Special Education Para Professional - Preschool

Sleepy Eye School District 84; Sleepy Eye (MN); On-site; USD 20,664 - 26,174; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Personal Days

Sick days

Holiday Pay

Bereavement Leave

Term Life Insurance

Long Term Disability Insurance

403B Deferred Compensation plan

Job summary

Sleepy Eye Public Schools seeks a Special Education Para Professional - Preschool to assist certified staff in delivering instructional support and promoting inclusion for students with special needs.

Under supervision, you will help reinforce reading, language arts, math, and daily living skills, supervise non-instructional activities, and participate in IEP-related processes as needed; starting wage is $16.52 per hour and the position is part-time, 174 days per year.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• ParaPro or ParaEducator Test completion per ESSA.
• Prior experience with special needs desirable.

Responsibilities

• Assist and guide students to reinforce reading, language arts, mathematics, computer instruction, and other skills.
• Work with students individually and in small groups to reinforce learning and implement programs.
• Assist professional staff with administration and correction of tests and assessments.
• Assist with classroom preparations and instructional materials.
• Document student learning and performance through record-keeping.
• Support classroom behavioral management to maintain a safe, productive environment.
• Supervise non-instructional areas (lunch, bus duty, playground, hallways).
• Accompany students on field trips for supervision.

Skills

Ability to follow instructions

Written and verbal communication

Basic computer skills (Word, Excel)

Interpersonal skills

Confidentiality

Supportive relationships with students

Team collaboration

Reporting to supervisor

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

ParaPro or ParaEducator Test per ESSA

Tools

Word

Excel

Job description

Special Education Para Professional - Preschool JobID: 481

• Date Posted: 7/29/2026
• Location: Sleepy Eye Public Schools
• Date Available: 08/24/2026

Position Purpose

- Under the direct supervision of a certified staff member, to assist certified professional staff with students in the classroom to meet instructional goals and objectives, and to free certified professional employees from non-professional duties such as proctoring study halls to enable them to make a contribution to other aspects of the educational program, such as curriculum development.

Essential Job Functions

• Assists and guides students to reinforce reading, language arts, mathematics, computer instruction, and other skills.
• Works with students individually and in small groups to reinforce basic learning and implement assigned programs.
• Assists professional staff in the administration and correction of classroom exercises, tests and assessments.
• Assists in classroom preparations and strategies for reinforcing instructional materials and skills according to individual student needs.
• Assists with record-keeping procedures to document student learning and performance.
• Assists with classroom behavioral management to minimize disruptions, ensure a safe and orderly classroom, and ensure students are on task.
• Assists students in non-instructional areas, such as supervising the student lunch programs, bus duty, playground duty, corridor, study hall, and other related non-instructional areas.
• Accompanies students on field trips for the purpose of assisting with supervision.
• Constructs, copies and distributes and uses educational materials as needed.
• Assists teacher with parent contact as requested to foster effective and participatory parent involvement in student education.
• Assists students with special needs in all aspects of classroom instruction to maximize inclusion, learning, achievement if IEP objectives, etc.
• Participates in IEP process and serves as resource for the student personnel evaluation team as needed.
• Assist students with physical or mental disabilities with activities of daily living for the purpose of maximizing their ability to participate in school or learning activities.
• Follows all applicable safety rules, procedures and regulations governing the proper manner of assistance for all students, including those with disabilities or other special needs.

Additional Duties

• Assist guidance, pupil services staff or building administration, as needed.
• Perform any other related duties as assigned

Note: The above description is illustrative of tasks and responsibilities. It is not meant to be all inclusive of every task or responsibility.

Equipment

• Use standard office equipment, such as personal computers and copiers.

Travel Requirements

• Travel between schools, or between schools and central offices, may be required for certain positions.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to carry out instructions furnished in written or oral form.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide, and perform arithmetic operations as needed to assist students.
• Ability to understand, apply and use personal computers and software applications (e.g., Word, Excel).
• Ability to work with a diverse group of individuals.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of information regarding students, employees and others.
• Ability to establish a supportive and compassionate relationship with students with special needs.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with students, staff and others contacted in the course of work.
• Ability to report work orally or in writing to supervisor as required.
• Effective writing and verbal communication skills.

Physical and Mental Demands, Work Hazards

• Works in standard office and school building environments.
• Ability to work outdoors during outdoor student activities.

Note: Also see the Summary of Physical, Sensory and Environmental Requirements Needed to Perform Essential Functions for this position.

Qualifications Profile

• Any combination of education and experience providing the required skill and knowledge for successful performance would be qualifying. Typical qualifications would be equivalent to:
• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Successful completion of college level coursework or passing of examination (ParaPro or ParaEducator Test) as required by the Every Student Succeeds Act.
• Prior experience working with special needs children desirable.

Wage

Starting Wage for this position is $ 16.52 per hour.

Benefits

• Personal Days
• Sick days
• Holiday Pay
• Bereavement Leave
• Term Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability Insurance.
• 403B Deferred Compensation plan is offered.

Start date: Mid- August. Part -Time Employee- 174 days per year ( student contact days- follows SEPS School Year Calendar).