Elementary Special Education Paraprofessional

Job Description

Position is for 2023-2024 school year, through June 2024

Paraprofessional are to assist, support, and work closely with teachers, academic leaders, and other operational team members in providing educational benefits for students and overall support for the organization.

Duties of this job include, but are not limited to:
-Works with individual students or small groups of students with special needs to reinforce learning of materials or skills initially introduced and outline by certified staff
-Work with special needs students according to their IEP or 504 plan with accommodations as needed.
-Covers classes for teachers as needed (Substitute). Must work with HR to obtain short call sub license if applicable.
-Assists the certified staff in devising special strategies for reinforcing learning materials and skills based on a sympathetic understanding of individual students, their needs, interests, and abilities.
-Monitors work, corrects papers, and supervises curriculum-based testing and makeup work as assigned by the certified staff.
-Serves as the chief source of information and help to any guest teacher assigned in the absence of the regular certified staff.
-Performs clerical, classroom maintenance, and instructional duties as assigned by the certified staff.
-Alerts the certified staff to any problem or special information about an individual student.
-Performs assigned supervision of students during breakfast/lunch periods, play periods, and on field trips.
-Performs assigned non-instructional classroom duties, such as snack time, toileting, and clothing routines.
-When requested, serves as a resource person to other departments
-Demonstrates ethical behavior and confidentiality of information about students in school environment and community.
-Participates in in-service training programs as provided and approved.
-Maintains safe working environment and encourages colleagues to be safety minded in the performance of all school-related duties.
-Assists as directed by certified staff in the effort to successfully maintain students with special needs in an integrated setting, as determined by the Special Education Team.
-Effectively collects and maintains evidence of meetings.

Qualifications

-Bachelor’s Degree or successfully pass the Para Pro Test
-Have at least 1 year of experience in an urban setting
-Aptitude for the work to be performed
-Interest in children and education
-Desire to assist students with special needs in a learning environment
-Emotional maturity and stability necessary for the specialized work involved
-Be committed to professional growth and development
-Have knowledge of best practices, instructional strategies, classroom management and behavior management
-Serve as a role model for promoting effective instruction and professionalism
-Demonstrate respect for children, colleagues, parents and school leadership
-Believe in and support the vision and mission of PSA

Institution Description

Prairie Seeds Academy is a K-12 public charter school located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Our teachers and staff work very hard to create and sustain a warm, safe and productive atmosphere for learning. We are committed to the pursuit of providing high-rigor academics along with encouraging our students to be global thinkers and learners. With today's diversity, we want our students to adapt successfully to change, be life-long learners, and care and understand others. We want our students to be prepared for the world so they can become a contributing member of society.

Vision Statement: Our PSA Community members are inspired global thinkers, who will understand the importance of inquiry, lifelong learning, intercultural awareness, respect, and adaptability as they become future leaders.

Mission Statement: Prairie Seeds Academy, in cooperation with families and community, provides leadership in rigorous education to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring citizens who help create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

CULTURE OF LEARNING
PSA believes that every scholar has the right to learn, be engaged, and grow in a healthy school environment. PSA must foster a culture of learning that embraces every scholar’s strengths to achieve optimal growth and learning. PSA strives to explore ways to strengthen our relationships with our scholars and their families. PSA is committed to building collaborative leadership at an effective capacity among staff, parents and scholars. This is accomplished by changing our behaviors and actions so we can better support our scholars and parents in achieving their academic goals. Employees coming to PSA must share, understand, and implement this culture of learning at all levels of the organization through consistency. By having consistency, we can shift not only the behaviors of our staff, but our students and parents will equally be engaged in the process. PSA seeks individuals who will optimistically and confidently abide by this culture of learning.

The core values that drive PSA’s culture of learning are:
Aiming for High Academic Achievement
Embracing Cultural Pride and Identity
Modeling the Way
Understanding How Data Drives Decisions
Having High Expectations
Creating a Social-Emotional Learning Environment

Application Instructions/Comments

To apply, email the following to Crystal Vang at crystal.vang@psak12.org and Julie Vang at julie.vang@psak12.org:
1. Letter of interest
2. Updated Resume
3. Copy of MN Teaching License (if applicable)