Melrose Area Public Schools

Job Description

Job Title: Paraprofessional Exempt Status: Non-Exempt

Department: Instruction Reports To: Principal

Revision Date: June 1, 2021

Job Summary:

Under the supervision of the Administrator and the guidance of the Classroom Teacher, this classification represents a grouping

of varied positions providing instructional support, personal care and assistance to children having varied needs. Depending

upon student needs, responsibilities and duties may involve assisting and guiding students in the reinforcement of academic

classroom subjects, daily living skills, implementing behavioral plans and/or monitoring and enforcing appropriate behavior in

accordance with lesson plans and student IEP’s. Positions assigned to this classification also provide assistance and support in

terms of adapting regular classroom curriculum to the needs of each student they assist by clearly repeating directions at a level

the student understands, encouraging cooperation in classroom activities, communicating expectations, and accommodations to

tests or tasks, and assisting students with mobility, adaptive, or other special needs.

Essential duties outlined below are intended as “representative” examples of the level, nature and decision making expected of

positions assigned to this classification. The duties below are not intended to be a comprehensive listing of all duties and tasks

performed by the employees assigned to this classification. A classification description, unlike job description or position

description, is designed to capture the general expectations, complexity level, and nature of work of any position that may be

allocated to this classification.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Direct Supervision: None

Indirect Supervision: None

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

● Reinforces and provides academic and classroom support in the learning of materials or skills introduced and provided

by licensed/certified staff members in both individual (1:1) and small group settings. Reinforces skills based upon

student’s IEP, needs, interests and abilities under the guidance of licensed personnel. Works through assignments as

prescribed.

(a) Provides supplemental guided practice and other instructionally relevant activities to students as directed by the

licensed staff.

(b) Answers questions about tasks.

(c) Alerts staff to any concerns or special information concerning students.

(d) Assists with group education activities that include students on IEP’s.

(e) Assists staff with classroom supervision.

(f) Reinforces classroom academics to the individual needs and levels of student and IEP. Assists with teacher plans

for group times, activities and/or meetings as appropriate.

(g) Provides assistant with curriculum or assignment under the direction of licensed staff.

(h) Assists students through target behaviors.

(i) Assists and reinforces social skills and assists students with navigating social settings, classroom and public

settings.

(j) Engages and assists students with sensory needs under guidance of licensed staff.

(k) Implements restrictive procedures (if trained/certified) to assure student and staff safety in accordance with

training and behavioral needs.

● Provides students with special needs assistance in the performance of daily living skills (e.g. grooming, brushing teeth,

toileting, assistance with clothing, eating, combing hair, nail grooming, etc.) Provides assistance to student(s) with

mobility needs.

(a) Follows safety rules, procedures and regulations as trained, regarding the proper ways to assist all students.

● Assists, observes, monitors and addresses student behavioral management issues. Assists staff in implementing IEP

behavioral plans, reinforcing positive behaviors, redirecting student attention, assisting with de-escalating outbursts,

follows and implements any behavioral plans or health care plans under the direction of the teacher or licensed school

nurse. Models appropriate social skills and provides positive reinforcement for appropriate behavior.

● Assists in collecting and monitoring student progress and required data.

● Collaborates and works with instructional staff to discuss student needs and student progress. Provides input and

assists staff in identifying student progress or concerns.

● Depending upon district needs and Administrator assignment, may perform various general student supervisory

functions such as:

(a) Providing crossing guard assistance to students crossing major roads to get to school.

(b) Assists students with their food trays, opening their packages, and behaviors.

(c) Performs lunchroom supervisory duties.

(d) Performs playground supervision. Monitors behaviors and reports disciplinary actions and/or accidents.

● Provides special transportation for students to and from school and/or other facilities, through operation of a school van

in a safe manner in varying road and weather conditions.

● Performs other duties of a comparable level or type, as required.

Minimum Qualifications:

Completion of a High School Diploma. MN driver’s license (if performing driving duties). Upon hire may receive training in

Restrictive Procedures based on administration direction. May be required to obtain other certifications after hire depending

upon district needs and specific job assignments.

Essential Knowledge And Specialized Subject Knowledge Required To Perform The Essential Functions Of The Job:

● Fundamentals of general learning concepts, theories and fundamentals.

● Knowledge of child development fundamentals and concepts.

● Knowledge of problem solving and conflict resolution techniques.

● Fundamental knowledge of common student disabilities.

● Knowledge of behavioral management strategies, crisis intervention and methods.

● Knowledge of district policies, guidelines, rules or philosophy pertaining to appropriate student behavior and

consequences.

● Traffic laws and rules of the road (applies only to van certified para’s).

● Policy governing student behavior on the van (applies only to van certified para’s).

● Knowledge of van operations (applies only to van certified para’s).

Essential Skills Necessary To Perform The Work:

● Skilled in supervising student behavior and applying consequences for appropriate and inappropriate behaviors.

● Providing accommodations to lesson plans, as directed by licensed staff, for individual needs of students to facilitate

their learning and to assist them in meeting any individual learning plans and objectives.

● Applying rules, instructions and stated policies, procedures and IEP plans.

● Developing a rapport with children and explaining concepts in a simple and understandable manner.

● Using basic office equipment.

● Writing routine correspondence, routine reports, memos, documents, charts of other materials.

● Effectively presenting information in 1:1 and/or small group situations to students and/or staff concerning program

routines, policies, rules, learning principles, concepts and other lesson plans.

● Reinforcing and providing instruction (under the direction of licensed staff) on daily living skills, social skills and the

modeling of appropriate behavior.

● Interacting with and serving as a role model concerning learning and behaviors.

● Dealing appropriately with student conflict and behavioral issues consistently and in accordance with district guidelines

and principles.

● Learning restrictive procedures and holds and implementing these procedures, as certified.

● Providing input concerning individual student progress, issues or concerns.

● Safely operating a school van (applies only to van certified para’s).

● Driving according to schedule (applies only to van certified para’s).

● Cleaning and performing basic maintenance and pre-inspections on school vans (applies only to van certified para’s).

Work Environment:

Duties are generally performed in a typical classroom/school setting where there are some environmental hazards and risks.

Employee may be exposed to disagreeable conditions involving human/student contact, verbal outbursts, physical aggression,

exposure to body fluids and the like.

Physical Job Requirements:

Employee is continuously required to talk and hear; reach with arms and hands and use hands to finger, handle or feel;

frequently stand, walk, and/or stoop, kneel, crouch and/or crawl; occasionally sit, cling or balance. Exerting up to 50 pounds of

force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move

objects, including the human body.

This Position Description reflects an accurate and complete description of the duties and responsibilities assigned to the

position.

____________________________________________ __________________________

Superintendent’s Signature Date

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of

specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment of the

position. The job description does not constitute an employee agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to

change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

The District is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the District will provide

reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to

discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

If interested, please go to isd740.org to apply.

Position open until filled.

Summer Van Drivers