Special Education Paraprofessional

Thornapple Elementary; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 22,000 - 26,000; Part time

Job summary

Forest Hills Public School District Thornapple Elementary in Grand Rapids, Michigan, seeks a Special Education Paraprofessional to support students with IEPs under the classroom teacher's supervision. The role involves one-on-one or small group work, delivering instructional materials, and helping maintain a safe, inclusive learning environment.

The position is part-time, 5.9 hours per day (29.5 hours per week) for the school year, with a starting date on Aug 26, 2026.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree.
• Experience working in an academic environment.
• Experience working with school age youth.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and recordkeeping skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist the classroom teacher with instructional materials and activities.
• Provide physical assistance and mobility support for students.
• Support behavioral interventions and monitor classroom environment.
• Attend staff meetings and professional learning sessions.
• Maintain confidentiality of students and school information.

Skills

Associate’s degree

Experience in academic environment

Experience with school-age youth

Team collaboration

Organizational & communication skills

Education

Associate’s degree

Job description

Forest Hills Public School District Thornapple Elementary - Grand Rapids, Michigan Open in Google Maps

Special Education Paraprofessional

Forest Hills Public School District Thornapple Elementary - Grand Rapids, Michigan Open in Google Maps

This job is also posted in Forest Hills Public School District Job Board , and Kent ISD

Job Details

Job ID: 5880651
Application Deadline: Aug 25, 2026 11:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time)
Posted: Aug 11, 2026 4:00 AM (UTC)

Starting Date: Aug 26, 2026

Job Description

Special EducationParaprofessional

ThornappleElementary

Reports To: Building Principal

Pay Grade: Grade 3, Step 1, $17.51 per hour

Schedule: 5.9 hours per day / 29.5 hours per week / 5 days per week / School year position

Job Summary: Under the direct supervision of a classroom teacher and the guidelines stated in the student’s IEP, provide a variety of support duties related to delivering a sound academic program and maintaining a healthy, safe, and supportive school environment for children with special needs. Special education paraprofessionals may be assigned one-on-one assignments or small group assignments depending on the nature of the student(s) disability and the educational setting.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Associate’s degree
• Experience working in an academic environment
• Experience working with school age youth
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a team
• Excellent organizational, communication, and recordkeeping skills

Essential Job Functions:

• Willingness to complete CPI training
• Ability to maintain the confidentiality of students, schools, teachers and classrooms
• Assist the classroom teacher(s) with the delivery of instructional materials. paraprofessionals may: adapt curriculum and provide parallel activities; assist with communication; assist students with academic work; read, listen to, and record student responses; supervise academic testing; correct student work; and related activities
• Provide physical assistance for the student(s) as necessary including: assisting with wheelchairs, walkers, and other support devices; assisting with computers; turning pages of texts; dressing, toileting, and hygiene assistance; assistance with health care devices; loading students on and off buses; and related activities
• Monitor and avoid unnecessary environmental cues that may distract and disturb the student(s); using calming techniques; assisting the teacher with developing behavioral intervention program(s) for the student(s); removing the student from the room when necessary; safely restraining the student when necessary; and related activities
• May participate in a variety of meetings related to the student(s)
• May escort or accompany student(s) while traveling in the school, may supervise student(s) during lunch and recess periods. May assist student(s) with field trips, community based outings, and the like. May provide assistance in vocational job site settings
• Attending staff meetings as requested
• Attending professional learning as requested
• Consistent and reliable attendance
• Perform other duties as assigned

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, talk, hear (in a quiet or noisy environment). The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust/focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Work Environment:

The noise level in the work environment is usually loud to moderate. Work may be performed indoors and/or outdoors. The employee is directly responsible for the safety, well-being and work output of students.

Mental Functions:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to compare, analyze, communicate both orally and in writing, copy, coordinate, instruct, compute, synthesize, evaluate, use interpersonal skills, compile and negotiate.

Benefits & Evaluation:
In accordance with the Administrative Support Staff Agreement

Terms of Employment:

The employee will remain free of any alcohol or drugs throughout his/her employment with the district as outlined in Board Policy #4210.

The Forest Hills Public SchoolDistrictdoes not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, or sexual orientation), marital status, disability, genetic information, or any other legally prohibited basis in its employment decisions or the provision of services.

Position Type: Part-Time
Salary: $17.51 Per Hour
Job Categories:

Instructional Support > Paraprofessional / IA