Extended School Year Paraeducator For Residential Treatment Facilities (Rtf)

Job Summary:
The Paraeducator for the Extended School Year Program is responsible assisting the teacher/ related services staff in providing instruction and support to ESY students with Autism, multiple disabilities, and a variety of other disabilities. The Paraeducator will be serving students in multiple center-based and community-based locations.

The position requires the employee to support students with a variety of needs, which may include individuals who exhibit aggressive behaviors and/or self-injurious behavior. The Paraeducator will be trained to meet the individual needs of the students that they are assigned to with the classroom or setting. In some cases, the Paraeducator will serve as an itinerant and work in homes and community settings within various locations in Upper, Middle and Lower Bucks County.

Essential Functions:

• The qualified candidate is responsible to support and facilitate students with special needs in learning and socialization at the direction of the classroom teacher.  

Provide one-on-one tutoring (if such tutoring is scheduled at a time when a student would not otherwise receive instruction from a teacher).

• Assist with classroom management, such as organizing instructional and/or other materials.
• Act as a liaison in communicating with teacher and other IU and district staff regarding ongoing needs of students.
• Support parental involvement activities.
• Provide support across all educational settings; escort and supervise students to various locations across all educational settings.
• Assist the student to use equipment.
• Assist the student to use and maintain augmentative communication devices.
• Assist a student to ambulate, position, and transfer.
• Support students in range of motion and other exercises.
• Assist with Activities of Daily Living (ADL) (e.g. feeding, grooming, bathing, toileting, diapering, etc.).
• Monitor the incidence and prevalence of designated health problems or medical conditions (e.g., seizure precautions or extreme lethargy).
• Accompany student on school bus or other vehicle.
• Cue, redirect or monitor to ensure that the student performs ADL tasks when a cognitive impairment prevents a student from knowing when or how to carry out the task (e.g., a student may not be able to dress without instruction on how to do so or need reminders of what to do and when).
• Observe/monitor and redirect/intervention to assist with completion of ADL's.
• Cue the student to pay attention, participate in activities and complete tasks.
• Participate in the implementation of each student's IEP (Individualized Educational Plan) and C.E.Rs (if applicable)
• Assist with data collection of student performance.
• May be trained, when qualified, to occasionally transport students.
• Follow any individualized support plans that may be a part of a student's educational program (e.g., behavior, communication, health, transportation).  Track information about each student including needs, strengths, gains and problem areas.
• Assist with setting up educational environment and preparing materials for instruction

Other Duties:This position description does not express nor does it imply that the above duties are the only duties to be performed by the incumbent(s) in this position.  Additional duties may be assigned by the Administrator of the department, as needed, to adapt to the changing needs of the organization.

Competencies:

• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in-group problem solving situations; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
• Technical Skills - Assesses own strengths and weaknesses; Pursues training and development opportunities; Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; Shares expertise with others.
• Interpersonal Skills - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.
• Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.
• Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.
• Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone's efforts to succeed.
• Business Acumen - Understands business implications of decisions; Displays orientation to profitability; Demonstrates knowledge of market and competition; Aligns work with strategic goals.
• Cost Consciousness - Works within approved budget; Contributes to profits and revenue; Develops and implements cost saving measures; Conserves organizational resources.
• Diversity - Demonstrates knowledge of EEO policy; Shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; Promotes a harassment-free environment.
• Ethics - Treats people with respect; Keeps commitments; Inspires the trust of others; Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.
• Organizational Support - Follows policies and procedures; Completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; Supports organization's goals and values; Benefits organization through outside activities; Supports affirmative action and respects diversity.
• Strategic Thinking - Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals; Understands organization's strengths & weaknesses; Analyzes market and competition; Identifies external threats and opportunities; Adapts strategy to changing conditions.
• Judgment - Displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision-making process; Makes timely decisions.
• Motivation - Sets and achieves challenging goals; Demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles; Measures self against standard of excellence; Takes calculated risks to accomplish goals.
• Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently; Plans for additional resources; Sets goals and objectives; Organizes or schedules other people and their tasks; Develops realistic action plans.
• Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.
• Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality.
• Quantity - Meets productivity standards; Completes work in timely manner; Strives to increase productivity; Works quickly.
• Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures; Determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; Reports potentially unsafe conditions; Uses equipment and materials properly.
• Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; Changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
• Attendance/Punctuality - Is consistently at work and on time; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; Arrives at meetings and appointments on time.
• Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.
• Initiative - Volunteers readily; Undertakes self-development activities; Seeks increased responsibilities; Takes independent actions and calculated risks; Looks for and takes advantage of opportunities; Asks for and offers help when needed.
• Innovation - Displays original thinking and creativity; Meets challenges with resourcefulness; Generates suggestions for improving work; Develops innovative approaches and ideas; Presents ideas and information in a manner that gets others' attention.

Supervisory Responsibility: No direct supervisory responsibilities.

Work Environment:  The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Physical Demands:  The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit and use hands. The employee is frequently required to walk; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee may be required to stand for long periods, and to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Position Type/ Expected Hours of Work

June 27, 2023 through August 3, 2023

Monday through Thursday

Travel: No travel is involved with this position. 

• Level of Degree:
  • Meet the designation of a Bucks IU "Highly Qualified" Paraeducator by showing evidence of at least one of the following:

• • Associate or Bachelor's degree
  • At least 48 college/university credits
  • A high school diploma or equivalency and successfully pass a local assessment. (Bucks IU considers that a Credential of Competency for Special Education Paraeducators from the Pennsylvania Department of Education meets this requirement for those individuals who do not have at least 48 college/university credits or an Associate or Bachelor's degree).
     
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Experience working with students with disabilities is preferred.
• Processing software, email, sending attachments and tracking billing.
• CPR & First Aid Certification Required 
• Crisis Prevention Institute Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Training Required

Work Authorization/Security Clearance (if applicable):  Citizenship or work authorization to work in the United States required.

EEO/AA/VEVRAA Employer:  The Bucks IU is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture. Bucks IU does not discriminate on the basis of disability, veteran status or any other basis protected under federal, state or local laws.