Special Education Assistant

Virginia Beach City Public Schools; Virginia Beach (VA); On-site; USD 26,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid life insurance

Paid sick/annual leave

Tuition reimbursement

Professional development

Virginia Retirement System

Job summary

Virginia Beach City Public Schools is seeking a dedicated paraprofessional to support classroom teachers in instructional objectives and to assist students with disabilities in achieving goals and personal care tasks. The role requires collaboration with staff and safe, inclusive classroom management.

The position is full-time with a start date for the 2026-2027 school year, offering benefits and opportunities for professional development.

Qualifications

• Requires a high school diploma or GED.
• Title I Assistants must have 48 college credits or pass Paraprofessional Assessment or have an Associate's degree; some experience with students with disabilities preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist classroom teacher with duties to achieve instructional objectives.
• Support students with disabilities to meet established goals and personal care.
• Work with individuals, small groups, or large groups as assigned by teacher.
• Assist with behavior modification as assigned by teacher.
• Lift, move, and operate adaptive equipment.
• Assist students with personal care tasks (e.g., bathroom, hygiene).
• Escort students as assigned by teacher or administrator.
• Support student mobility (lifting/positioning, wheelchair transfers, bus loading).
• Monitor students to maintain a safe, positive learning environment.
• Provide programmed practice activities and repetitions as developed by staff.
• Report student concerns to teacher and assist with resolutions.
• Assist with breakfast, lunch, and snack routines; clean-up.
• Maintain records and files.
• Perform related duties as required.

Skills

Special education knowledge

Recordkeeping

AV equipment operation

Office software (word/data)

Adaptive equipment operation

Interpersonal skills

Education

High School Diploma or GED

48 college credits / Paraprofessional Assessment / Associate's degree

Job description

General Responsibilities

Perform responsible human support and paraprofessional work assisting classroom teachers or other professionals to achieve instructional objectives; assisting students with disabilities with achieving established goals and with personal care and mobility.

• Assist classroom teacher in performing specific duties as assigned or undertaking specialized tasks to achieve and enhance instructional and behavioral objectives.
• Work with individuals, small groups, or large groups as assigned teacher.
• Assist with behavior modification as assigned by teacher.
• Lift, move, and operate adaptive equipment.
• Assist students with personal care tasks, including but not limited to, lavatory, clothing, hygiene, diapering, toileting, and wash-up routines.
• Escort students as assigned by teacher or administrator.
• Assist students with mobility needs such as, lifting and positioning students, lifting in and out of wheelchairs; loading and unloading on the bus; transporting students in and around the school and on field trips.
• Monitor students during assigned periods within a variety of school environments for the purpose of maintaining a safe and positive learning environment.
• Provide programmed practice activities and repetitions as developed by teacher, therapist or pathologist.
• Report student concerns directly and expeditiously to teacher and assist with student resolution.
• Assist with breakfast, lunch, snack, including clean-up.
• Maintain various records and files.
• Perform related work as required.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

General knowledge of the practices, methods and techniques used in the teaching of special education population; ability to maintain files and information; skill in the use of classroom and instructional equipment; ability to operate audio visual, standard office, word and data processing equipment; ability to operate adaptive equipment; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with teachers, parents, students, and administrators.

Education And Experience

Required: High School Diploma or GED.

Title I Assistants Only: Must have a minimum of 48 college credits or provide documentation of passing the Paraprofessional Assessment test, or have an Associate's Degree on higher. Some experience working with students with disabilities.

Physical Requirements

Must have the use of sensory skills in order to effectively communicate and interact with other employees and the public using the telephone and personal contact as normally defined by the ability to see, read, talk, hear, handle or feel objects and controls. Frequent sitting, walking, bending, stooping, crouching, kneeling, grasping, fingering, repetitive motion, and reaching. Occasional standing crawling, and physical management that includes supporting individuals with impaired weight bearing or unsteady gaits, repositioning individuals in therapeutic equipment: including use of hydraulic lifts to a maximum of 100 pounds with assistance. Ability to lift over 50 pounds occasionally. Requires timely and regular adherence to established work schedules. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential tasks.

Special Requirements

Possession of a valid driver's license. Regular and reliable attendance is an essential function of this position.

Full Time

Hourly rate: $19.28-$28.13

Compensation will be based on job-related creditable years of full-time, verified work experience. The entry-level rate will be awarded at the time of hire. Upon the return of employment verification forms from the candidate's current and previous employers, the rate will be adjusted if creditable full-time experience is confirmed.

VBCPS offers a full range of benefits including health insurance, paid life insurance, paid sick/annual leave, tuition reimbursement, professional development and membership in the Virginia Retirement System.

Unified Experience Based Step Pay Scale: U10

FTE 1.000

Start Date 2026-2027 School Yr