2026-2027 Paraprofessional/Instructional Assistant - District Wide

Paraprofessional (Special Education)

Ideal Start Date: August 2026

About West Chester Area School District:

West Chester Area School District serves more than 12,000 students across 17 schools:  11 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools.  The district covers a 75-square-mile area that includes West Chester Borough and surrounding townships in Chester and Delaware Counties.  The district boasts strong academic outcomes, including a 95% graduation rate, placing it in the top 10–20 percent of Pennsylvania public school districts.  To learn more about strategic initiatives WCASD is leading, please visit Our Initiatives - West Chester Area School District.

Summary:

The Special Education Instructional Paraprofessional assists the classroom teacher by (1) performing essential classroom tasks, (2) helping to supervise and accompany the assigned student during activities within and outside the classroom, (3) aiding the teacher by working with the student in small groups or on an individual basis in various instructional and learning activities and (4) providing information regarding the student’s academic and behavioral performance to the teacher, parents, and IEP team.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

This list is intended to be illustrative rather than complete and serves to show major duties and responsibilities and does not express or imply that these are the only duties to be performed by the incumbent in this position. The employee will be required to be consistently at work and perform any other position-related duties requested by the supervisor.

• Assists the teacher in maintaining student control, orderly behavior in the classroom, helps motivate the assigned student(s); cues appropriate behaviors, and refocuses the student(s) when necessary.
• Assists the assigned student(s) with instructional activities planned and developed by the teacher.
• Assists the assigned student(s) with review of teacher assignments; repeats/simplifies teacher presented instructions; helps student(s) in seatwork activities; redirection and prompting to task, and reviews material originally presented to students by the teacher.
• Assists the teacher in housekeeping tasks in the classroom.
• Tends to the personal needs of the assigned student(s), including but not limited to toileting and other hygiene needs, physical needs such as wheelchair/walker transfers, feeding schedules, monitoring medical conditions and behavior management.
• Ensures that certain specially designed instructions of the assigned student(s)’ Individual Education Plan (IEP) are implemented. These may include but are not limited to; student hygiene, referrals to the School Nurse, behavior support plans, home-school communication, supervision during transition time, assignment book/book-bag checks.
• Collects data as assigned by the teacher or administrator, including but not limited to behavior charts, daily logs, progress monitoring, program charting, medical ACCESS billing, or daily summary notes.
• Provides comprehensive paraprofessional support within an 18–21 transition program, including assisting with student assessment, instruction, and job readiness activities; coordinating schedules and transportation; collaborating with staff and job coaches; monitoring and maintaining program materials, equipment, and data systems; and supporting individualized transition planning based on student needs, If dictated by the assigned program or setting.
• Communicates with the student(s)’ family, classroom teacher(s), and administration observing confidentiality of student related issues, at the direction of the classroom teacher.
• Accompanies the assigned student(s) upon arrival, at lunch, dismissal, on field trips and to activities outside of the classroom as indicated in the assigned student’s IEP or when necessary.
• Assists related services therapists/teachers as needed throughout therapy sessions.
• Other duties as assigned by the classroom teacher or building administrator.

Minimum Qualifications:

To successfully perform this position, a person must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The qualification requirements listed below represent minimum levels of educational achievement, training, skill and/or ability necessary.

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Basic computer skills required
• Excellent communication skills required

Qualified candidate will be required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls, and to talk and hear; Sit and occasionally be required to stand, walk, stoop, kneel and crouch; Have specific vision abilities, to include close vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus;  Have the ability to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds; and possess effective communication, judgmental, planning and human relations skills, and will be required to work under periods of stress due to the level of the position responsibility.

Reporting Relationships:

• Works under the guidance and direction of the supervising teacher(s), the Principal/Assistant Principal and the Pupil Services Coordinator in the performance of assigned duties.
• Works cooperatively with other administrators, supervisors, staff, parents and students to perform job responsibilities as outlined

Terms of Employment:

• 10-month employee per bargaining agreement
• Salary (step/level placement) & Benefits are as described in the current Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Representation:

West Chester Area School District employees fall into the following groups:

• West Chester Area Education Association (Teachers, Instructional Coaches, and Long-Term Substitutes)
• West Chester Area Education Support Professionals Association (Paraprofessionals, Secretaries, Clerks, Technicians, and Specialists)
• West Chester Area School District Act 93 Administrators’ Compensation Plan
• West Chester Service Support Professionals (Facilities and Operations Staff Members)
• Non-Bargaining Members (Supervisory, Technical, and Confidential Employees)

This position is represented by West Chester Area Education Support Professionals Association (Paraprofessionals, Secretaries, Clerks, Technicians, and Specialists). 

Disclaimers and Affirmations

The West Chester Area School District provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, age, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, disability, pregnancy, marital status, gender identity, or genetic information. Please refer to Board Policy 104 for further information regarding the District's commitment to Nondiscrimination in Employment Practices.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.