Special Education Paraeducators/Tutors - New Higher Rate for 2025/2026 School Year!

Danbury Public Schools is a diverse community located in the western part of Connecticut, serving more than 12,500 students across the City of Danbury. We are committed to cultivating equity and excellence for all students, closing opportunity gaps, and preparing students for post-secondary success. The mission of Danbury Public Schools, in partnership with families and the community, is to provide transformational learning experiences designed to nurture thoughtful and prepared graduates. We have set ambitious and rigorous goals to ensure students graduate prepared to transform the world.

Our district includes 13 elementary schools (including an interdistrict magnet school for International Studies), three middle schools (including a STEM and World Studies magnet), and the Danbury Career Academies, which provide innovative pathways supported by faculty with both academic and real-world experience. DPS recruits and supports educators with passion who are aligned with our vision to advance all learners to their highest potential.

Purpose Statement

Across our schools, we currently serve over 1,700 students with special needs that require particular time and attention from our educational support teams. As our student population continues to grow, we look for candidates who are eager and excited to work with all of our students across classrooms. Successful candidates should be enthusiastic, caring, and committed to the success of our students. Special Education Tutors are specifically hired as part of an individual student’s support team, created by the Special Education and Related Services teams, to ensure the best educational outcomes for students with a variety of needs. Tutors are assigned to a small group of students—often 1 to 3 students—to support the classroom teacher’s work. Tutors must follow specific instructions from teachers, maintain confidentiality, and exercise discretion when interacting with students, colleagues, and families.

Major Responsibilities

• Work with individual students or small groups of students under the supervision of a certified teacher to reinforce learning of materials or skills initially introduced by the teacher.
• Collect data on student progress.
• Evidence of the ability to work cooperatively with staff.
• Assist the teacher in the handling, operation and care of equipment, used in the classroom, including media, and instructional materials.
• Assist with the supervision of students during emergency drills, assemblies, play periods, field trips and in other non-classroom activities.
• Check notebooks, correct papers and supervise testing and make-up work, as assigned by the teacher.
• Assist the teacher with non-instructional duties, such as snack, toilet and clothing routines.
• Serve as the chief source of information and help to any substitute teacher assigned in the absence of the regular teacher.
• Assist the teacher in drill work, large group reading or storytelling.
• Alert the regular teacher regarding any problem or special information related to an individual student.
• Help students master equipment or instructional materials assigned by teacher.
• Guide independent study, enrichment work and remedial work set and assigned by the teacher.
• Distribute and collect workbooks, papers, and other materials for instruction.
• Assist in providing a well-organized, smoothly functioning school environment.
• Help students complete research and learning projects.
• Talks to and attempts to calm student(s) who are distressed.
• Attend inclusion classes with special education students and assist in implementing alternative instructional strategies.
• Assist with implementation of inclusion plans for students.
• Assist in maintaining an environment conducive to learning as requested by the teacher.
• Assist with discipline and other classroom duties as requested by the teacher.
• Assist the teacher in supervising students on arrival to or departure from school and all transitional times.
• Assist in monitoring students during eating periods.
• Assist with playground supervision, as needed.
• Assist in hall and stairway supervision.
• Escort students to other rooms/locations as required.
• Willingness to serve as a bus monitor.
• Maintain the same high level of ethical behavior and sensitivity of information about students as is expected of a certified teacher or assistant teacher.
• Attend staff development workshops to enhance instructional delivery to children.
• Participate in in-service training programs, as assigned.
• May work with special needs student(s) to assist with daily living needs, such as feeding and bathroom accommodations.
• Assist in other related duties that may be assigned by the teacher.
• Only in specifically identified assignments, may be asked to assist in one or more of the following services:
• Therapeutic feeding
• Diaper changing
• Toileting
• Self-help skills
• Muscle tone exercises
• Positioning
• Colostomy care
• Embarkation/debarkation of buses including lifting of students when necessary.
• Perform related duties as appropriate for the position as assigned by the appropriate administrator/supervisor.

Skills, Abilities & Qualifications:

• High School Diploma required.
• Must meet NCLB Para compliance requirements, as applicable.
• Must possess or be willing to acquire the necessary skills to support students with autism, ABA, behavioral needs, and activities of daily living, such as feeding.
• Experience and/or training in working with children.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions effectively.
• Exhibits good judgment, patience, tact, and courtesy.
• Physical condition suitable for the demands of the position.
  
  

Salary:

• Full-time position, 32.5 hours per week
• Hourly Rate: $20.00 or $23.00, depending on Tier assignment.
• Health and Welfare Benefits plan available to all full-time employees, with a generous Health Care Reimbursement Account to defray deductible costs
• Dental plans available
  
  

Application Procedure:

Apply online at: www.danbury.k12.ct.us

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