education

Two years postsecondary or Associate degree

CPR/AED and First Aid certifications

Job description

• Date Posted: 10/13/2026
• Location: Centre Hall Potter Elementary

Penns Valley Area School District

JOB DESCRIPTION

Position

Para Educator - Opening for the 2026-2027 school year

Supervisor: Building Principal

Qualifications

• Education: Must have completed at least two years of postsecondary study, or possess and associate degree or higher (in any subject), or meet a rigorous standard of quality as demonstrated through a state or local assessment (highly qualified test). Possess and maintain up to date CPR/AED and First Aid certifications.
• Clearances: Submission of the following original documents: criminal history from the PA State Police, Section 111 of PA School Code; federal criminal history record and PA Child Abuse History (all processed within one year). All records must indicate no violations as prescribed under the law as defined in school code or deemed unacceptable by the administration.
• Alternatives: Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate and acceptable. Para educators, each school year, shall provide evidence of 20 hours of staff development activities related to their assignment.
• Can demonstrate an aptitude for doing the work listed below using appropriate skills properly and efficiently; Can demonstrate the physical capability to perform assigned tasks; Can relate well and communicate effectively with administrators, instructional and non-instructional personnel, students, parents and members of the community; Can temper strictness with kindness and fairness when dealing with students; Can interpret and follow directions; Can perform assigned tasks with thoroughness, initiative and responsibility; Can acquire additional skills deemed necessary by the Board.

Conditions of Employment

Up to thirty seven and one half (37.5) hours per week; work days apply in accordance with the support collective bargaining agreement; overtime requires prior approval from the direct supervisor.

Job Summary

An instructional Para Educator is a school employee who works under the direction of a certificated staff member to support and assist in providing instructional programs and services to children with disabilities or other eligible children. The support and assistance includes one-on-one or group review of material taught by certificated staff, classroom management and implementation of positive behavior support plans. Para Educators provide one-to-one support and assistance to a student, including support and assistance in the use of medical equipment (for example, augmentative communication devices; activities of daily living including personal hygiene; and monitoring health and behavior). A Para Educator may provide support to more than one student. Services may be provided in a special education class, regular education class or other instructional setting as provided in the student's IEP.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Escort student(s) to and from class, restrooms, cafeteria, bus and other areas and provide support during these activities as needed.
• Assist the classroom teacher(s) with the presentation of learning materials and activities as needed.
• Assist the teacher in achieving instructional objectives by working with individual students or small groups.
• Tutor students individually to reinforce and follow up learning activity.
• Help students attend to tasks, complete seat work and carry out responsibilities in the classroom.
• Attend to the personal needs of any student(s) which could include personal hygiene, physical restraint, IEP goals, etc.
• Work with individual students or small groups to reinforce planned objectives or skills development.
• Assist the teacher in providing special strategies for reinforcing material or skills based on an understanding of individual students, their needs, interests and abilities.
• Operate and care for equipment used in the classroom for instructional purposes.
• Assist with independent study, enrichment work and remedial work planned by the teacher.
• Assist with the supervision of students during emergency drills, assemblies, recess, lunch periods and field trips.
• Maintain the same level of ethical behavior and confidentiality of information about students as expected of professional educators.
• Participate in in-service training programs as assigned.
• Perform other work as assigned by the teacher/direct supervisor/Director of Student Support.

Position Specifications

Physical Demands

• Sitting and/or standing for extended periods.
• Moderate lifting up to 50 pounds.
• Some carrying – up to 50 pounds.
• Manual dexterity to use office equipment and transcribe written work for students if necessary.
• Repetitive movement of fingers and hands for keyboarding.

Sensory Abilities

• Visual acuity to read correspondence, computer screen.
• Auditory acuity to be able to hear students speak from across a classroom.
• Ability to speak clearly and distinctly.

Work Environment

Generally, classroom.

Temperament

• Ability to work as a member of a team.
• Ability to respond positively under stressful work situations.
• Must be courteous, respectful and efficient.
• Must be cooperative, congenial, and student service-oriented, and promote these qualities within the school.
• Ability to work in an environment with frequent interruptions.

Cognitive Ability

• Ability to follow written and verbal directions.
• Ability to complete assigned tasks with minimal supervision.
• Ability to read, write and do complex computations.
• Ability to use correct grammar, sentence structure and spelling.
• Ability to compose clear, concise sentences and paragraphs.
• Ability to organize classroom environment to efficiently accomplish tasks.
• Ability to work independently and make work-related decisions.
• Ability to exercise good judgment in prioritizing tasks.
• Ability to communicate effectively at all organizational levels.

Specific Skills

• Ability to operate classroom equipment and use computer technology efficiently.
• Must appropriately handle confidential information.
• Ability to use all necessary classroom technology.

The position specifications 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.

The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individual currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.

Adopted: 1/19/2011