Title:   Paraprofessional I-A (General Instructional Support) - Sheldon Head Start

Reports To:   Assigned Certified Faculty/Administrator

Supervises:   not applicable

Position Purpose:     to assist in providing a beneficial learning environment in which all students can take full advantage of the instructional program and available resource materials

Qualifications:          

• High school diploma or equivalency
• Possess 48 hours of college credit or pass the equivalency exam
• Ability to successfully accomplish/complete the annual in-service training
• Conscientiously accept and follow directions
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Exhibit sound judgment
• Adapt to a variety of situations
• Fundamental understanding of students and the learning process
• Good health
• Some positions will require specialized qualifications such as expertise with the piano, skill in physical education, knowledge of the outdoors/nature and hiking, and non-English language fluency

Physical/Emotional Requirements:  (The incumbent may be required to use the below requirements during any part of the working day.) Speaking, Hearing, manual dexterity, mobility, lifting (as much as 20lbs), pushing, pulling, bending, stooping, sitting, handling a variety of stressful situations, flexibility in adjusting to varied levels of pressure and intensity, patience, calmness, persistence

Performance Responsibilities:      

            Instructional responsibilities will be AS ASSIGNED by the certified supervisor with some assignments requiring a specialized skill. The list below has a variety of expectations which may be assigned. This is a representative list and is not meant to be all inclusive.

• Assist in daily instruction and training
• Assist students in achieving their individual objectives
•  Record/chart student data
• Perform related clerical functions such as telephoning, typing, reproducing, and greeting visitors
• Set up equipment for class work
• Monitor students when the teacher is otherwise occupied
• Under the teacher’s direction, evaluate work of students
• Communicate effectively with patrons and students
• Participate in daily and long-range classroom/lesson activity planning
• Conduct learning exercises and tutor groups of students an individual students
• Alert teachers to special needs of individual students
• Provide escort and assistance to students as assigned
• Help maintain organized work and study environments
• Assist with supervision of students
• Collect and display suitable materials in educational displays
• Operate and care for equipment
• Distribute and collect materials used for instruction
• Guide independent study, enrichment, and remedial work
• Assist with supervision of students during emergency drills, assemblies, field trips, lunch, and recreation periods
• Read to students, listen to students read, and participate in other forms of oral and written communication with students
• Assist students in the library, computer or media center
• Help students with their clothing
• Assist with wash-up and toilet routines
• Serve as a major source of information and help to any substitute teacher assigned in the absence of the regular teacher
• Maintain ethical and confidential behavior about the students, learning environment and school
• Conduct inventories
• Help prepare and serve meals, family style, in classroom
• Interpret language (English and non-English) for students, educators, patrons and the like
• Participate in in-service training programs
• Ride a bus route to help transport Head Start students to and from school
• Participate in obtaining Child Development Associate (CDA) certification
• Collaborate with classroom team (Teacher and other Para) to meet the requirements of the Head Start Learning Framework and Head Start Performance Standards.
• Ride, supervise children while riding a bus before or afterschool. 

Listed below are a variety of locations. Each para will be assigned in one or more working environment(s).

• Work with an individual student throughout the day
• Work as a team member (composed of paras and certified professionals) with a group of students throughout the day

Terms of Employment:       

9 months; salary and work year to be determined by the Board of Education.

Evaluation:

Performance of this position will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of the board policy on evaluation of Support Service Personnel

Significant associations:

The performance responsibilities are not limited to those outlined in this description and may include any other responsibilities as assigned by the administrator/supervisor