Special Needs Child Care Assistant

Anoka-Hennepin School District; Anoka (MN); On-site; USD 26,160 - 30,417; Full time

Job summary

The Anoka-Hennepin School District is hiring a Special Needs Child Care Assistant for the 2026-2027 school year. This role is essential for supporting children with special needs in a safe and engaging environment during before and after-school care.

The successful candidate will provide support to all children, following individualized plans and engaging them in activities. Requirements include experience with children, a high school diploma, and relevant training. Competitive pay is offered, starting at $18.99 per hour.

Qualifications

• Experience working with children in a childcare setting for at least 6 months.
• 120 hours of training in a child-related area or 12 college credits.
• Proof of passing the ParaPro/Paraeducator exam is acceptable.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and interact with school-age children.
• Implement accommodations for diverse student needs.
• Adapt activities for full participation by all children.

Skills

Experience engaging and supporting students with individual needs

Proactive support and social skill teaching

Ability to manage escalated situations

Education

High school diploma or equivalent, plus relevant training

120 hours of training in a child-related area or equivalent

Job description

Adventures Plus at Anoka‑Hennepin School District is looking for a Special Needs Child Care Assistant for the 2026‑2027 school year. The Special Needs Child Care Assistant plays a critical role in supporting all children, with a particular focus on children with special needs and varying disabilities or diagnoses, in alignment with each child’s individualized inclusion plan. This position supervises, engages, and supports school‑age children during before and after‑school care, assists in planning and adapting activities, and performs leadership duties as needed to foster an inclusive and safe environment.

What you’ll do:

• Supervising and interacting with all school‑age children, prioritizing the support of children with inclusion plans.
• Implementing site‑standard accommodations to meet diverse student needs.
• Following individualized health or safety plans.
• Implementing behavior intervention or modification plans for students exhibiting challenging behaviors, including inappropriate verbal or physical behaviors.
• Providing proactive support by teaching skills, assisting with social interactions, monitoring emotions, and offering breaks when needed.
• Adapting activities to enable full participation by all children.
• Taking a leadership role in managing escalated situations, adhering to Adventures Plus and Anoka‑Hennepin School District policies, modeling professional behavior, and actively participating in staff meetings and professional development.
• Contributing to a collaborative and supportive team environment, demonstrating excellent customer service by creating an environment that welcomes children and families of all abilities and backgrounds.
• Regular physical tasks include standing, walking, lifting (from below waist to chest), carrying, bending, kneeling, squatting, twisting, reaching, grasping, fine motor use, speaking, hearing, and visual focus. Occasionally, the role may involve sitting, pushing, pulling, climbing, crawling, and supervising children outdoors in all weather conditions.

Qualifications:

• Experience engaging and supporting students with individual needs.
• High school diploma or equivalent PLUS one of the following:
• 120 hours of training in a child‑related area, OR
• 12 college credits in a child‑related area, OR
• Proof of passing the ParaPro/Paraeducator exam.
• AND
• 6 months of consistent experience working with children in a child care setting OR
• 1,040 hours of paid experience working with children.

Salary and Benefits:

• Starting at $18.99/hour, up to $22.08/hour. (Candidates with an Associate’s Degree or higher start at $19.66/hour.)

Location & Shift Times:

• 24 Elementary Schools across the district in the communities of Andover, Anoka, Blaine, Brooklyn Park, Champlin, Coon Rapids, Dayton, Ham Lake, or Ramsey.
• Training 8/31/26 - 9/4/26. School Starts 9/8/26.
• Full‑Time shifts: 6:30 AM – 9:30 AM and 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM (6+ hours).
• Part‑Time shifts: Morning only, approximately 6:30–7:00 AM start to 8:30–9:30 AM end, depending on school schedule.

If you are enthusiastic, flexible, and passionate about working with children and believe you have the qualities we seek, we would love to hear from you. Apply today!