Paraeducator (Special Education Subseparate) - South High Community School 2026-2027

Job Description

JOB TITLE: Paraeducator (Subseparate Programs)

REPORTS TO: Principal or Designated Supervisor

LOCATION: Worcester Public Schools, Worcester, Massachusetts

This position is accountable for providing assistance to the classroom teacher and/or other certified
personnel, to support the instruction of all students (with emotional regulation and behaviors
challenges, mild to moderate to severe special needs and general education) and to facilitate
educational access for students with disabilities using sound judgment and confirming with the rules
and regulations of the Worcester Public Schools. This position will require that you have patience,
perseverance, creativity, and a true desire to prepare all students for successful lives.

This position may include the working with student populations of the following areas: Autism (AU);
Creative Opportunities for Adolescents of Secondary Tier (COAST); Language Achievement and Beyond
(LAB); Specialized Approaches to Individual Learning (SAIL); Structured Therapeutic Education Program
(STEP); Transitional Life Skills.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS (may be included along with other responsibilities):
1. Responsible for assisting the classroom teacher by reviewing, correcting and reinforcing lessons with
individual and small groups of students in all content areas and other activities as defined in the
student’s IEP or 504 plan.
2. Responsible for assisting in preparation and inventory of instructional materials and the setting-up,
operating and maintenance of various classroom’s learning aids, and equipment.
3. Responsible for the supervision of breakfast and/or lunch periods, and assemblies and cleaning up of
work areas.
4. Responsible for assisting the classroom teacher in clerical work which may include, but it is not
limited to, recording daily attendance, cataloging and filing instructional materials.
5. Responsible for participating and contributing to weekly, monthly and long-range planning with the
classroom teacher for instructional activities such as observing special days and events, field trips and
visits and school wide activities such as health testing, etc.
6. Responsible for assisting the classroom teacher during the work day in maintaining open
communication. All verbal and written communication is under the supervision of the teacher and/or
administrator.
7. Responsible for maintaining student confidentiality. Commit to providing an educational and working
environment that is free from harassment and discrimination.
8. Responsible for the supervision and support of students in both structured and unstructured activities
and across environments throughout the day.
9. Responsible for contributing to a warm and open atmosphere so that all students will have the
opportunity to grow and develop to their fullest potential.
10. Responsible for serving as the guiding source of information and assisting any substitute teacher
assigned in the absence of the teacher.
11. Responsible for implementing district and school-wide rules, policies and procedures and individual
student behavior plans.
12. Responsible for performing duties associated within specialty areas. This may include those
paraeducators who are assigned to special projects, including grant programs that require specialized
training and duties.
13. Responsible for performing duty work (lunch, recess, line, bus) when required to do so by the
Building Principal. It is understood that duty assignments will be distributed on an equitable basis.
14.Responsible for participating in non-violent crisis intervention training within the first (1) year of
employment.
15. Data collection in accordance with student’s learning goals and objectives.
16. Responsible for the implementation of behavior intervention plans and behavior management in an
effort to reduce problem behavior.
17. May be responsible for supporting student physical and personal care needs such as assisting in
lavatory routines, toileting, diapering, feeding, lifting, etc..
18. Responsible for participating in related Professional Development (PD) specific to the administration
of assessments and accommodations.
19. Must adhere to our school district's equal educational opportunity to all individuals and
non-discrimination policy.
20. Responsible for performance of other job-related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• 48 undergraduate college credits, or
  
• Meeting or exceeding the State-determined passing score of 464 on the Paraprofessional (ParaPro) Assessment or the WorkKeys Assessment
  

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Non-violent crisis intervention trained
  
• Demonstrated experience supporting students with special needs
  
• Ability to speak Albanian, Arabic, Nepali, Portuguese, Spanish, Vietnamese, or an African Language, and/or American Sign Language.
  

WORK YEAR: This is a school-year position including: 180 pupil days, 3 days of professional development, and 6 additional hours of staff meeting time (assigned by Principal or designated supervisor).

WORK DAY: 6 hours, plus a 30-minute unpaid lunch

SALARY: This position is represented by the Educational Association of Worcester Paraeducator Bargaining Unit and the salary is determined by the appropriate step and lane placement on the paraeducator salary schedule. Assignment to a secondary school will add the contractual 18-minute stipend which is 5% of the established salary.

STIPEND: Contractual Subseparate Stipend of $1000, prorated and paid at the end of each school year.
Position Type:Full-time
Salary:$35,280 to $42,416 Per Year
Job Categories:

Instructional Support > Paraprofessional / IA

Welcome to WPS District, South High Community School

, Our Focus Statement SCHOOL FOCUS: CREATING STRATEGIC WRITERS A school-wide effort has begun to have all South High Community School students become strategic writers who show measurable growth in their ability to answer open-response questions effectively through the use of various writing strategies all teachers use in their content areas, as measured by open response scores on MCAS exams, internal assessments, student work and the use of citywide rubrics. View School Improvement Plan for more details about our school.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Worcester Public Schools is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer/Educational Institution and does not discriminate regardless of race, color, ancestry, sex, gender, age, religion, national origin, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy or a related condition, veteran status or homelessness. The Worcester Public Schools provides equal access to employment and the full range of general, occupational and vocational education programs. For more information relating to Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action contact the Human Resource Manager, 20 Irving Street, Worcester, MA 01609, 508-799-3020.

Job Requirements

• Citizenship, residency or work visa required