Early Childhood Special Education Para-Professional 2026-2027

POSITION TITLE

Early Childhood Sped Para-Professional

REPORTS TO

Site Director

QUALIFICATIONS

A. 60 College Credit hours (minimum) or completion of online course• B. Ability and personality to work with students, teachers and other staff.

PAY SCALE

$17.48 - $21.81 (Salary is based on previous related experience)

PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT

The period of employment follows the academic calendar or nine and one-half (9.5) months annually Shift type: Full-time

POSITION SUMMARY

Assists the Director(s) and teacher(s) in maintaining appropriate classroom activities and environment in order for students to learn effectively.

FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB

Essential Functions Participates in daily and long-range lesson and classroom activity planning. Conducts learning exercises with small groups of children. Guides children in working and playing harmoniously with other children. Alerts the teacher to special needs of individual children. Provides escort assistance for children as necessary. Helps maintain informal student performance records. Assists teacher(s) on maintaining student work and study areas. Assists with the supervision of children during play periods. Assists with supervision of children during breakfast, snack and lunch periods. Collects and displays suitable material for educational displays. Assists with ensuring that children leave on the correct van or bus after school. Maintains discipline before, during or after school as the students enter the building. Works flexible hours based on school needs. Assists student with toileting routines including cleaning up student accidents and diaper changes. May be assigned in a 1-on-1 capacity to assist student with special education needs to fulfill Individual Education Program (IEP) goals. Marginal Functions 1. May answer phones and take messages, as required. 2. May make and/scan copies of materials and perform other routine clerical tasks as necessary. 3. May assist with cleaning up spills and accidents and periodic cleaning of classroom equipment.

Physical/Visual Activities or Demands:

Standing, walking, sitting, climbing, balancing, reaching, pushing, talking, hearing. Normal attention with clarity of vision at 20 inches or less as well as 20 feet or more; ability to ID and distinguish colors, and to see an area up and down or to right or left while fixed on point, all required. Light physical demand with regular lifting of very light to light (1 to 25 lbs.) items or occasional lifting of heavier items and/or children (over 25 lbs.), by hand.

Environmental/Atmospheric Conditions:

Subject to both inside (classroom) and outside (playground) conditions and sometimes high noise levels.

POSITION QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Education:

Equivalent to high school plus additional broad specialized training equal to two years of college. Requires a minimum of 60 hours college credit or alternative pathway to certification•

Alternative Pathways:

There are two pathways to secure a substitute certificate in Missouri. 1. have a minimum of 60 college credit hours 2. complete a 20-hour online course (link below) https://dese.mo.gov/educator-quality/certification/substitute-teachers This page lists the various agencies that can provide the training for you.

Experience:

Requires a minimum of three months up to and including one year of experience working in a classroom teaching environment.

Skills and Abilities :

Apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagrammatic form. Deal with problems involving several concrete variables in or from standardized situations. Add, subtract, multiply, and divide all units of measure. Perform reading, writing, and speaking at a basic level.

Machines, Tools, Equipment, and Work Aids:

Computer and related software including Internet access, copy machine, and lamination machine. License(s)/Certification(s)

Required:

Substitute Teacher Certification or current Missouri Teaching Certification Equal Opportunity Employer Revised April 2026 .