Therapeutic School Classroom Paraprofessional

Heartspring; Wichita (KS); Hybrid; USD 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

5 weeks PTO

10 paid holidays

403(b) retirement plan with employer

Employer-paid life insurance

Paid training and ongoing professional

Opportunities to grow in special ed, 1

Job summary

Heartspring in Wichita, KS is seeking paraprofessionals to support students with autism in a therapeutic school setting. You will work with teachers and therapists to help students build academic, communication, social, and independent living skills.

The role emphasizes individualized support, collaboration within a multidisciplinary team, and adherence to IEPs and daily routines. A high school diploma and 1+ years of related experience are required, with pre-employment screenings.

Qualifications

• High school diploma required.
• 1+ years of experience working with children or individuals with disabilities preferred.
• Valid Kansas driver’s license preferred and may be required to transport students in Heartspring vehicles.
• Pre-employment screenings include drug screen, physical, lifting test, and background checks.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to stay calm in challenging situations.

Responsibilities

• Work directly with students with autism and other neurodevelopmental disabilities in a therapeutic school environment.
• Provide individualized and small-group support to help students achieve academic, communication, social, behavioral, and functional living goals.
• Assist teachers and therapeutic teams with implementing individualized education programs and daily classroom routines.
• Support students with activities of daily living (ADLs) and help build independence in communication and self-care.
• Provide positive reinforcement and tailored support to encourage participation and progress.
• Observe progress and communicate changes or concerns with teachers and the interdisciplinary team.
• Collaborate with teachers, therapists, and other professionals to provide consistent support and continuity of care.
• Maintain a safe, structured classroom environment.
• Follow Heartspring policies and KSDE requirements.
• Maintain accurate documentation while protecting student confidentiality.

Skills

Patience and empathy

Strong communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Dependability and reliability

Team collaboration

Adaptability

Technology proficiency

Education

High school diploma

Job description

Description

Heartspring is seeking skilled and dependable Paraprofessionals to support students with autism and other neurodevelopmental disabilities in our therapeutic school. In this hands‑on role, you'll work alongside teachers, therapists, and other professionals to help students build academic, communication, social, behavioral, and independent living skills.

• Position: Paraprofessional – Special Education
• Schedule: Full-Time | Monday–Friday
• Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 7:15a-3:45p; Wednesday 7:15a-4p; Friday 7:15a-3:30p
• Requirements: High school diploma| 1 year of experience working with children or individuals with disabilities
• Pre-Employment Requirements: must pass a drug screening, physical, and lifting test

What You'll Do

• Work directly with students with autism and other neurodevelopmental disabilities in a therapeutic school environment
• Provide individualized and small-group support to help students achieve academic, communication, social, behavioral, and functional living goals
• Assist teachers and therapeutic teams with implementing individualized education programs, Student Support Plans, structured activities, and daily classroom routines
• Support students with activities of daily living (ADLs) and help build greater independence with communication, self‑help, social, and functional life skills
• Provide positive reinforcement and individualized support to encourage student participation, engagement, and progress
• Observe student progress and behaviors and communicate important information, changes, or concerns with teachers, supervisors, and members of the student's interdisciplinary team
• Collaborate with teachers, therapists, behavioral professionals, nursing, and other team members to provide consistent support and continuity of care
• Help maintain a structured, safe, and nurturing classroom environment
• Support students during behavioral challenges or crisis situations using Heartspring's established training and intervention techniques
• Maintain accurate documentation while protecting student confidentiality
• Follow Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) requirements, Heartspring policies, safety procedures, and other applicable regulations

What We're Looking For

The ideal candidate is patient, dependable, and genuinely enjoys helping children learn, grow, and become more independent. We're looking for someone who has:

• A passion for working with children and young adults who may need additional behavioral, developmental, or educational support
• Experience in special education, paraprofessional support, childcare, behavioral health, autism services, direct support, education, or a related field preferred
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build positive, supportive relationships with students
• The ability to remain calm, composed, and professional during challenging or high‑stress situations
• Strong communication skills and the ability to effectively share information with teachers, supervisors, and interdisciplinary team members
• Dependability, reliability, and a strong commitment to showing up consistently for students and the team
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to follow individualized plans, instructions, and safety procedures
• The ability to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Good judgment and the ability to respond appropriately during behavioral, health, or emergency situations
• Comfort using computers, tablets, and other technology for communication, training, and documentation
• A commitment to maintaining confidentiality and treating students with dignity and respect

Requirements

Education & Experience

• High school diploma required
• 1+ years of experience working with children, individuals with disabilities, autism, special education, behavioral health, childcare, or direct care preferred
• Valid Kansas driver's license with a good driving record preferred and required to transport students in Heartspring vehicles

Pre-Employment Requirements

Because the safety of our students is our highest priority, all candidates must successfully complete Heartspring's required pre‑employment screening process before beginning employment. This includes:

• DCF fingerprinting
• State and federal background checks
• Drug screening
• Pre‑employment physical and required physical abilities testing

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 5 weeks of Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 10 Paid holidays
• 403(b) Retirement plan with employer contribution
• Employer‑paid life insurance
• Paid training and ongoing professional development
• Opportunities to grow your experience in special education, autism services, behavioral health, and developmental disabilities
• Mission‑driven work where you can make a meaningful difference in a student's life every day

Join Our Team

If you're looking for more than just a job and want the opportunity to help students build skills, gain independence, and reach possibilities others may not have thought possible, we'd love to meet you.

You are a great fit for this role if you have knowledge and abilities in:

• Lifting: Up to 30 lbs. frequently; 50 lbs. rarely
• Carrying: 10-15 lbs. frequently; 50 lbs. seldom
• Sitting/Standing/Walking: sit rarely; stand constantly; walk frequently
• Climbing: rarely
• Bending/Twisting/Kneeling/Reaching: frequently
• Reaching: frequently
• Pushing/Pulling: 10-15 lbs. occasionally; 50 lbs. rarely
• Dexterity: constant hand‑eye coordination and manual dexterity
• Stamina/Endurance: mild exertion frequently; heavy exertion occasionally
• Vision/Hearing: constant ability to see clearly and hear instructions or warnings
• Mind‑Body Connection: frequent awareness of body positioning and task execution

Work Environment:

• Environment: Indoor and outdoor work environments
• Safety Compliance & PPE Requirements: Adherence to safety protocols and protective gear use constantly. Mandatory use of Heartspring standard PPE, with additional protective gear (e.g., gloves, helmets, arm guards, leg guards) provided as needed.
• Physical Interactions & Exposure Risks: Frequent exposure to physical interactions from clients, including slapping, hitting, punching, kicking, head‑butting, and biting. Potential exposure to infectious diseases, parasites, bodily fluids, and blood‑borne pathogens in a school and residential care setting.

#sch!