Physical Education Paraprofessional (24-25 School Year)

Fort Smith Public Schools; Fort Smith (AR); On-site; USD 25,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Fort Smith Public Schools seeks a Physical Education Paraprofessional at Sutton Elementary School to support physical education teachers and supervise students in various activities. The role emphasizes safety, lesson support, and promoting healthy habits among students.

Requirements include an Associates degree or 60 college credit hours, or ParaPro exam, with preference for Arkansas PE teaching license and experience with students in educational settings.

Qualifications

• Associates degree, 60 college credit hours, or passing score on ParaPro Praxis exam.
• Arkansas Teaching License for Physical Education preferred.
• Experience working with students in an educational setting is preferred.
• Knowledge of instructional methods and strategies, especially for students with special needs.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Patience, flexibility, and a passion for working with children.

Responsibilities

• Be physically active all day with children indoors and outdoors.
• Follow lesson plans designed by physical education teachers.
• Adapt to a varying daily schedule.
• Develop understanding of the relationship of good body function and exercise in students.
• Motivate students to cultivate physical fitness and healthy habits.
• Develop strength, coordination, and sports skills appropriate to ability.
• Provide safety instruction and safety checks on equipment and areas.
• Maintain storage and use of school-owned property.
• Assist with maintaining student behavior standards to support an orderly PE area.
• Assist in evaluating each student’s growth in physical skills and knowledge.
• Work with individuals or small groups to reinforce learning concepts.
• Assist in preparing and organizing instructional materials.
• Provide one-on-one support for students with special needs.
• Assist with classroom tasks, tests, and projects.
• Foster a positive and inclusive environment for all students.
• Support behavior management strategies as outlined by teachers or SPED team.
• Assist in implementing IEPs or behavior plans for students with special needs.
• Assist students with activities of daily living as needed.
• Collaborate with healthcare professionals to implement care plans.
• Maintain communication with teachers, parents, and staff on student progress.
• Monitor students during activities across locations and times.
• Ensure safety and well-being of students at all times.
• Implement accommodations and modifications for diverse learners as needed.
• Work additional hours as directed.
• Maintain prompt and regular attendance.
• Maintain confidentiality and professional conduct.
• Supervise students during recess, bus, before/after school, field trips, and activities.
• Attend trainings as required.
• May travel between schools.
• Other duties as assigned by administration.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Patience

Flexibility

Experience with students

Education

Associates degree or 60 college credit hours or ParaPro

Arkansas Teaching License for Physical Education preferred

Job description

POSITION TITLE:Physical Education Paraprofessional

FLSA:Non-Exempt

REPORTS TO: Principal

BEGINNING:August, 2025

LOCATION:Sutton Elementary School

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:A full contract for this position is 190 days, with benefits as specified in employee contract. Contract will be prorated based on actual start date.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Associates degree, 60 college credit hours, or passing score on ParaPro Praxis exam.
• Arkansas Teaching License for Physical Education preferred.
• Experience working with students in an educational setting is preferred.
• Knowledge of instructional methods and strategies, especially for students with special needs.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Patience, flexibility, and a passion for working with children.

DISTRICT VALUES

• We will always put student needs first.
• We believe relationships matter.
• We expect accountability.
• We operate with transparency.
• We prioritize student and staff safety.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Ability to be physically active all day with children indoors and outdoors.
• Ability to follow lesson plans designed by physical education teachers.
• Ability to adapt to a varying daily schedule.
• Develop in each student an understanding of the relationship of good body function and exercise.
• Motivate each student to cultivate physical fitness, hygienic habits, and good social and emotional adjustment; to discover and develop talents of students in physical achievement.
• Develop strength, skill, agility, poise, and coordination in individual, dual, and team physical activities and sports, in accordance with each student’s ability.
• Provides appropriate safety instruction and makes safety checks on equipment and field areas to insure the overall safety of students.
• Maintains control of storage and use of school-owned property.
• Assists with maintaining the standards of student behavior needed to provide an orderly, productive environment in the physical education areas.
• Assist with evaluating each student’s growth in physical skills, knowledge, and contribution in team sports.
• Work with individual students or small groups to reinforce learning concepts.
• Assist in the preparation and organization of instructional materials.
• Provide one‑on‑one support for students with special needs, ensuring their participation in classroom activities.
• Assist students with tasks such as classroom assignments, tests, and projects.
• Foster a positive and inclusive environment for all students.
• Support positive behavior management strategies as outlined by the teacher or special education team, if requested.
• Assist in the implementation of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or behaviour plans for students with special needs, if requested.
• Assist students with activities of daily living, including toileting, feeding, and mobility, as needed.
• Collaborate with healthcare professionals, such as nurses or occupational therapists, to implement specific care plans.
• Maintain open and effective communication with teachers, parents, and other school staff regarding student progress and needs.
• Monitor students during various activities, including in the classroom, gym, on the playground, lunch, and during transitions.
• Ensure the safety and well‑being of students at all times.
• Implement accommodations and modifications for students with diverse learning needs, in collaboration with the teacher and special education team, if needed.
• Work additional hours as directed.
• Maintains prompt and regular attendance
• Maintain emotional control under stress.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Present and communicate in a professional manner.
• Demonstrates the ability to maintain positive professional working relationships with others.
• Supervises students on recess, bus, during before and after school duty, on field trips, extracurricular events, and in out‑of‑classroom activities during the assigned working day.
• Attend trainings as required.
• May be required to travel between schools.
• Other duties as assigned by administration.

These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

OTHER JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Must have the ability to lift at least 40 pounds occasionally.
• Ability to endure prolonged standing, walking, sitting, kneeling, occasional reaching above the head or the shoulders, bending, squatting.

See Paraprofessional Staff Salary Schedule

For our salary schedule, click this link to visit our district website.