The Murphy School is a K-8 school serving 928 students who have a diverse set of learning and emotional needs. Our school has a growing population of ELs and we offer SEI programs in grade K-3. We also have a growing inclusion strand as well as a strand of students with Multiple Disabilities and a strand of students with Emotional Impairments where we strive to create a trauma sensitive environment. Our school is looking for a paraprofessional to support a classroom of students with multiple disabilities. The paraprofessional will work in a classroom of up to 8 students with severe cognitive and developmental needs and will be expected to collaborate with not only the teacher but another classroom paraprofessional, any one to one paraprofessional, and nursing staff to ensure each child in the classroom gets the support they need. The paraprofessional should understand that this position can be labor intensive and they will possibly be responsible for toileting, feeding, and lifting students. They will also supervise students during lunch, transitions, and in all specials including swimming (will need to swim.) The paraprofessional will be expected to work collaboratively to solve problems with their peers and will be expected to follow all school protocols involving communication to families. A strand specialist will supervise and support the paraprofessional alongside the school administration. We encourage paraprofessionals to engage in professional learning provided by BPS or an outside source that will support their understanding of the needs of the students they serve. We would discourage paraprofessionals from applying for this position if they are unfamiliar with or may have apprehension about supporting the complex needs of the students that they will be responsible for. Because this position is posted after July 1, no BPS paraprofessionals in positions for 2023-2024 may apply for this position unless they would be making a non-lateral transfer.

Job Title: Paraprofessional

Reports to: Principal/Headmaster

General Description and Goals:
Paraprofessionals will assist teachers in providing an innovative, high quality education program designed to meet the needs of the children in the Boston Public Schools. Paraprofessionals will work with school staff to create an educational environment in which quality and continuity are key factors in educating the students of the Boston Public Schools.


Responsibilities:

1. Supports direct instruction to children individually, in small groups, and in classroom settings
2. Provides assistance with classroom activities.
3. Prepares instructional materials.
4. Assists in classroom set up and clean up.
5. Manages individual and classroom behavior, using prescribed approaches.
6. Supervises students on field trip activities.
7. Performs other related duties as requested by Headmaster/Principal.

Qualifications

Required:

1. High School Diploma or GED.
2. Forty-eight (48) Credit Hours of College Coursework or an Associate's Degree, or a passing score on one of the two following Formalized Standardized Assessments: ParaPro Assessment ( http://www.ets.org/parapro/ ) or WorkKeys Certificate of Proficiency for Teacher Assistants ( http://www.act.org/workkeys/profcert/index.html ).
3. Minimum of two years experience working with young children.
4. Current authorization to work in the United States - Candidates must have such authorization by their first day of employment

Preferred:

1. Associate's or Bachelor's Degree.
2. Certification as a teacher or license as a social worker.
3. BPS values linguistic diversity and believes that candidates who speak another language bring added value to the classroom, school, and district culture and diversity. BPS is particularly interested in candidates who are fluent in one of BPS' official languages:Spanish, Creole (Cape Verdean), Creole (Haitian), Chinese, Vietnamese, Portuguese, & Somali.

Terms:
BTU, Paraprofessional hourly rate

Please refer to the Salary Information section on the Career Site for more information on compensation. Salaries are listed by Union and Grade/Step.

The start and end times of BPS schools vary, as do the lengths of the school day. Some BPS schools have a longer school day through the "Schedule A" Expanded Learning Time (ELT) agreement. To learn more about ELT at BPS and whether or not this school is a "Schedule A" ELT school, check here: https://www.bostonpublicschools.org/Page/6571. To see the bell schedule for every BPS school, go to: https://www.bostonpublicschools.org/Page/7017. Please note, these times may be subject to change prior to the start of the SY20-21 school year.

THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS NONDISCRIMINATION POLICIES, DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE IN ITS PROGRAMS, FACILITIES, OR EMPLOYMENT OR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ON THE BASIS OF RACE, COLOR, AGE, CRIMINAL RECORD (INQUIRIES ONLY), DISABILITY, HOMELESSNESS, SEX/GENDER, GENDER IDENTITY, RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, ANCESTRY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENETICS OR MILITARY STATUS, AND DOES NOT TOLERATE ANY FORM OF RETALIATION, OR BIAS-BASED INTIMIDATION, THREAT OR HARASSMENT THAT DEMEANS INDIVIDUALS' DIGNITY OR INTERFERES WITH THEIR ABILITY TO LEARN OR WORK.