Special Education Paraprofessional

City Garden Montessori School; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

City Garden Montessori School in Missouri is seeking a qualified paraprofessional to support classroom teachers and help deliver high-quality learning experiences. The role centers on a student-centered environment that fosters relationships and ongoing growth for students and staff.

You will reinforce instruction, assist in planning, supervise students, and collaborate with families and the learning team to maintain an engaging, inclusive classroom environment.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree or equivalent
• 12+ hours post-secondary education with DESE paraprofessional certification
• 2+ years of experience with students
• First Aid/CPR certification current
• Strong oral and written communication with adults and children
• Experience with diverse student populations and anti-bias education

Responsibilities

• Provide instructional reinforcement under the direction of the classroom teacher
• Serve as a positive, nurturing guide for students
• Model professional standards with students, parents, staff, and community
• Safely supervise students in instructional and assessment activities
• Plan with learning team and communicate with parents and school officials
• Co-teach and lead small-group or individual instruction
• Attend to students’ physical, personal, academic, and emotional needs
• Organize classroom and teaching materials; verify attendance
• Perform clerical duties such as data-entry, filing, and photocopying
• Participate in parent-teacher and faculty meetings and events
• Engage in regular evaluation and professional development

Skills

Communication

Flexibility

Anti-bias values

Relationship building

Education

Associate's degree

12+ post-secondary hours incl. DESE paraprofessional certification

First Aid and CPR certification

DESE Paraprofessional certification (Missouri)

Job description

At City Garden Montessori School, we pride ourselves on giving students a vibrant learning experience in a welcoming environment. Our teachers count on paraprofessionals to bring the best to the classroom every day. We’re searching for a qualified paraprofessional to join us in delivering the high-quality learning experiences we’re known for. They will build on a student-centered environment which fosters relationships and promotes continual growth for students and staff.

Responsibilities

• Provide instructional reinforcement under the direction of the classroom teacher in executing lesson plans
• Serve as a positive, nurturing guide for students
• Model professional and ethical standards when dealing with students, parents, staff, and community, following and upholding school rules and standards
• Safely supervise students in both instructional and assessment activities in and out of the classroom
• Participate in planning sessions with the learning team, communicating with parents and school officials as needed

Daily and Monthly Responsibilities

• Co-teach lesson components as determined by the teacher, leading small-group or individual instruction and discussion, and reviewing classwork material
• Attend to students' physical, personal, academic, and emotional needs; help with translation and hygienic needs when necessary
• Organize classroom and teaching materials; verify and track student attendance
• Perform clerical duties such as data-entry, filing, and photocopying; grade tests and homework, recording the results
• Establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with students, parents, and staff to enhance the instructional environment; participate in parent-teacher and faculty meetings and events

Professional Responsibility

• Actively participates in a regular evaluation process including classroom observations, feedback conferences, and an annual self-evaluation toward yearly goals which are established with the school principal
• Participates in professional development activities (both within the school community and attendance at conferences, workshops, etc.)
• Participates in collegial activities designed to make the entire school a productive learning environment, for example, age level meetings, curriculum discussion groups, working committees, mentoring, etc.
• Attends all scheduled meetings and professional days as appropriate
• Responsible for reading and adhering to the guidelines and school policies as established in the employee handbook

The ideal Paraprofessional will...

• Have a degree in education, early childhood development, or one of the social sciences
• Have at least one year of experience working with special needs students
• Be flexible to adapt to the changing nature of the demands of the class
• Be deeply committed to whole-child education, having proven success and outcomes in meeting children’s needs holistically
• Have a grounding in anti-bias education and antiracist values and principles, and is excited to be part of a school that is reimagining education through these lenses

Certifications

• Current First Aid and CPR certification
• Current Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Paraprofessional certification

Requirements

• An Associate's degree
• OR **
• At least 12 Hours of Post-Secondary education and Paraprofessional certification from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)
• At least 2 years of experience working with students
• Have prior experience in the role of Paraprofessional
• Effective communication skills; oral, written, and visual with adults and children
• Understanding of basic principles of childhood development
• Demonstrated success working with a diverse student population