Therapeutic School Lead Paraprofessional

Heartspring Inc; Wichita (KS); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)

Paid holidays

403(b) retirement plan with employer‑p

Employer-paid life insurance

Tuition reimbursement and continuing教育

Job summary

Heartspring Inc. seeks a Lead Paraprofessional to support students with autism and developmental disabilities while guiding classroom staff and ensuring daily operations run smoothly.

You will partner with the Special Education Teacher to foster academic, social, emotional, and behavioral growth, lead in teachers' absence, and train teammates. A strong, compassionate leader with supervisory experience is preferred.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent
• 2+ years of leadership or supervisory experience
• 2+ years of experience working with children with autism, developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, behavioral challenges, or other neurodevelopmental disabilities in a school, special education, therapeutic, or behavioral health setting

Responsibilities

• Support students with autism, developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and behavioral needs in the classroom.
• Assist with academics, communication, social skills, emotional regulation, life skills, and activities of daily living (ADLs) as needed.
• Encourage independence through positive behavior support and individualized instruction.
• Build trusting relationships that help students grow and succeed.
• Lead classroom operations when the teacher is unavailable and coach/ mentor paraprofessionals and staff.
• Assist with onboarding and training new team members.
• Implement behavior intervention plans (BIPs) and positive behavior supports; respond during escalations using crisis intervention techniques.
• Maintain a safe, supportive, and inclusive classroom; collaborate with teachers, therapists, nurses, and families; document progress and observations; communicate professionally.
• Follow Heartspring policies and educational standards; support QA initiatives and maintain documentation; protect student confidentiality and comply with regulations.

Job description

Description

At Heartspring, our mission is to help children with autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), behavioral challenges, and other neurodevelopmental disabilities reach their fullest potential. We're looking for a compassionate, dependable Lead Paraprofessional to support students while providing leadership and guidance to classroom staff. If you're passionate about special education, enjoy mentoring others, and want to make a lasting impact in the lives of children and families, we'd love to meet you.

• Position: Lead Classroom Para
• Schedule: Full-Time Days
• Hours: Monday-Friday 7:15a-4p
• Requirements: 2+ years of leadership or supervisory experience, 2+ years working with children with autism or developmental disabilities
• Pre-Employment Requirements: must pass a state and federal background check, drug screening, physical, and lifting test

As a Lead Paraprofessional, you'll partner closely with the Special Education Teacher to support daily classroom operations while helping students succeed academically, socially, emotionally, and behaviorally.

Student Support

• Support students with autism, developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and behavioral needs in the classroom.
• Assist with academics, communication, social skills, emotional regulation, life skills, and activities of daily living (ADLs) as needed.
• Encourage independence through positive behavior support and individualized instruction.
• Build trusting relationships that help students grow and succeed.

Classroom Leadership

• Help oversee daily classroom routines and maintain a structured therapeutic learning environment.
• Lead classroom operations when the teacher is unavailable.
• Coach, mentor, and support paraprofessionals and classroom staff.
• Assist with onboarding and training new team members.

Behavior & Safety

• Implement behavior intervention plans (BIPs) and positive behavior supports.
• Respond appropriately during behavioral escalations using approved crisis intervention techniques.
• Maintain a safe, supportive, and inclusive classroom for all students.

Collaboration & Communication

• Partner with teachers, therapists, nurses, and families to support student success.
• Document student progress, incidents, and observations accurately.
• Communicate professionally and effectively with staff and families.

Quality & Compliance

• Follow Heartspring policies and educational standards.
• Support quality assurance initiatives and maintain accurate documentation.
• Protect student confidentiality and ensure compliance with all applicable regulations.

What You'll Bring

You'll be successful in this role if you are:

• Dependable, ethical, and accountable with a strong work ethic.
• Calm under pressure and able to make sound decisions during challenging situations.
• An effective communicator with excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills.
• Organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Passionate about providing exceptional service to students, families, and coworkers.
• A collaborative leader who enjoys coaching and supporting teammates.
• Comfortable using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).

Requirements

Education & Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent
• 2+ years of leadership or supervisory experience
• 2+ years of experience working with children with autism, developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, behavioral challenges, or other neurodevelopmental disabilities in a school, special education, therapeutic, or behavioral health setting

Preferred

• Valid Kansas driver's license
• Kansas licensed substitute teacher certification
• 60 or more college credit hours

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
• Reference verification
• Verification of required professional licensure
• Other required employment and regulatory clearances

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid holidays
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution
• Employer-paid life insurance
• Tuition reimbursement and continuing education support

Physical Requirements:

• 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.

Why Heartspring?

• A meaningful career where you make a lasting impact every day.
• Collaborative, multidisciplinary teams dedicated to student success.
• Paid training, including CPR and CPI certification.
• Opportunities for professional growth and leadership development.
• A mission-driven culture built on compassion, teamwork, and excellence.