Paraeducator - Program Counselor

Reports To: Director of Education

Employment Status: Full-time

Department: School

FLSA Status: Non-exempt

Job Summary

Under the daily direction of the classroom teacher, work with the students individually or in small groups to carry out the educational, behavioral, and treatment programs as appropriate.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Duties marked with an asterisk (*) are considered to be essential to this position under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

In addition to the below listed job responsibilities, Program Counselors assigned to be “floaters” are expected to check and follow the daily floater schedule and communicate to all necessary parties any changes due to situational circumstances.

• Work directly with students carrying out educational and treatment programs as instructed. *
• Assist, and sometimes lead, both group and individual activities with students in carrying out educational and treatment programs as instructed. *
• Prepare program materials (both educational and social/emotional). *
• Record behavioral and educational data. *
• Assist in maintaining classroom organization and in keeping room in good condition.
• Work with volunteers as needed.
• Carry out students’ IEP goals and objectives in all relevant training environments including school, community and vocational settings. *
• Successfully complete Safety-Care training and maintain certification. *
• Assist in training and orientation of newly hired Program Counselors when needed.
• Read and initial inter-office correspondence and all other required reading material.
• Carry out behavioral interventions, using Safety Care techniques, with children, adolescents, or young adults, which could include visually/auditorily monitoring students, evading, containing physical aggression, lifting, and pursuing students who might be running away. *
• Attend all relevant staff meeting and in-services. *
• Facilitate open communication, a team approach, and maintain a positive attitude toward program function and Agency goals.
• Keep up-to-date on emails, internal databases (e.g., KidNet), and other Agency information.
• Maintain satisfactory attendance record. *
• Drive students to school, home, or within the community as needed. *
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, the individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each essential duty. Requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

• High School Diploma or GED
• Competencies in the following, or willingness to obtain competencies within 30 days of hire:
• First Aid/CPR Certification
• Knowledge of child abuse reporting laws
• Basic behavior management and Positive Behavior Intervention Training
• Safety Care techniques (Certification is a requirement for this classification)