Location
Burlington, VT, United States
Posted on
May 31, 2023
Profile
The
Paraeducator
position fo the Early Education program
is a unionized, non-exempt/hourly position that will report to Director of Early Education. In collaboration with professional staff, the para educator will facilitate the skills necessary for the development of language, social-emotional skills, and gross and fine motor skills within a variety of settings (1:1 , small group or classroom) to support the developmental growth of each child through a play based environment. Responsibilities include supporting their child with activities in the classroom, instructional work goals developed by the Special Education team, as well as personal hygiene. Experience in early childhood is preferred but not mandatory. Training is provided by the program.
The Essential Functions of this position include:
Support the developmental growth of each child:
1. Facilitate children's engagement in play activities by
enthusiastically engaging children in play
asking children open-ended questions about the child's activity
offering children suggestions / adding more complex materials and ideas
2. Facilitate Language Development by
describing to children their activity as well as the adult's activity as they are happening
expanding on the child's language
3. Use motivation/positive behavior management technique
Respond appropriately to children's acting out/negative behaviors by modeling, encouraging acceptable behavior, redirecting, setting clear limits
Support children through problem-solving when frustrated or having personal struggles
Effectively model to children ways of handling anger and frustration
Effectively use steps to solve and avoid behavior problems
Listen to each child's version of a disagreement
Use guidance, redirection, and understanding rather than punishment
Quickly assess if a child is a danger to themselves or others
Discuss and help children deal with anger and grief
Give children ideas on how to better handle situations
Reinforce positive behavior by guiding and redirecting children in a positive way and helping children make good choices.
Help children build self-esteem and positive feelings toward learning
4. Understand young children, their behaviors, and motivation:
Understand and apply principles of child development
Use age-appropriate rules and language
Consistently apply rules
Always consider what is best for individual children
Teach self-reliance
Is sensitive and develops an understanding of how a child's disability may impact his/her development
Accept there is more than one answer and recognizes children learn from self-directed problem solving and experimentation
Work Collaboratively with Teaching Team by:
Following IEP Objectives and Behavior Plans
Using methods, and materials prescribed by the teaching team
Actively participating in team planning by giving input and offering ideas
Assisting professional staff in supervising students across environments
Assisting professional staff in the maintenance and operation of classrooms by prepping materials and classrooms for daily activities
Assisting staff and students with appropriate materials and equipment
Participating in scheduled paraeducator in-service and training
Assisting professional staff with the collation, collating, and recording of data
Willing to learn about children and their needs to better handle situations and problems.
Performing other tasks and duties as appropriate and/or assigned
Maintain Professionalism:
Accept constructive feedback and suggestions from the teaching team and use the information to enhance/improve one's work with children
Maintain a positive attitude and working relationship with both students and colleagues.
Maintain a high level of regular attendance, with established days/hours of work, arriving on time, being ready to work, and following protocol when absent
Effectively handle stress and stressful situations at work
Seek and ask for help if needed
Be willing to continue to learn the principles of child development
Maintain a high level of confidentiality in accordance with Federal Law (FERPA)
Participate in scheduled para educator in-service days
Maintain a respectful demeanor with co-workers, parents, guardians, and students
Physical Demands:
Possess strength and stamina to be able to remain in a seated position for up to 90 minutes at a time throughout the work day
Possess strength and stamina to be able to remain standing for a period of up to 90 minutes at a time throughout the workday
Possess the strength and stamina to safely restrain a student
Possess the physical ability to transition quickly from and to a variety of positions such as sitting in a chair, sitting on the floor, kneeling, standing, bending, and twisting to meet the needs and ensure the safety of each child
Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds
Ability to reach, bend, walk, run, and climb stairs to quickly engage and ensure the safety of children
Possess the physical stamina to be outdoors for up to 60 minutes or more in a temperature range of 12 to 90 degrees while engaging children in a variety of play activities (i.e. show play, water play, sandbox...)
Frequent walking, lifting (both light and heavy), pushing, pulling, bending, twisting, reaching, grabbing, stooping, or other physical activities.
Assist students with diapering, toileting, and personal hygiene
Lifts and moves students as needed
Environmental Working Conditions:
The work environment is a regular office, classroom, outdoor, community preschool, or another school setting
Air-conditioned as well as un-air conditioned buildings
Occasional exposure to weather extremes
Ability to tolerate extremes in noise levels
Ability to tolerate stressful situations and maintain proper decorum
Ability to tolerate bodily secretions
The required education and experience for this position include:
Education
Minimum Required: At least two years post-secondary education or successful completion of the Praxis exam. Child Development Associate (CDA) certification
Preferred: Coursework in Early Childhood or related field (i.e. psychology, education, human development, etc.); Associate or Bachelor’s degree
Experience:
Minimum Required: Experience working with children aged birth to 6 preferred but not required.
Preferred: Experience working with children that have special needs.
Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities (see bolded bullet)
Working knowledge
Sufficient familiarity with the subject to know basic principles and terminology and to understand and solve simple problems.
General knowledge
: Sufficient knowledge of a field to perform most work in normal situations. The work calls for comprehension of standard situations and includes knowledge of most of the significant aspects of the subject.
Thorough knowledge
Advanced knowledge of the subject matter. The work calls for sufficient comprehension of the subject area to solve unusual as well as common work problems, to be able to advise on technical matters, and to serve as a resource on the subject for others in the organization.
Comprehensive knowledge
Requires complete mastery and understanding of the subject. This term should be used sparingly and only for unusually exacting or responsible positions required to originate hypotheses, concepts, or approaches.
List Specific Skills And/Or Abilities Required:
Proficiency in English.
Ability to communicate effectively and respectfully with students, parents, guardians, and school staff.
Ability to consistently demonstrate enthusiasm in working with preschool-age children.
Preferred Qualifications:
Basic knowledge of computers
SALARY:
As per the Master Agreement between the Burlington Board of School Commissioners and the Paraeducators of the **MEMBERS ONLY**SIGN UP NOW***..
Position Type:
Full-time
Positions Available:
1
Equal Opportunity Employer
**MEMBERS ONLY**SIGN UP NOW***. is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Minority candidates are encouraged to apply.
Job Requirements
No experience required
Contact Information
Christopher Celotto
150 Colchester Ave
Burlington, Vermont 05401
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Email:
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Company info
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