Description

The Academy has an immediate opening for a Paraprofessional for grades K-2.

The Academy of Charter Schools Is…

The Academy of Charter Schools is a public PK-12 school of choice located in Westminster, Colorado. We pair a rigorous, content-rich curriculum with opportunities to explore strengths and passions to achieve the highest standards for all. Our mission is to help all students grow into college ready, exemplary citizens by combining academic mastery with personal empowerment to drive lifelong success. We serve our full community by intentionally developing a school culture that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Our approach to vertically aligning the full educational experience for our students from youngest to oldest centers around three notions – Prepare, Explore, and Empower – that keep us grounded in The Academy’s mission and vision as we set priorities and make decisions that impact instruction and school culture.

Academy Employees Are…

At The Academy, employees embody our mission, vision, and values every day. They guide and support staff to prepare students for academic mastery by delivering evidence-based curricula; they collaborate with students, staff, and families to design student-centered learning experiences that create opportunities to explore strengths and passions; and they support the implementation of social-emotional skills lessons that empower students to become leaders of their own learning. Academy employees work hard to provide an engaging, inclusive, and joyful learning environment. They embrace relationships and positive communication with a diverse community of students, staff, and families while helping maintain a culture of high expectations for all. Experience in school environments, strong people skills, and ability to work within a team is required.

What Makes a Good Academy Employee?

The Academy is looking for committed leaders who are prepared to perform at a high level in a demanding environment. Some of the characteristics that make for a successful employee at The Academy include:

• A people-first, relationship-focused orientation
• A growth mindset
• A belief that ALL children can achieve at high levels
• A passion for contributing to overall school success by working alongside and supporting others
• A creative, innovative, and caring attitude
• A spirit of openness, trust, and kindness
• A dedication to data-driven practices
• A highly motivated work ethic and willingness to tackle challenges
• Comfort with being flexible
• A sense of humor

At The Academy, we know that diversity makes us stronger and challenges us to think differently every day. The Academy provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran status or disability.
The online application should include a cover letter and resume. 

• Copy of two current letters of recommendation and current certifications are highly recommended but not required with initial application
• Must love working with both children and adults and be able to perform outdoor duties
• Experience working with school age children preferred
• Candidate must meet the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requirements the first year of employment. The requirements are an Associates college degree, OR, completion of 48 college semester hours, OR passing of a State CDE approved paraprofessional examination. 
• Pay is commensurate with education and experience
• Hourly rate starting at $15.00 per hour
• Work hours are 7:15 AM – 1:15 PM, ½ hour lunch
• Immediate need for current school year 
• Work student contact days plus 7 of the 9 professional development days
• Additional workdays at the beginning and end of the school year may be required based on school needs
• PERA Retirement Benefits
• Responsibility to verify experience rests with employee

Visit our website at www.theacademyk12.org. The Academy’s comprehensive benefits package includes a number of different plans for full-time employees. Refer to Employee Benefits Enrollment Guide for details at https://www.theacademyk12.org/about-us/working-for-us. Information on employee paid leave is also available at this same location.

SUMMARY: Assist students by helping individuals or small groups of students with achieving reading, writing, and basic math skills, implementing instruction, reinforcing learning skills, and reinforcing school-wide discipline procedures. Assist instructor with preparation of classroom materials, monitoring students, and evaluating and recording student achievement.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Assists students with classroom activities; implements teacher’s instruction plan; performs tutoring, both individually and with small groups to ensure mastering of subjects.
2. Assist teachers in preparing materials, administering tests, grading, attendance, etc.
3. Assists with paperwork and documentation as needed.
4. Monitors and supervises students during teacher breaks, lunch, recess, time-outs, etc.
5. Assists with special projects.
6. May administer first aid and/or assist students to clinic or nurse.
7. Perform other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION AND RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE:

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Experience in working with school age children preferred.
• Must meet the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Requirements, which are:

1. AA or 2-year college degree, OR
2. Completion of 48 college semester hours, OR
3. Passing of state CDE approved paraprofessional examination

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS or CERTIFICATIONS:

• Criminal background check required for hire.
• First Aid certification required within 30 days of entering position.
• Must successfully complete Safety Training Class within 30 days of entering position.

TECHNICAL SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES:

• Demonstrated skill in handling children
• Ability to diffuse and manage stressful situations
• Ability to maintain confidentiality in all aspects of the job
• Knowledgeable in Colorado School Law, Authorizer policies, The Academy mission, philosophies, policies, and administrative procedures
• Ability to communicate, interact, and work effectively and cooperatively with people from diverse ethnic and educational backgrounds
• Ability to recognize the importance of safety in the workplace, follow safety rules, practice safe work habits, utilize appropriate safety equipment, and report unsafe conditions to the appropriate administrator

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT OPERATING KNOWLEDGE:

• Operating knowledge of and experience with personal computers and peripherals
• Operating knowledge of and experience with Microsoft Office applications
• Operating knowledge of and experience with typical office equipment, such as telephones, copier, fax machine, e-mail, etc. preferred

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS & DIRECTION/GUIDANCE:

Reports to:

Para K – 6 Level Admin Assist OR

Para 6 – 12 Level Principal OR

After School Program Supervisor or Site Leader 

Direct reports and # of employees:

None 

BUDGET AND/OR RESOURCE RESPONSIBILITY:

• This job has no budgetary responsibilities

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The physical demands, work environment factors and mental functions described below 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.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES:

Stand - Over 2/3

Walk - Over 2/3

Sit - Under 1/3

Use hands to finger, handle or feed - 1/3 to 2/3

Reach with hands and arms - 1/3 to 2/3

Climb or balance – Under 1/3

Stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl – Under 1/3Talk – 1/3 to 2/3

Hear – 1/3 to 2/3

Taste - None 

Smell – Under 1/3

WEIGHT and FORCE DEMANDS:

Up to 10 pounds - 1/3 to 2/3

Up to 25 pounds - None

Up to 50 pounds – None 

Up to 100 pounds - None 

More than 100 pounds - None

MENTAL FUNCTIONS:Compare - 1/3 to 2/3

Analyze – Under 1/3

Communicate - Over 2/3

Copy - Under 1/3

Coordinate - Under 1/3Instruct - 1/3 to 2/3

Compute - Under 1/3

Synthesize - Under 1/3

Evaluate - Under 1/3

Interpersonal Skills - Over 2/3

Compile - Under 1/3

Negotiate - Under 1/3

WORK ENVIONMENT:

Wet or humid conditions (non-weather) - None

Work near moving mechanical parts - None

Work in high, precarious places - None

Fumes or airborne particles - None

Toxic or caustic chemicals - None

Outdoor weather conditions - 1/3 to 2/3

Extreme cold (non-weather) - None

Extreme heat (non-weather) - None

Risk of electrical shock - None

Work with explosives - None

Risk of radiation - None

Vibration - None

VISION DEMANDS:

No special vision requirements - Not Required 

Close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less) - Required

Distance vision (clear vision at 20 feet or more) - Required

Color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors) – Required

Peripheral vision - Required

Depth perception - Required

Ability to adjust focus - Required

NOISE LEVEL – Exposure Level Indicated by an ‘X’:

Very Quiet

Quiet

Moderate

Loud - X

Very Loud