Autism Paraprofessional-Support Specialist

Autism Center Paraprofessional (Support Specialist)

 

DSST Public Schools (DSST) seeks a center program paraprofessional to join one of the leading charter school organizations in the nation. We serve 6-12th grade students across Denver and Aurora. Our mission is to transform urban public education by eliminating educational inequity and preparing all students for success in college and the 21st century.

 

Overview of Position:

The center based programs at DSST are designed to address students who have significant learning needs. The program is an inclusive model that strives to incorporate research based interventions into the natural classroom routine. We are looking for Paraprofessionals who are passionate about supporting students with significant needs and who have desire to facilitate necessary skills to foster academic, independence, and social growth. All staff will closely collaborate to develop an effective plan that will deliver and provide necessary strategies, techniques, adaptations and modifications to ensure individualized academic and behavioral success. The team will collaborate to develop and maintain necessary instructional strategies that will support the student level of need. The team will be within an inclusive community that believes and strives for all students to meet their highest potential.

The Special Education paraprofessional supports the educational, behavioral, social-emotional, physical and daily living needs of middle and high school level students with disabilities in integrated, resource, self-contained and community settings. Assists in conducting testing and assessment, multi-media activities, record-keeping, computer operation, discipline, and other activities.

We will inquire about your grade level and campus specific preference at the time of interview.

 

Essential Functions:  

Classroom Teaching

Assist with the implementation IEP Goals, accommodations and modifications for all students

Assist with the implementation of behavior intervention plans and positive behavior supports to support the behavioral needs within the classroom environment.

Assist teacher in developing lesson plans, material preparation and taking data for IEP and behavior data collections systems.

Maintain a learning environment that is structured, organized, routine-oriented with a variety of instructional formats.

Assist the general education teacher with students that might need extra support with learning skills within the classroom environment.

Exhibit clear communication skills to provide support and strategies to center program team, and school community by modeling and accepting on-going feedback

Strive to implement and master researched based core instructional practices.

Communicating daily with families

Maintaining confidentiality with student records and ensuring that information regarding students is shared at appropriate times

Facilitating interactions between students and staff and students and their peers

Curriculum and Assessment

Assist with a variety of targeted assessments that measure progress towards learning outcomes and behaviors that are needed to be successful in the general education environment.

Reading tests to students

Providing extended time to students for assessments

To observe and reflect the use of current strategies and interventions for students and support specific areas of need to allow students to remain in the least-restrictive educational setting

Assist in the implementation of skill replacement curriculum that is focused on successful steps to inclusion, behavior skill development, social-communication strategies to facilitate engagement in the general education classroom and other extra-curricular activities

Professional Development

To reflect and seek to improve learning and development. 

To be open to innovative approaches to teaching, feedback from colleagues and school administration.

To actively participate in the school’s professional development programs including principles and procedures in Applied Behavior Analysis, development of Functional Behavior Assessment and Behavior Intervention plans, Social cognition and executive function skills, leading and participating in best practice sessions, peer coaching, and attending conferences. 

 

Additional Duties:

School Life

Model, live, and reinforce the school’s core values and policies inside and outside the classroom with colleagues, students, parents, and the larger community.

Student Advisor

Perform as an advisor to a small group of advisees by overseeing their academic and student life.

Taking attendance

Checking homework completion

Holding regular academic and behavioral conferences

Meeting with advisee’s parents and communicating with families regularly

Leading reading and culture circles

Leading weekly Advisory activities and lessons.

Grade level “House” teammate

Participate in weekly meetings to support student culture and academics for the whole grade

Data tracking and observations in between meetings will be likely

Participate in planning and execution of grade level events

Weekly Staff Meetings

Participate in weekly whole school staff meetings to support school culture, and teacher initiatives

Participate in planning and proctoring extra teacher “duties” throughout the week

Lunch Duty

Morning Duty

After School Duty

Academic Interventions

College Prep

Mandatory Tutoring

Behavioral Support Intervention

Refocus

**there may be additional duties depending on the DSST campus**