Elementary Special Education ASD Self-Contained Classroom Paraprofessional

This vacancy is for the 2026-2027 School Year

Special Education ASD Self-Contained Classroom Paraprofessional
Prairie Ridge Elementary

KSP, Paraprofessional Hourly Rate $24.37
(Pay Rate for 2025 - 2026 School Year)
10 Month, Full-Time

Scope of Responsibilities

Assists special education teachers with students in self-contained special education classrooms. A self-contained classroom paraprofessional is defined as a staff member supporting students with disabilities who require intensive, specialized programming.

Performance Responsibilities

• Provide instructional, behavioral, personal care (to include assistance with toileting skills and/or changing diapers/pull-ups when needed), and/or medical support as needed to eligible students with special needs throughout the school environment.
• Assist students individually and in groups with academic assignments.
• Ability to read, write, and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Perform routine classroom tasks, such as correcting and grading assignments, maintain records, and a clean physical environment, as assigned by the classroom teacher.
• Assist in clerical activities involved in documenting the needs and achievements of students as needed.
• Assist with the assessment of student progress in achieving goals and objectives.
• Assist the classroom teacher in creating and maintaining a positive classroom culture.
• Escort students in transition (i.e., entering and exiting the building, in the hallways between classes, into and out of breakfast/lunch) as necessary.
• Communicate with students in a calm and firm manner.
• Assist in problem-solving with
• appropriate strategies, consequences, and incentives that support and reinforce student progress.
• Provide personal care to students, including assisting with lifting, feeding, toileting, and body positioning as needed.
• Apply effective principles and procedures of crisis intervention to students with aggressive behaviors and other social-emotional or behavioral difficulties.
• Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to staff, parents, students, and administrators.
• Must be able to ride the bus with students as needed.
• Must be able to administer medication with training as needed as required when offsite per the KSP contract.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Ability to work with identified students with intensive socio-emotional/behavioral, academic, communication, and functional needs in self-contained classrooms.
• Ability to maintain composure under stressful conditions.
• Ability to develop effective working relationships with students, staff, and the school community.
• Successful training in de-escalation through Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (CPI), socio-emotional learning, and trauma-informed care.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and Board of Education policies.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here 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 essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to reach with hands and arms. The employee has a full range of motion that allows them to quickly manage a situation effectively, requiring the employee to stand, walk, sit, change direction quickly, talk, or hear. The employee is occasionally required to run, have fine and gross motor skills to provide hand-over-hand support; handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and peripheral vision. The employee needs to be able to tell where a sound is coming from and hear in a noisy environment. The employee needs to be able to assist in the physical intervention of students as needed in alignment with CPI training.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud. The employee must work with the public and other staff, continuously meeting multiple demands from several people.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must have an Associate’s Degree or Undergraduate experience at a 4-year university.
• Must speak clearly and express ideas clearly.
• Must handle and restrain students if necessary.
• Good personal appearance and grooming.
• Must handle the physical requirements of the job as described above.
• Willingness to work with various students in the building.
• Must demonstrate the ability to maintain the necessary energy and composure to work successfully with students.
• Ability to develop a rapport with students with special needs.
• Must be able to work seven (7) hours per day and ride the bus with students during morning and afternoon routes when necessary.
• Evidence of a desirable work record (i.e., low absenteeism, good attitude, good job performance, flexibility).

Desired Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Experience in a self-contained setting and successful work with students with intensive needs.
• Certification in de-escalation through Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (CPI), socio-emotional learning, and/or trauma-informed care.

Visit our website www.kpsjobs.com

Kalamazoo Public Schools is an Equal Opportunity Employer.