Paraeducator - Foster Elementary School

Paraeducator

Location/Program: Foster/Inclusion support

Job Summary

To provide support to students and assist with interventions or academic support in collaboration with general educators and special educators.

General Responsibilities

• Support students in developing academic skills, social-emotional regulation, and gross and fine motor abilities.
• Assist students in achieving academic and social-emotional goals as outlined in their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and as directed by school staff.
• Implement IEP accommodations, modifications, and behavior support plans, including executive function coaching.
• Provide individualized or small group instruction under the direction of appropriate staff.
• Provide clarification of directions, redirect attention, and provide ongoing support as specified within student IEPs.
• Break down assignments or projects into manageable steps and monitor student progress toward key checkpoints.
• Proctor assessments (e.g., MCAS), assist with state assessment portfolios, including in small group, separate setting, or read-aloud formats.
• Support students during classroom activities, ensuring understanding of directions and expectations.
• Assist students with activities of daily living, which may include hygiene, dressing, eating, toileting, and clean-up.
• Support student health and safety needs, including mobility assistance.
• Help implement the daily classroom schedule and maintain classroom routines.
• Supervise students in the classroom, during transitions, on field trips, and throughout the school day.
• Respond to student needs and assist in managing classroom behavior when needed.
• Assist with classroom preparation, organization, and clean-up.
• Support student access to technology and related tools.
• Collect and report student data as directed by staff.
• Foster positive and collaborative relationships with students, parents, and colleagues.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the school principal or designee.

Required Skills/Abilities

• Ideal candidates are team-oriented, flexible, reliable, compassionate, energetic, patient, and willing to learn.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in written form.
• Maintain personal and professional boundaries.
• Maintain confidentiality at all times.
• Foster collaborative and effective working relationships
• Attend ongoing professional development to support the paraeducator role.
• Ability to learn and use assistive technology.

Specialized Skills/Training

• Support student behavior management and skill development by utilizing de-escalation strategies and implementing behavior intervention plans under the guidance of the special education teacher and BCBA.
• Safety Care training will be provided by the district as needed.
• Proactively identify opportunities for student distress or dysregulation, working with educators to ensure environmental or work-related factors are considered throughout the student’s day.
• Model and deliver coping and/or communication strategies to dysregulated students.

Education/Experience/Training

• High school diploma required; Associate degree preferred.
• Experience working with children in an educational setting preferred
• Familiarity with Special Education/IEPs preferred
• Successful completion of a background check and CORI required.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to move, transport and position students (as needed).
• Must possess strength to lift/carry materials up to 20 pounds and strength to lift and/or reposition persons up to 50 pounds with assistance.
• Frequently required to stand, walk, sit, use hands, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, climb, and run.
• Must be able to respond quickly in emergency situations

Terms of Employment

• Terms and conditions of employment are specified under the provisions of the Hingham Educators Association (HEA) Unit B Collective Bargaining Agreement
• Employment subject to successful completion of background checks pursuant to federal and/or state laws

FLSA Designation

Non-Exempt

Benefit Information

Please see this link for information on benefits in the Hingham Public Schools

Equal Opportunity Employer

Hingham Public Schools does not discriminate in its educational and/or operational programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion or religious creed, disability or handicap, sex or gender (including pregnancy), gender identify and/or expression (including a transgender identity), sexual orientation, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law.