Are you seeking collaboration and small classroom ratios? Do you want to gain experience and teaching mentorship? Do you want to work in a camp like atmosphere? Discover a purposeful and meaningful career that transforms the lives of students and changes the trajectory of their future. Find a nurturing community that values people, ethical practices, passion, and creativity. Our staff is the most valuable resource we have in accomplishing our mission to empower children with communication delays and learning differences to thrive through whole-child education, innovative therapy, and access to nature. Early Childhood Paraeducator
Special Education
Location: The Parish School Status: Full Time Hourly (35 or 40 hours per week)
Position Overview
The Early Childhood Paraeducator supports diverse learners in a language-based classroom. The paraeducator works alongside a multidisciplinary team to incorporate therapeutic strategies and curricula that support whole child development, including communication, pre-academic and social emotional domains. All instruction is provided in a nurturing environment through a multisensory learning approach, incorporating nature-based education. When permanently assigned to a classroom, the paraeducator functions as a member of a child’s instructional team and provides support to the educator and classroom speech language pathologist. When assigned floating duties, the paraeducator will work across classrooms to meet the needs of students and speech language pathologists/educators as needed.
Responsibilities Instructional - Prepares materials needed for instructional activities
- Prepares the classroom area daily for instruction, including set up and clean up
- Leads small and large group lessons utilizing the schools adopted curriculum as guided by the classroom speech language pathologist and early childhood educator
- Assists lead speech language pathologist and early childhood educator in curriculum assessment on a regular basis
- Understands and implements therapy goals and strategies for each student as guided by the classroom speech language pathologist, early childhood educator, and occupational therapist
- Demonstrates understanding and implementation of the 7 Skills of Discipline aligned with the Conscious Discipline approach
- Provides classroom and behavior management support as guided by the classroom speech language pathologist
- Supports instruction through the arts, PE, library and nature education
- Collaborates with professionals from various disciplines to promote a child’s development in all areas
- Assists with morning/afternoon carpool and supports a student’s transition to and from school.
- Participates in team meetings as needed, including round tables, placement meetings and collaborative committee meetings
- May lead the class when the speech language pathologist/educator is absent or serve as a substitute for instructional staff members as needed
- Provides coverage for Elementary arts and sciences classes, extended day, early morning drop off, and/or other duties as needed and assigned
Professional - Stays current on all school communications, including reading and responding to emails and reviewing their Outlook calendar
- Maintains communication with staff and administration
- Utilizes the computer for various resources that support instruction and home to school connections
- Maintains daily attendance, conference minutes, filing, and other reporting documentation
- Fulfills professional development requirements as outlined by the school, including daycare licensing regulations
- Fosters a positive work culture
Competencies & Attributes: - An empathetic person who is able to problem solve situations and demonstrate critical thinking
- An individual who possesses an appreciation for the history and traditions of The Parish School as well as the ability to articulate the school’s values and aspirations to current stakeholders and external audiences
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, active classroom setting, managing and observing students across different areas
- Willingness to learn about special student populations, elementary education, and best practices for teaching students with learning differences
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- An individual who consistently demonstrates sound judgement in decision making, dependability and an ability to maintain confidentiality
- A strong passion for lifelong learning and a desire to continue professional development
- A nurturing and friendly personality and effective interpersonal skills
- A detail-oriented individual with the ability to organize and collaborate with others
- A proactive self-starter who thinks independently and displays flexibility and creativity
- Ability to support the instructional team in maintaining a challenging, well-managed, safe, and nurturing classroom environment that promotes the development of the whole child
- Ensures a safe and secure environment for all staff and students by proactively monitoring facilities, enforcing safety protocols, and responding promptly to potential hazards or incidents, including during all drills.
Qualifications
High school diploma or general education degree (GED); or two years related experience Computer Skills: Proficient in MS Office applications, familiarity with PCs and tablets, and a willingness to learn applications and educational software Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. - The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate
- The physical environment requires the employee to work both inside and outside in heat/cold, wet/humid, and a variety of other climate conditions
- Working in close proximity to others
Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee is required to: - Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds
- Use hands to finger, handle, feel or type
- Talk and hear, both in person and by telephone or virtual conference
- Stand, walk, sit, reach, climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, color vision and ability to adjust focus
About The Parish School
Since 1983, The Parish School has educated children ages 2–12 who have communication delays and learning differences, empowering them with the tools to succeed. This nationally recognized, special needs school in Houston, Texas provides an education for the entire family within the environment of a nurturing and safe 17-acre campus with on-site pediatric therapy clinic, The Carruth Center. Our personalized academic approach—with a focus on communication skills, social learning, independence, nature and the arts—allows children to thrive and grow. The Parish School is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, gender or religious affiliation.
|