Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Paraprofessional

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Paraprofessional 
(Special Education)

Terms of Employment:  Full time position - 174 days (Elementary) or 176 days (Secondary) (depending on start date) 8 hours per day. Pay per Classified Salary Schedule - Category II ($18.84 - $28.72). This position qualifies for benefits. The District provides its employees with a comprehensive benefits program including medical, life, and dental insurance. The District provides three medical plans for which it pays the full premium for employees, and a fourth option is a buy-up plan for which the district pays the majority of the premium. In addition, the District pays the full employee premium for dental insurance and life insurance. The District contributes to PERA on each employee's behalf and offers additional retirement savings options as well as optional supplemental insurance.  Employees also receive paid time off. Worker’s compensation and unemployment insurance are provided in accordance with State law. This position qualifies for paid leave: 4 annual leave days and 7 sick leave days (depending on start date).

Position Purpose
Under the direct supervision of a certified staff member and the Principal, the CNA Paraprofessional assists the classroom teacher with classroom activities on a day-to-day basis by providing and supporting academic instruction, implementing skill carryover activities recommended by therapists, monitoring student health and safety and providing personal care. The CNA will also assist in the development and implementation of the Individual Education Plan (IEP) goals and Health Care Plans while working collaboratively with the Nurse and Special Education Team through observation and data collection.

Essential Job Functions

• Under the supervision of licensed staff, assist in the implementation of classroom activities and lessons, individual education plans and Individual Health Care Plans.
• Maintains a culturally diverse, purposeful, respectful, and stimulating classroom environment that is organized and positive in nature and geared towards student needs and interests.
• Follows schedule as assigned including reassignments to different program locations as needed.
• Prepares for, attends, and fully participates in staff meetings, and student meetings if requested to do so by the administration.
• Demonstrates ongoing professional growth and skills consistent with current research and practice in education through in-services, coursework, evaluations, and online courses.
• Drives program vans as needed for community activities.
• Accurately completes documentation related to student incidents/injuries, and physical intervention under the guidance of the teacher and/or administration.
• Complete all expected paperwork in a high-quality manner within mandated/required timelines per district policy, and state and federal laws.
• Shows respect and compassion for all members of the classroom and school environment including students, families, staff, and other community members while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
• Effectively utilizes any recommended adaptive equipment for individual students.
• Participates in all required Collaborative in-services as well as those recommended by supervisors.
• Communicate all significant occurrences to the appropriate supervisor in a respectful and timely manner.
• Shares in the overall everyday activities necessary for the operation of the program (inventorying, tracking as necessary, suggestions for program improvement, etc.) as requested by the classroom teacher and/or nurse.
• Maintains an open, honest, and respectful relationship with parents and others involved with the student’s success.
• Maintains professional boundaries with parents, students, and staff.
• Implements all relevant aspects of the educational day, which may include activities of: 
  • Daily living (ADL’s) such as toileting, feeding, transferring, self-care, and assistance with mobility including lifting and physical assists in the classroom and during transport.
• Expected to read and adhere to all Employee Handbook policies.
• Assists students in non-instructional areas, such as supervising the student lunch programs, bus duty, playground duty, corridor, study hall, and other related non-instructional areas.
• Assists students with special needs in all aspects of classroom instruction to maximize inclusion, learning, achievement of IEP objectives, etc.

Additional Duties
Assist guidance, pupil services staff or building administration, as needed.
Perform any other related duties as assigned.

Note:  The statements contained in this job description reflect general details, as necessary, to describe the principal functions of this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required, and the scope of responsibility. It should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties, as assigned, including work in other functional areas to cover absences or provide relief, to equalize peak work periods or otherwise to balance the workload.

Confidential Information

• Staff members shall not access, receive, transmit or retransmit material regarding
  students, parents/guardians or district employees that is protected by confidentiality
  laws.
• If material is not legally protected but is of a confidential or sensitive nature, great care
  shall be taken to ensure that only those with a “need to know” are allowed access to
  the material. 
• Staff members shall handle all employee, student, and district records in
  accordance with applicable district policies.
• Staff members who intentionally disclose student records, other confidential student information and/or district information may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

Equipment
Use standard office equipment, such as personal computers and copiers.
Adaptive equipment as needed

Travel Requirements
Travel between schools, or between schools and central offices, may be required for certain positions.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to carry out instructions furnished in written or oral form.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide, and perform arithmetic operations as needed to assist students.
• Ability to understand, apply and use personal computers and software applications (e.g.., gmail, google sheets, google docs, etc.).
• Ability to work with a diverse group of individuals.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of information regarding students, employees and others.
• Ability to establish a supportive and compassionate relationship with students with special needs.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with students, staff and others contacted in the course of work.
• Ability to report work orally or in writing to supervisor as required.
• Effective writing and verbal communication skills.
• Support the teacher in the classroom with behavior management.
• Assist with hygiene needs and daily care of students.
• Maintain a safe and productive work environment, care for tools and equipment.
• Maintain confidentiality of student and program information according to Federal/State requirements.

Physical and Mental Demands, Work Hazards

• Works in standard office and school building environments.
  Ability to work outdoors during outdoor student activities.
• Ability to lift and safely move 50 lbs. or more. To be physically capable of lifting, bending and providing physical support for students.
  Ability to move rapidly or run.
  Frequent standing, kneeling, crouching, walking and stooping.
  Vision for close, peripheral, color, depth perception, distance and adjusted focus. 
• Ability to obtain First Aid/CPR
• Ability to obtain CPI Training
• Ability to implement the BIP or other behavioral interventions as indicated in the student’s IEPs as trained by the transition teacher
  
   

Qualifications Profile

• Any combination of education and experience providing the required skill and knowledge for successful performance would be qualifying.  Typical qualifications would be equivalent to:
  • High School diploma or equivalent.
  • Successful completion of college-level coursework or passing of examination as required by the No Child Left Behind Act.
  • Hold a valid Colorado CNA License 
• Prior experience working with children with special needs is desirable.

FLSA Status:             Non-exempt

Salary : $19 - $29