Specialized Assistant: ECSE

Lansingschools; Lansing (MI); On-site; USD 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Lansing School District is hiring a Specialized Assistant to support Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) students. The role focuses on assisting with lessons, building relationships, and ensuring safe, engaging classrooms.

The ideal candidate has an Associate’s Degree, 60 college credits, and ETS Paraprofessional Exam, with experience supporting students with disabilities in small groups and RTI settings.

Qualifications

• Associate’s Degree or higher required.
• 60 college credits completed.
• Proof of passing the ETS Paraprofessional Exam.
• Experience with students in small group and RTI settings.
• Understanding of reading and interpreting a student’s IEP.
• Desire to become a certified teacher long term.
• Demonstrates passion for working with students, especially in one‑on‑one and small group settings, including students with special education needs.
• Ability to prioritize tasks as assigned by teachers and school leaders.

Responsibilities

• Build relationships with students on caseload.
• Support teachers to ensure student engagement and learning during lessons.
• Interact with parents and families.
• Ensure safety and success of students on caseload.
• Incorporate feedback from school leaders and professional development sessions.
• Contribute to a safe, welcoming learning environment for students and families.
• Assist with other duties to support the Lansing School District mission.

Skills

Small group instruction

RTI support

IEP understanding

Parental communication

Task prioritization

Education

Associate’s Degree

60 college credits

ETS Paraprofessional Exam

Job description

The Lansing School District serves over 10,000 PreK-12 students across 25 school buildings in the increasingly diverse urban community of Lansing, MI. We are unique compared to other districts because of the wide variety of exciting and innovative educational options from which families and staff members can choose. All of Lansing School District’s team members are dedicated to our mission to provide an excellent education to all students in a safe and nurturing environment.

In pursuit of this mission, we are hiring a Specialized Assistant. This individual will help ensure the safety and success of students in the building that they are assigned to, which are often students with disabilities. Specialized Assistants build relationships with students they work with, support teachers in ensuring that students are engaged and supported during lessons, and interact with parents and families. They are a crucial component of a student’s support structure at school. Often, Specialized Assistants support students with special education needs and disabilities.

This role will support the Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) program.

Responsibilities

• Build relationships with students they work with.
• Support teachers in ensuring that students are engaged and supported during lessons.
• Interact with parents and families.
• Ensure safety and success of students on caseload.
• Learn and grow by incorporating feedback from school leaders, colleagues, students, and professional development sessions.
• Build relationships with students and parents to ensure a safe, welcoming, and engaging learning environment.
• Other duties as assigned to best support the Lansing School District mission.

Physical Demands

• Must be able to stand, walk, and move quickly between indoor and outdoor settings for extended periods.
• Regularly required to bend, kneel, crouch, and assist with physical transfers or interventions involving students.
• Must be able to lift, push, or carry up to 50 pounds as needed.
• Frequent verbal communication is required to support students, coordinate with staff, and manage emergent situations.
• Occasional use of computers, radios, and other communication or documentation tools.
• May be exposed to noise, weather conditions, and other elements associated with a school environment.

Qualifications

• Associate’s Degree.
• 60 completed college credits.
• Proof of passing the ETS Paraprofessional Exam.
• Previous experience working with students in small group and RTI settings.
• Understanding of how to read and understand a student's IEP.
• Desire to become a certified teacher long term.
• Demonstrates passion for working with students, especially in one‑on‑one and small group situations, and especially students with special education needs.
• Effectively prioritizes tasks as assigned by teachers and school leaders.

At the Lansing School District, we champion diversity, equity, and inclusion, providing equal opportunities to all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or sexual orientation. We foster a rich environment for professional growth and student experiences by valuing diverse perspectives. As an equal opportunity employer, we invite passionate individuals dedicated to educational excellence to apply for our positions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.