Special Education Paraprofessional

Banning Lewis Academy; Colorado Springs (CO); On-site; USD 29,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PERA retirement plan

Job summary

Banning Lewis Academy seeks a compassionate Special Education Paraprofessional to support students with mild to moderate needs across various settings. You will work with special education and general education staff to implement individualized supports, promote independence, and help students succeed during the school day.

The role emphasizes maintaining confidentiality, building positive relationships, and contributing to a safe, inclusive classroom environment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent; associate degree preferred.
• Experience working with children in school or related setting preferred.
• Ability to support diverse learners with patience, flexibility, and consistency.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Willingness and ability to be CPI certified; background check required.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct support to students with IEPs in reading, writing, and math.
• Implement instructional strategies and accommodations as directed by the special education teacher.
• Support students in accessing grade-level curriculum within general education and small group settings.
• Reinforce learning through guided practice, prompting, and feedback.
• Implement behavior intervention plans (BIPs) and support positive student behavior.
• Use proactive strategies to support engagement, regulation, and social skill development.
• Assist with de-escalation and redirection when students experience frustration or dysregulation.
• Build positive, supportive relationships that foster student confidence and independence.
• Assist students with activities of daily living and personal care as needed; ensure safety.
• Work collaboratively with teachers and related service providers; communicate progress.

Skills

Patience

Flexibility

Consistency

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associate's degree or higher preferred

Job description

Banning Lewis Academy is a tuition-free public charter school authorized by District 49, proudly serving the Banning Lewis Ranch community and surrounding neighborhoods in north eastern Colorado Springs since 2006.

Our mission is to create a safe, supportive environment where students thrive academically and develop the skills, character, and mindset to engage with the world. We are a K–12 school serving over 1600 students as a unified K-12 system, across to campuses Banning Lewis Ranch Academy and Banning Lewis Preparatory Academy. Our school community values relationships first, high expectations for all learners, and developing citizens of character.

Position Overview:

Banning Lewis Academy is seeking a compassionate, reliable, and student-centered Special Education Paraprofessional to support students with mild to moderate needs across a variety of settings.

This role is essential to ensuring students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) can access instruction, build independence, and experience success throughout the school day. The paraprofessional works closely with special education teachers, general education teachers, and related service providers to implement individualized supports aligned to each student's needs. The ideal candidate demonstrates a strong commitment to students, a willingness to learn and adapt, and the ability to support both academic growth and the development of social, behavioral, and life skills. This individual understands that small, consistent supports often lead to big outcomes-and that every interaction matters.

Key Responsibilities:

Student Support and Instruction

• Provide direct support to students with IEPs in academic areas, including reading, writing, and math
• Implement instructional strategies and accommodations as directed by the special education teacher
• Support students in accessing grade-level curriculum within general education and small group settings
• Reinforce learning through guided practice, prompting, and feedback

Behavioral and Social- Emotional Support

• Implement behavior intervention plans (BIPs) and support positive student behavior
• Use proactive strategies to support engagement, regulation, and social skill development
• Assist with de-escalation and redirection when students experience frustration or dysregulation
• Build positive, supportive relationships that foster student confidence and independence

Physical and Personal Care Support

• Assist students with activities of daily living, including physical needs, mobility, positioning, and transitions as needed
• Support students with toileting and general personal care in a respectful, dignified manner
• Ensure student safety at all times, including during transitions, recess, and other unstructured settings

Collaboration and Communication

• Work collaboratively with special education teachers, general education teachers, and related service providers
• Communicate student progress, needs, and observations to the supervising teacher
• Participate in team meetings, training, and professional learning as assigned

Data Collection and Documentation

• Collect data on student progress toward goals as directed by the special education teacher
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of support provided
• Follow all confidentiality guidelines related to student information

Classroom and School Support

• Assist with classroom organization, materials preparation, and instructional set-up
• Support supervision of students during arrival, dismissal, lunch, and recess as assigned
• Contribute to a positive, inclusive, and safe school environment

Required Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent (Associate's Degree or higher preferred)
• Experience working with children in a school or related setting preferred
• Ability to support diverse learners with patience, flexibility, and consistency
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and professionalism at all times
• Ability to follow directions and work collaboratively as part of a team
• Certification or willingness and ability to be certified in Non-Violent Crisis Prevention and Intervention (CPI)
• Must successfully complete a background check

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting students with disabilities, including academic and behavioral needs
• Knowledge of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and accommodations
• Experience implementing behavior support strategies or working within PBIS frameworks
• Training or experience in de-escalation strategies and/or crisis prevention
• Experience supporting students with personal care needs

Why Join Us?

At Banning Lewis Academy, we believe in providing a well-rounded education to all students through a community-oriented approach. BLA offers a competitive salary and benefits in a warm and welcoming environment that fosters teacher development. We invite passionate educators to join our team and make a difference for every student, every day.

Compensation and Benefits

We offer a competitive compensation package, which includes group insurance (health, dental, and vision), paid sick leave and personal leave, and participation in the Colorado Public Employees' Retirement Association (PERA) as our retirement plan.