KANSAS CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Job Description

Job Title:            Pre-K Execeptional Education Paraprofessional 

Job Title Code:     00196

Salary Grade:       Z03S-Z05S ($13.85 - $24.06)

Department:       Exceptional Education   

Reports To:        Building Administrator

FLSA Status:       Non-exempt

Date Prepared:   June 2014                Updated:November 2016

PURPOSE OF JOB:  To work with classroom teachers to effectively plan, coordinate and carry out instructional activities.  Work with teacher to instruct children in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth needed for persistence towards graduation by performing the following duties.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  include the following. Other duties may be assigned:

Curriculum

1. Support Teacher/instructor in implementation of student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP).
2. Understand the content areas of Head Start/Early Childhood Development, support and collaborate with co-workers to ensure an effective child/family service team
3. Promote and support children’s social, emotional, and physical development consistent with the philosophy of Head Start/Early Childhood development.
4. Support a language and print rich environment that promotes literacy through classroom reading and writing activities.
5. Work with instructor in team teaching, team planning and daily routines.
6. Provide small group and circle time instruction to assigned children
7. Implement the use of technology to enhance student achievement.
8. Instruct children in practice of daily living skills as appropriate.
9. Understand, support, and be able to assist in implementing and communicating the curriculum to children and their families.
10. Assist in process of on-going developmental evaluations and assessment of children’s progress.
11. Assist in preparing and setting up materials for children.

Environment

1. Remain with students for support during all times outside of the classroom as assigned.
2. Monitor the arrival and departure of the students.
3. Maintain a safe transition procedure when moving children from one area of the school to another.
4. Monitor and maintain a positive, safe, and healthy learning environment for children by immediately reporting any unsafe condition to the classroom instructor.
5. Provide short-term classroom coverage when instructor must leave the room but remains within the building.
6. Report all staffing and classroom concerns to designated supervisor in a timely manner.
7. Must provide personal care for student (i.e. diaper changing, toileting, feeding) as appropriate.
8. Lift and transfer students as needed.

Adult/Child Interactions

1. Interact with children, providing positive role models and guidance as dictated by CLASS (Classroom Assessment Scoring System). This observation tool focuses on the effectiveness of classroom interactions among teachers and children.
2. Establish and maintain respectful, responsive relationships with children utilizing the Conscious Discipline Approach.
3. Demonstrate meaningful interactions with children throughout the day.
4. Must provide personal care for student (i.e. diaper changing, toileting, feeding) as appropriate.
5. Lift and transfer students as needed.

Families

1. Develop and maintain supportive, professional relationships with children and their families to enhance parent education, communication, involvement and advocacy.
2. Assist in promoting family involvement and provide educational guidance to families through home visits and conferences. Support the classroom instructor in conducting home visits and conferences per family each year.

Professional Development

1. Collaborate with content area specialists related to education, health, safety, and occupancy standards to maintain compliance.
2. Attend orientation and in-service training sessions and implement information from training, and guidance from supervisors and consultants into practice to improve performance.
3. Obtain a minimum of 20 hours of training each year in the field of Early Childhood education or Child Development.
4. Update professional development plan each year.

Leadership/Management

1. Maintain professionalism and support teamwork within the teaching team, including the family advocate and supervisors.
2. Manage daily classroom activities in compliance with Head Start Performance Standards and MO State Licensing requirements.
3. Complete all required paper work assuring accuracy and timeliness.
4. Assist in providing functional guidance to staff, interns, substitutes, and volunteers assigned to the classroom.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:  None

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Preschool Child Development Associate Credential (CDA)

•  

• Individuals who wish to become an instructional paraprofessional must meet one of the following qualifications:

   

  • 60 college credit hours
  • Associate's degree or higher
  • Missouri ParaPro Assessment passing score (before September 23, 2013)
  • Missouri Paraprofessional Assessment passing score (September 23, 2013 and after)
  • Completed Missouri's 20-hour online substitute training program.

• Skills in working with children and their families

• Submit initial physical and TB screening results and renew as required
• Complete the teacher Disposition Assessment Instrument

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Associate Degree in Early Childhood
• Three (3) years successful experience working with Pre-K children and their parents
• Experience working in culturally diverse communities

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.  

This job requires that the employee be able to: sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, use hands, fingers, reach with hands and fingers, bend, stoop, get up and down off the floor, lift objects of at least 25 pounds and in case of emergency, a 40 pound child. Job requires the employee occasionally to stoop, kneel, crouch, and sit on the floor or crawl. Visual ability requires mono and color vision, close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

Length of work year: 7 hours per day; 5 days/week; 205 days schedule

Benefits:           Health and Dental Insurance are provided.

KCPS Defined Benefit Pension plan – mandatory 8% contribution is required from employee and matched by KCPS; Voluntary retirement savings plans are also available.