Special Education Instructional Paraprofessional Gr. 7/8 - Saltonstall K-8 School, Salem Public Schools SY2024-2025

About Salem Public Schools, where belonging leads to opportunity.

Salem is a small, diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history.  Salem Public Schools is an urban public school district enrolling nearly 4,000 students across our 11 schools. Our vision is to ensure that all students will be locally engaged, globally connected, and fully prepared to thrive in a diverse and changing world. We hold dear our core values of belonging, equity, and opportunity in everything we do. Over the next three years (2023-2026), we are committed to the work outlined by the four core priorities in our strategic plan: 1) Elevate Learning; 2) Empower Educators; 3) Center Belonging; and 4) Strengthen Our Foundation. We seek individuals who are passionate about urban education and understand the urgency of improving student achievement for all students, regardless of ability, economic status, gender/gender identity, language, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, or other backgrounds. Applicants who have experience working in urban schools and settings and are bilingual are strongly encouraged to apply.

What You’ll Do: 

Paraprofessionals assist teachers and/or other service providers in providing an innovative, high quality education program designed to meet the unique needs of children with disabilities in the Salem Public Schools. Paraprofessionals work with school staff to create an educational environment in which quality, social connections and continuity are key factors. In addition to sound reasoning and good organizational skills, paraprofessionals are expected to contribute to a positive school culture and climate. Paraprofessionals are district-wide employees and subject to the negotiated Paraprofessional Contract, as well as the rules and regulations of Salem Public Schools

The position includes providing academic support, the use of technology and may include providing behavioral interventions. The right person for this position is eager to work in a high school setting, assisting students with accessing the curriculum and engaging in social aspects of the high school community.  The paraprofessional must be dependable, organized, flexible and willing to learn through hands-on experience, professional reading/trainings and through consultation and observation with teachers, clinicians and specialists.

Role Responsibilities:

• Demonstrate an understanding of assigned student’s profile and learning needs, read student IEPs and engage in related PD
• Report to assigned classes according to schedule set by special education supervisor
• Support and collaborate with the general education and special education teachers and service providers on an ongoing basis
• Reinforce and redeliver lessons
• Assist with student supervision; administer behavior management programs/point systems, data taking, under the direction of the classroom teacher
• Assist teacher in implementing accommodations and specialized strategies for instruction and skill reinforcement
• Facilitate social interactions and model language between peers
• Support students with their use of technology when in person, remote or in hybrid learning environments
• Escort and assist students as needed throughout the building, on community-based experiences, during lunch/recess and during arrival and dismissal
• Follow direction of the supervisor/teacher and assure safety of student at all times
• Step in to assist with general classroom operations and supervision, as needed
• Attend district-wide and building-based professional development and training
• Other duties as prescribed by building administrative staff and Executive Director of Special Education, as described within the Paraprofessional contract

What You’ll Bring:

We are looking for candidates who have diverse backgrounds and experiences, are inspired by our mission and are highly motivated to change children’s lives through education. You’ll be right at home here if you are a reflective practitioner who values collaboration with colleagues and pushes yourself, your work and the people around you to the next level.  We expect our SPS employees to:

• Hold a deep commitment to students and families and value diversity - The SPS community is vibrant, diverse in background, ethnicity, language, and perspective. You embrace and affirm the backgrounds of all members of the SPS community and view our diversity as a powerful resource that supports us each in learning and doing our best work.
• Hold high expectations for yourself, students, and colleagues – You see potential in all, especially our SPS students, and maintain high expectations for achievement, while providing the support necessary to meet that bar. You hold yourself to high expectations, modeling SPS values and seeking opportunities to continuously improve.
• Build authentic, caring relationships with colleagues, students, and families – You build strong relationships across students, families, and colleagues that are collaborative in nature and contribute to the individual and collective success of SPS.  You partner with families and colleagues to make decisions in the best interest of students and learning.
• Embrace feedback – You are a reflective practitioner who learns from mistakes and challenges and uses them as opportunities for growth. You model persistence and growth mindset and thrive in a culture of feedback.

The selected candidate must have the skills, abilities and aptitude to meet all unique needs of their assigned students.

Job requirements:

• High School Diploma or GED
• Forty-eight (48) Credit Hours of College Coursework or an Associate’s Degree, or a passing score on one of the two following Formalized Standardized Assessments: ParaPro Assessment (http://www.ets.org/parapro/) or WorkKeys
• Safety-Care Trained or willing to be trained (District will provide training)
• Minimum of one year experience working with middle-school-aged children
• Written and Oral English proficiency required; fluency in Spanish or Portuguese advantageous
• Basic computer literacy skills. Familiarity with using chromebooks and applications advantageous
• Second Language (Spanish or Portuguese) Proficiency a plus
• Bilingual candidates and candidates of color strongly encouraged to apply
• Current authorization to work in the United States

The Paraprofessional reports to the building Principal, Special Education Supervisor, students’ assigned classroom teacher(s) and Executive Director of Special Education.

This is a school-year position, following the assigned school’s hours.  

Salary according to union contract.

Benefits: The City of Salem offers Group Insurance Commission (GIC) benefits to all full-time employees. Click here for more information about our health benefits.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Salem Public School District is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally, we prohibit retaliation against individuals who oppose such discrimination and harassment or who participate in an equal opportunity investigation.