Early Education Para - Specialist

Operation Breakthrough’s mission is to help children living in poverty develop to their fullest potential by providing them a safe, loving and educational environment.   We also strive to support and empower the children’s families through education, advocacy, emergency aid and referral services.

QUALIFICATIONS

The PARA position requires a minimum of two years’ experience in an early education environment with ECE course work or CDA certification preferred - special education focus also preferred.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Experienced, compassionate and dedicated Early Childhood Education (ECE) Para who will support the Teacher Specialist in social-emotional development of young children. This position will support the teachers and children who are currently enrolled and need additional support. This classroom setting will focus on children building the missing skills to be successful in pre-k, for a duration of time determined by each child’s specific areas of growth.  

Use of skills and experience to foster a nurturing, trauma-informed learning environment that encourages social, emotional, and intellectual growth for all students who enter the “Specialized Pre-K” classroom for more individualized support.

Support the teacher in lesson planning, data collection and implementing strategies that meet the individual needs of young children with a variety of unique social-emotional and developmental needs that challenge children’s ability to be successful in a traditional preschool classroom setting. 

Teach children with a variety of developmental needs including but not limited to: developmental delays, oftentimes due to developmental trauma, resulting in difficulty in self-regulation, social interactions with peers and adults, limited attention and persistence, behavioral issues and ultimately academic issues that impact a child’s participation in the traditional Operation Breakthrough preschool classroom routines.

COORDINATION

The “Specialized Pre-K” classroom program will integrate a multidisciplinary approach, combining educational goals and strategies with therapeutic interventions to support each child’s development comprehensively including: 

• Smaller Class Size: The smaller class size will provide more individualized attention and support. Teachers and therapists are trained to implement Conscious Discipline and tailor to each child’s developmental age, learning style, brain state and needs.
• Individualized Support: Children who are recommended for the “Specialized Pre-K Classroom” have Behavior Support Plans, formal developmental screenings and/or evaluations that identify each child’s strengths, challenges, and specific needs prior to placement in the Specialized Pre-K classroom.   
• Specialists: Children in the “Specialized Pre-K” receive Tier 3 services across multiple disciplines as part of the holistic approach to service delivery at Operation Breakthrough. This includes speech therapy, occupational therapy, social-emotional support and/or play therapy. These interventions target areas such as communication skills, sensory processing, self-regulation, social-emotional development and trauma treatment. 
• Treatment Team: The treatment team working with children in the Specialized Pre-K classroom consists of the ECE- Teacher Specialist, parents, family advocates, education leadership, specialty therapists and mental health consultants to ensure coordinated care, consistent home and classroom strategies and support for children with complex needs.

 WORKING CONDITIONS

Indoor classroom and outdoor recess (weather permitting).

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of an employee.

 Operation Breakthrough is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Employment with Operation Breakthrough is “At Will”.