Special Education Assistant

PowerSchool; Virginia Beach, Northern (VA, KY); Hybrid; USD 2,066,000 - 2,755,000; 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 Special Education Assistant to support classroom teachers and students with disabilities. The role includes assisting with instructional objectives, mobility support, personal care, and behavior management in a variety of school settings.

Responsibilities include supervising students, maintaining records, and assisting with meals, transportation, and adaptive equipment.

Qualifications

• General knowledge of practices used in teaching special education populations.
• Ability to maintain files and information.
• Skill in the use of classroom and instructional equipment.
• Must be able to operate audio visual and standard office equipment.

Responsibilities

• Assist classroom teachers with duties to meet instructional objectives.
• Work with individuals or groups as assigned.
• Assist with behavior modification as directed by teachers.
• Lift, move, and operate adaptive equipment.
• Help students with personal care tasks such as toileting and hygiene.
• Escort and assist students on and off buses and around campus.
• Support mobility needs and positioning of students.
• Monitor safety and conduct during various school activities.
• Provide programmed practice activities developed by teachers or therapists.
• Report student concerns promptly to teachers and assist in resolution.
• Assist with meal times and clean-up.
• Maintain records and files.
• Perform related tasks as required.

Skills

Special education knowledge

Record-keeping

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Equipment operation

Education

High School Diploma or GED

48 college credits or Paraprofessional Assessment or Associate's Degree

Experience with students with disabilities

Tools

Adaptive equipment

Audio-visual equipment

Office equipment

Job description

Classified - Position - Special Education Assistant

Job Number 3700274119

Start Date

Open Date 09/16/2026

Closing Date 10/02/2026

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.

ESSENTIAL TASKS

• 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.

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.

Virginia Beach City Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation/gender identity, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, disability, marital status, age, genetic information or veteran status in its programs and activities. (Reference: School Board Policies 2-33,4-4,4-6)

To seek resolution of grievances resulting from alleged discrimination or to report violations of these policies, please contact the Chief Human Resources Officer at [phone],2512 George Mason Drive, Municipal Center, Building 6, Virginia Beach, VA, 23456.

Alternative formats of this application which may include taped, Braille, or large print materials are available upon request for individuals with disabilities. Call or write the Department of Human Resources, Virginia Beach City Public Schools, 2512 George Mason Drive, P.O. Box 6038, Virginia Beach, VA 23456-0038. Telephone: [phone] (voice); [phone] (TDD) or email at: [e-mail].