Paraprofessional - Transition Program

SUMMARY:

As a Paraprofessional, you are more than an assistant, you are a mentor, an advocate, and a vital bridge between a student’s potential and their success. You will be working in one of Marquette-Alger RESA’s Specialized Classrooms (Superior Shores, Teaching Family Homes, or Great Lakes Recovery Centers) OR in one of the Transition Classrooms (programming for adults with disabilities ages 18-26). You will provide the hands-on support-both academic and emotional-that students with disabilities, behavioral challenges and/or mental health needs required to achieve their goals as well as personal care services (toileting, medication administration, feeding, etc.).. You will work in lockstep with teachers and other classroom staff to create a safe, structured, and joyful learning environment tailored to the needs of each student.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Deliver 1:1 and small-group instruction to reinforce concepts and help students master academic goals.
• Use modeling, shaping, and prompting techniques to help students gain the confidence to do things on their own.
• Assist students and teachers with general classroom technology and specialized assistive devices.
• Support students in various settings (school and community).
• Actively monitor and execute Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and Behavioral Intervention Plans (BIPs) with precision and empathy.
• Support students through emotional and behavioral challenges by teaching coping skills and modeling appropriate social interventions.
• Maintain Handle with Care certification (provided) to safely manage and de-escalate crisis situations, prioritizing student, and staff safety at all times.
• Positive Reinforcement: Help maintain a classroom culture that is orderly, healthy, and rooted in positive behavioral support.
• Work closely with teachers, therapists (Physical, Occupational, Speech), and administrators to provide a seamless “continuum of service.”
• Communicate student progress and needs regularly with the teaching team and as directed, with parents and guardians.
• Maintain strict confidentiality regarding all student and workplace matters, holding the dignity of all of our families.
• Help the teacher plan and prepare materials for daily activities to keep the classroom running smoothly.
• Assist in maintaining accurate student records and data collection for progress monitoring.
• Supervise students across all environments to ensure a safe learning space; follow all specific safety and emergency procedures.
• Act as a Job Coach, as needed, at a variety of community businesses and organizations: to independently support students at Work-Based Learning experiences.
• Assist, as needed, with moving/lifting books/materials or physically intervening during a behavioral crisis to ensure safety.
• Support students with learning to utilize public transportation options, such as the Marq-Tran Bus; this includes waiting for the bus with students in all weather conditions.
• Assist students with using a wheelchair lift, as needed. Assist students with personal care needs, including toileting, medication administration, feeding, etc. as needed.
• A genuine desire and readiness to support adolescents and adults with significant behavioral and mental health challenges as well as significant physical and cognitive disabilities.
• High-level teamwork skills, including the ability to provide and receive constructive feedback from the Lead Teacher regarding student support strategies.
• Ability to stay calm during chaotic or emotionally charged situations.
• Proficient in everyday technology, including Google Suite (Docs, Sheets), Zoom, and basic classroom software.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• High School Diploma or GED Equivalent
• Strong written and verbal skills, including ability to explain a student’s progress clearly to a teacher and document behavioral data accurately.
• Proficient in everyday technology, including Google Suite (Docs, Sheets), Zoom, and basic classroom software.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• An Associate Degree or 60+ credit hours in Education, Psychology, Social Work, or related field (meeting in Michigan Title I Paraprofessional requirements).
• Valid CPR/First Aid certification.
• Experience working with individuals with special needs

SPECIAL CONDITIONS:

• Employment is contingent upon a successful LiveScan Fingerprint-based Criminal Background Check.
• You must maintain the absolute confidentiality of student records and Marquette-Alger RESA/LEA affairs. This includes adherence to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
• You must obtain a valid Michigan Chauffeur’s License. This is a requirement for transporting students in school-affiliated vehicles for community-based instruction and vocational transition.
• Must complete Handle With Care Training .
• May require limited travel for training and/or field trips

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Must be able to move frequently throughout the classroom and school grounds to monitor students and respond to safety needs.
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position (sitting or standing) for extended periods during instruction.
• Must be able to move, lift, or position objects (and occasionally students) weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Must be able to operate a computer, educational technology, and assistive devices.
• Must possess sufficient visual acuity to monitor student behavior and auditory ability to respond to verbal cues or safety alarms in a noisy environment.
• Frequently required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl to interact with students at their level or assist with physical needs.
• Ability to safely assist students with varying levels of mobility during boarding and exiting a transit van.
• Work environment is typically a school setting where noise levels range from moderate to loud.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: Full-time position during the academic year. Must have regular and reliable job attendance, performance, and the physical ability to do the job.

REPORTS TO: Program Administrator - Specialized Classrooms (for positions at Superior Shores, Teaching Family Homes, Great Lakes Recovery) or Special Education Supervisor (for positions at Transition Classrooms)

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS: According to Marquette-Alger RESA AFSCME Collective Bargaining Agreement

Marquette-Alger RESA does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, sex (including gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, childbirth, or a related condition), age, height, weight, familial status, marital status, military service, veteran status, genetic information, disability, or any other legally protected basis, and prohibits unlawful discrimination, including harassment and retaliation, in any education program or activity that it operates, including in admission and employment. Marquette-Alger RESA’s Non-discrimination, Anti-Harassment, and Non-Retaliation Policy, as well as the grievance procedure for reporting concerns or complaints, are available at maresa.org/about-us/notice-of-nondiscrimination/ .