Special Education Paraeducator - Preschool

Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8; Fountain (CO); On-site; USD 28,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurances

Paid time off

Disability insurances

Job summary

Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 in Colorado is seeking a paraeducator to support students with diverse needs across academic, behavioral, and health-related activities. You will reinforce lessons, assist with mobility, feeding, and daily routines, and help implement IEPs under professional guidance.

The role involves direct student care, data collection, and collaboration with teachers and families to ensure a safe, inclusive learning environment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Associates Degree or 48 semester hours or ACT certification required.
• First Aid/CPR training required.

Responsibilities

• Assist students by instructing and reinforcing academic subjects and social-emotional skills.
• Support students to participate in class activities and follow lesson plans.
• Implement IEP and Behavior Intervention Plans as outlined by staff.
• Provide direct care including diapering/toileting, feeding, dressing, mobility.
• Prepare learning environment and maintain files and records.
• Communicate observations with families and staff in a courteous, confidential manner.
• Supervise students during transitions, field trips, and activities.
• Attend required trainings and meetings (Mandt, CPR, etc.).
• Provide behavior prevention and intervention support, including physical intervention when needed.
• Prepare and administer medication under RN supervision after delegation.

Skills

Oral communication

Written communication

Interpersonal skills

English proficiency

Bilingual preferred

Multitasking

Confidentiality

Time management

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associates Degree or 48 semester hours or ACT certified - (Required)

First Aid/CPR training

Tools

Wheelchairs

Bus lifts

Job description

• Associates Degree or 48 semester hours or ACT certified - (Required)
• Obtain First Aid/CPR training.
• Ability to lift 50 pounds.
• Ability and willingness to take directions.
• Ability and willingness to meet the needs of students.
• Excellent references including attendance and punctuality.

Preferred Minimum Qualifications

• High school graduate or equivalent.
• Associates Degree or 48 semester hours or ACT certified - (Required)
• Obtain First Aid/CPR training.
• Ability to lift 50 pounds.
• Ability and willingness to take directions.
• Ability and willingness to meet the needs of students.
• Excellent references including attendance and punctuality.

Job Goals

Assist student(s) with a wide variety of needs by providing any combination of the following: individualized academic, behavioral, functional life skills and/or social-emotional instruction; medical/health care, feeding and/or hygiene supports; and student assistance with learning, mobility, emotional regulation, health care, and/or communication.

Essential Job Functions

• Assist students by instructing and reinforcing academic subjects, social-emotional-behavioral learning content, independence, and community access/job skills.
• Assist teacher by providing support to students so that they may fully participate in class activities, including reinforcing skills and lesson plans, adapting/modifying work, monitoring and enforcing social and acceptable behavior, and/or administering testing or assessments.
• Implement and/or support specialized instruction, accommodations, modifications, and routines as outlined by professional staff and/or each child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP), or related Behavior Intervention Plan.
• Provide direct care to or assist students with needs related to diapering/toileting, feeding/eating, dressing, mobility, and generally accessing the educational environment.
• Prepare classroom or learning environment with needed supplies and materials, support file maintenance and necessary record keeping.
• Communicate directly with students, families, and professional staff in a courteous and confidential manner and clearly communicate observations, information, and data regarding students to professional staff objectively and in a timely manner.
• Monitor and/or supervise students to and from classroom and/or buses, on field trips, on playground, in health room, and/or during other activities.
• Attend in-services, building meetings, training, and/or school functions required by the position and/or location (Mandt, CPR, small vehicle, medical delegation, etc.).
• Provide behavior prevention and intervention support, which may include physical intervention.
• Prepare and administer medication under the supervision of the RN after delegation.
• Administer first aid and/or CPR to ill or injured students following the guidelines from the State of Colorado.
• Provide care to students as outlined in an Individualized Health Care Plan.
• Obtain and document student data as needed (IEP goal progress, behavioral events, observational data, medical vital signs, etc.) after training.
• Demonstrate flexibility when specific tasks of job are adjusted to meet building or district- level needs.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Technical Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

• Oral and written communication skills.
• Interpersonal skills.
• English language skills.
• Bilingual oral and written communication skills preferred.
• Mathematical skills including basic calculations and application of math concepts.
• Personal computer and keyboarding skills.
• Customer service and public relations skills and professionalism.
• Critical thinking and problem solving skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality in all aspects of the job.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks with frequent interruptions, use time efficiently, demonstrate attention to detail, follow instructions, and respond to management direction.
• Ability to work with students with diverse backgrounds and abilities.
• Ability to promote and follow Board of Education policies, Superintendent policies, and building and department procedures.

Tools And Equipment

Wheelchairs, bus lifts, office equipment, audio-visual equipment, occupational/physical therapy equipment, medical equipment. All tools and equipment may not be listed.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. This position may require the ability to provide physical intervention to students in danger of harming them self or others.

Salary

Special Education Paraeducators are on the Classified Salary Schedule.

• FFC8 allows new hires to bring in up to 8 years of previous experience in similar school type settings.
• Please understand that new hires tend to start out at the lower end of the salary range.

Salary Schedule

Benefits

Fountain-Fort Carson School District # 8 provides medical, dental, vision, chiropractic, life, long-term disability, accidental death & dismemberment insurances, and paid time off benefits. There are district and employee contributions to some or most of these benefits.

Employment Period

187 days per year - 7 or 7.5 Hour Work Day