What are the responsibilities and job description for the Instructional Assistant/Paraprofessional - Mental Health Asst. 2026-2027 SY position at Northampton County Public Schools?
- Must have completed at least 60 semester hours of college credit or earned an associates or highe degree or successfully passed the ParaPro Assessment (Virginia qualifying score of 455).
- Must have strong interpersonal skills, leadership skills, observation and documentation skills.
- An interest or background in psychology, human services, or mental health services is beneficial, but not required.
- Must be able to work a school schedule, daytime during the summer, and some holidays.
- Must have a valid driver's license.
- Demonstrate ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Have good physical and emotional health and maturity.
- Demonstrate ability to supervise and instruct students.
- Graduation from high school.
- Ability to work under the supervision of a School Based Mental Health Counselor.
- Ability to work effectively with individual children and small groups.
- Ability to accept and adapt to the wide differences in student characteristics and abilities.
- Ability to operate standard office equipment, learn to operate video equipment, and learn to perform individual medical procedures when necessary.
- Good human relations and communications skills; patience and flexibility.
- Provide supportive interventions in a school setting.
- Conduct individual check-ins with students experiencing emotional or behavioral difficulties.
- Monitor student progress and regression and provide feedback to the SBMH Clinician.
- Facilitate individual and small group activities when SBMH Counselor is virtual.
- Document daily interventions, weekly parent contacts and other necessary documents.
- Implement evidence-based interventions and coping strategies as directed by the SBMH Clinician.
- Maintain accurate and detailed records of student interactions and interventions.
- Collaborate with the SBMH Clinician and communicate with school administration, teachers, and parents/guardians of clients.
- Maintain open communication with teachers, administrators and other school staff regarding student needs.
- Attend face-to-face supervision with SBMH Counselor.
- Attend monthly training.
- Models non discriminatory practices in all activities.
- Performs any other related duties as assigned by the teacher or appropriate administrator.
- Must have the ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time.
- Exhibit manual dexterity to dial a telephone and to enter data into a computer
- See and read a computer screen and printed material with or without vision aids.
- Hear and understand speech at normal classroom levels, outdoors and on the telephone.
- Speak in audible tones so that others may understand clearly in normal classrooms, outdoors, and on the telephone.
- Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
- Physical agility to lift up to 50 pounds and the ability to bend, stoop, sit on the floor, climb stairs, walk and reach overhead.
- Some teaching specialties (i.e., music, art, physical education, special education, etc.) may require hearing, vision, and physical coordination and/or exertion and effort more than those listed above.
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential tasks.
JobID: 402
Position Type:
Student Support Services/Instructional Assistant-Elementary
Student Support Services/Instructional Assistant-Elementary
Date Posted:
6/22/2026
6/22/2026
Location:
Divisionwide
Divisionwide
Date Available:
08/13/2026
08/13/2026
Position Title
Instructional Assistant/Paraprofessional Mental Health Asst. 2026-2027 School year grant funded position
Description
This grant funded position provides daily assistance to the Mental Health Clinician assigned to the elementary schools. Under the direction of the Mental Health Clinician will provide basic mental health services within a school setting, including assisting with individual and group counseling sessions, implementing behavior management strategies, and facilitate communication between students, families and school staff, while adhering to ethical guidelines and confidentiality standards. All important aspects of the work are subject to detailed and specific procedures which employees follow closely.
Reports To
Director of Student Services
Qualifications
Performance Responsibilities
Physical Requirements
Terms of Employment
This is a grant funded position.
FLSA Status-Non-Exempt
Salary to be established by the School Board in accordance with the Classified Salary Scale (Paraprofessional).
Evaluation
Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with Northampton County Public Schools supervision procedures.
Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were written out in this job description. Northampton County Public School reserves the right to update, revise or change