Severe Needs Para Educator - Independence Elementary School

Cherry Creek School District; Colorado; On-site; USD 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Cherry Creek School District is seeking a Severe Needs Para Educator to assist students with severe special education needs under the direction of licensed special education staff. You will support individuals and small groups with curriculum, skill development, behavior strategies, and assignment completion while preparing instructional materials and maintaining records.

In remote settings, you will assist with technology access, curriculum reinforcement, and executive functioning strategies.

Qualifications

• Criminal background check and fingerprinting required.
• High School diploma or equivalent required.

Responsibilities

• Assist students with classroom activities and adapt curriculum to individual needs.
• Implement accommodations and track student progress with licensed staff.
• Support remote learning by assisting with technology access and assignments.

Education

High School

Job description

Job Title

Severe Needs Para Educator

FLSA Exemption Status

Non-Exempt

Classification Group

Paraeducators

Supervising Position

School Principal or designee

Pay Plan

Educational Support Personnel

Pay Range

Range 07

Last Updated

09/2026

Pay Information

Benefits Information

JOB SUMMARY

Assist students with severe special education needs under the direction of licensed special education staff. Support individuals and small groups with curriculum, skill development, behavior strategies, and assignment completion. Prepare instructional materials, monitor student progress, and maintain achievement records. Provide technical physical care and help ensure a clean, safe, and hygienic environment. In remote learning settings, assist students with technology access, curriculum reinforcement, executive functioning strategies, skill generalization, and coursework completion. Assignments may include Autism, BD, Early Childhood Education, Homebound (FAPE), ILC, SED, and Transition Programming.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The subsequent duties outline the fundamental operations of the position and exemplify the nature of the tasks carried out. They do not encompass a comprehensive inventory of the obligations and responsibilities fulfilled in this role. The approximation of frequencies and time allocation percentages are flexible and subject to the requirements of the organization. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Shared Job Task Across Assignments

• Assist students with classroom activities, including adapting the curriculum to individual student needs. Assist with curriculum delivery to both individuals and small groups to ensure generalization of skills.
• Implement student accommodations, supports, modifications, procedures, and programming outlined in the student's Individual Education Plan (IEP). Maintain records of student progress and behavior in conjunction with licensed staff, which may include special reports, providing feedback, and reporting observations to the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team.
• Assist special education licensed staff in preparing materials, administering tests, attendance, etc. Assist with paperwork and documentation as needed. Assist with other classroom events, such as fire drills, as necessary.
• Perform other duties as assigned or requested.

(Total: 75%)

INTEGRATED LEARNING CENTER (ILC) AND HOMEBOUND (Free Appropriate Public Education/FAPE) PROGRAM ASSIGNMENT

• Monitor students and reinforce appropriate behavior for individual student needs. Assist in verbal de-escalation and non-violent crisis interventions to reduce the risk of self-harm and harm to others. Assist student development of social interactions or communication between students with special needs and general education peers.
• Provide technical physical care for students with special needs as assigned, which may include toileting, grooming, cleaning ventilation devices, feeding, care of gastrostomy tube (G-tube), positioning, and improving range of motion (Autism Classroom or ILC). Following training andasdelegated by a registered school nurse, accurately followstudent medication delivery orders.

(Total: 25%)

SERIOUSEMOTIONAL DISABILITY (SED) ASSIGNMENT

• Monitor students and reinforce appropriate behavior for individual student needs. Assist in verbal de-escalation and non-violent crisis interventions to reduce the risk of self-harm and harm to others. Assist student development of social interactions or communication between students with special needs and general education peers.

(Total: 25%)

ONLINE/REMOTE ENVIRONMENT

• Assist small groups of students or individuals with online classroom activities, during synchronous or asynchronous learning, including curriculum accommodations or modifications. Assist with curriculum delivery or practice to ensure generalization of skills. If working in DHH Program, develop student language, vocabulary, reading, and writing using sign language for students who need a signing para-educator.
• Prepare assignments for students to complete at home and support students in completing assigned work.
• Maintain records of student progress and behavior in conjunction with the licensed staff, which may include special reports, providing feedback, and reporting observations to the Individualized Education Program team.
• Support students in troubleshooting technology issues.
• Perform other duties as assigned or requested.

(Total: 100%)

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

This job has no direct supervisory responsibilities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The minimum prerequisites of formal education, professional work experience, certifications, licenses, endorsements, designations, trainings, and other criteria that a candidate must fulfill to be considered for a position. It is essential that certifications, licenses, endorsements, designations, and trainings are fulfilled, valid, and not expired.

• Criminal background check and fingerprinting required
• High School