Position Title:

Paraprofessional

Reports To: 

Principal and assigned teacher

Job Objectives

Performs a variety of classroom support and personal care services to help students achieve productive learning

 experiences.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• Meets all mandated health requirements (e.g., a negative tuberculosis test, etc.).
• Documented evidence of a clear criminal record.
• Self-directed and able to learn required skills for the position.
• Holds or is qualified to obtain an Educational Aide Permit.
• Ability to physically manage students with disabilities.
• Congenial disposition and strong interpersonal skills.

NOTE:  Some assignments may require special training (e.g., first aid, CPR, etc.).

Responsibilities and Essential Functions: The following duties are representative of performance expectations. A reasonable qualification can be made to enable a qualified individual with a disability to perform essential functions.

• Checks with the teacher for instructions.  Works with small groups and/or individual students.  Seeks advice when expectations are unclear.
• Portrays a positive, personal and professional demeanor in all forms of communication (i.e., interactions with students and staff, personal social media posts, etc.)
• Helps students with remedial activities.  Reinforces materials introduced by the teacher.  Maintains a positive learning environment.
• Offers help when students ask for or their behavior suggests they need assistance.  Avoids being intrusive.  Solves student concerns discreetly.
• Based on success/lack of success of various instructional strategies, is able to independently improvise by making necessary modifications to instruction or assistance.
• Provides recommendations for material adaption to meet individual/classroom needs.
• Supports an inclusive educational environment.  Helps students with disabilities participate in appropriate peer group activities as directed.
• Assists with student mobility needs.  Helps students use assisted and/or augmentative devices.
• Positions students to take full advantage of each learning environment (e.g., line-of-sight, proximity to equipment, height of work surfaces, etc.).
• Helps students with personal hygiene needs (e.g., toileting, catheterization, etc.) as trained by a licensed health care professional.  Administers basic first aid as needed.
• Helps feed students.  Follows proper sanitation procedures to comply with all personal hygiene rules.
• Actively participates in programmed recreational activities as directed.
• Supervises rest periods when applicable.
• Monitors ill students until a parent/guardian arrives.
• Maintains high standards for student conduct.  Upholds the student conduct code.
• Works with the classroom teacher to address persistent behavior problems.
• Supervises non-classroom activities as directed (e.g., arrival/departure, lunch, recess, field trips, library, computer lab, etc.).
• Promotes the proper use and care of school property.  Reports student discipline problems, vandalism, or other related concerns to the teacher and/or principal.
• Performs clerical work related to classroom activities.  Prepares and distributes teaching materials. Checks papers and scores tests as directed.
• Prepares classroom equipment for use (e.g., computers, media resources, etc.).
• Helps keep program and storage areas orderly (e.g., stores equipment, shelves books, cleans spills, etc.).  Sanitizes classroom equipment as directed.
• Participates in staff meetings and professional growth activities as directed.

Other Duties and Responsibilities may include but are not limited to:

• Upholds board policies and follows administrative procedures.
• Promotes a favorable image of the school district.
• Respects personal privacy.  Maintains the confidentiality of privileged information.
• Reports evidence of suspected child abuse as required by law.
• Takes precautions to ensure student safety.  Does not leave students unsupervised.  Reports unauthorized persons or suspicious circumstances immediately.
• Supervises non-classroom activities when assigned.
• Participates in after-school programs (e.g., open houses, etc.) as directed. 
• Complete required training by appropriate deadlines (Vector, Gifted, Science of Reading, etc.)
• Accepts responsibility for personal decisions and conduct.  Strives to develop rapport and serve as a positive role model for others.
• Performs other specific job-related duties as directed.

Abilities Required: The following aptitudes and physical skills are essential for the successful performance of assigned duties.

• Demonstrates professionalism and maintains a positive work attitude.
• Skillfully manages individual, group, and organizational interactions. 
• Communicates effectively using verbal, nonverbal, and writing skills.
• Organizes tasks and manages time effectively.
• Averts problem situations and intervenes to resolve conflicts.
• Lifts, carries, and/or moves instructional supplies and equipment.
• Performs activities that may require reaching, crouching, and/or kneeling.
• Uses self-control, perseverance, and physical skill to manage students.
• Maintains an acceptable attendance record and is punctual.
• Travels to meetings and work assignments.

(Additional) Working Conditions: Exposure to the following situations may range from remote to frequent, depending on circumstances and factors that are not predictable.

• Potential for exposure to blood-borne pathogens and communicable diseases.
• Potential for interaction with disruptive and/or unruly individuals.
• Exposure to adverse weather conditions and seasonal temperature extremes.
• Duties may require operating and/or riding in a vehicle.
• Duties may require detailed paperwork.
• Duties may require working under time constraints to meet deadlines.
• Duties may require working during the evening and/or weekends.
• Occasional exposure to loud noises.
• Regular requirement to sit, stand, walk, talk, hear, see, read, speak, reach, stretch with hands and arms, crouch, kneel, climb, and stoop.
• Occasional requirement to lift, carry, push, and pull various items up to a maximum of 50 pounds.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Under the direction of the principal, plans meaningful work assignments, provides instructions, and

communicates expectations to assigned staff and volunteers.  Monitors and helps assigned staff

successfully accomplish delegated duties.

Performance Evaluations

Job performance is evaluated according to the policy provisions adopted by the Fostoria City School District Board of

Education.