Special Education Paraprofessional

  • Full-time
  • Start Date: Immediate opening
  • Department: Teacher

Company Description

KIPP Public Schools is a national network of public charter schools that prepares
students with the skills and confidence to create the future they want for themselves,
their communities, and us all. We are a network of 270 schools, nearly 10,000
educators, and more than 160,000 students and alumni.
● Mission: Together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically
excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue
the paths they choose—college, career, and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling
lives and build a more just world.
● Vision: Every child grows up free to create the future they want for themselves
and their communities.
● KIPP in Oklahoma: KIPP currently operates as two KIPP regions in Oklahoma.
KIPP OKC was founded in 2002 and serves students grades 4-8 in a middle
school. KIPP Tulsa was founded in 2005 and now serves grades 5-12 in middle
and high school. Nationally, other same-state KIPP mergers/integrations are
occurring to better leverage outcomes, scale, and sustainability. In early 2021,
the KIPP Tulsa and OKC boards approved the hire of shared Executive Director
Darius Kirk and the launch of a due diligence and planning process currently
underway with support from consultants and KIPP Foundation to determine
whether the two regions should combine to become KIPP Oklahoma. As of
December 2021, the KIPP Oklahoma merger was voted on and completed by each representative board of directors. KIPP Oklahoma will officially launch July
1, 2022.


The Five Pillars of KIPP

1. High Expectations. KIPP schools have clearly defined and measurable high
expectations for academic achievement and conduct that make no excuses based on
the students' backgrounds. Students, parents, teachers, and staff create and reinforce a
culture of achievement and support through a range of formal and informal rewards and
consequences for academic performance and behavior.
2. Choice & Commitment. Students, their parents, and the faculty of each KIPP
school choose to participate in the program. No one is assigned or forced to attend a
KIPP school. Everyone must make and uphold a commitment to the school and to each
other to put in the time and effort required to achieve success.
3. More Time. KIPP schools know that there are no shortcuts when it comes to
success in academics and life. With an extended school day, week, and year, students
have more time in the classroom to acquire the academic knowledge and skills that will
prepare them for competitive high schools and colleges, as well as more opportunities
to engage in diverse extracurricular experiences.
4. Power to Lead. The principals of KIPP schools are effective academic and
organizational leaders who understand that great schools require great school leaders.
They have control over their school budget and personnel. They are free to swiftly move
dollars or make staffing changes, allowing them maximum effectiveness in helping
students learn.
5. Focus on Results. KIPP schools relentlessly focus on high student performance
on standardized tests and other objective measures. Just as there are no shortcuts,
there are no excuses. Students are expected to achieve a level of academic performance that will enable them to succeed at the nation's best high schools and
colleges. Teachers will be provided consistent and constant professional development.

Job Description

Position Overview:

KIPP Oklahoma Paraprofessionals provide one-on-one instructional care to students with special needs.  Paraprofessionals assist and support the teacher(s) in implementing an instructional and care program to promote the academic achievement and personal development of this and other special need students.  

On a day-to-day basis, you can look forward to the following:

Instructional Delivery

  • Assists in delivering quality instruction/lessons created by teachers
  • Establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships with students and teachers based on trust and respect
  • Provides instructional support within the special education and general education classroom as needed in order to meet students’ needs
  • Communicates high expectations for behavior by teaching, practicing, and reinforcing rules and consequences
  • Approaches practice with a sense of urgency, maximizing every minute
  • Maintains accurate and up-to-date records
  • Assumes responsibility for student achievement
  • Provides feedback to teachers about students’ progress and needs

Constant Learning

  • Collaborates with content and grade-level teams to promote an environment of critical thinking and academic rigor
  • Consistently reflects on instructional practices through formal and informal methods and works relentlessly to meet individual and professional development goals
  • Meets professional obligations through efficient work habits such as meeting deadlines and honoring schedules
  • Works to become knowledgeable about best practices in working with students with learning disabilities and challenging behavior
  • Embraces feedback and constructive criticism in the spirit of constant improvement

Academic and Cultural Support

  • Participates actively in developing and following through with individualized learning plans and behavior plans for students
  • Assists in the daily functioning of the school as necessary

Other Essential Functions

  • Escorts, assists, and/or supervises student(s) during play periods, movement throughout the building, to and from buses, toileting routines, lunch, snack, specialized and inclusive classes, community activities, and other times as designated
  • Guides independent study, enrichment work, and remedial work assigned by the teacher
  • Performs health-related procedures such as: feeding, lifting, positioning, carrying, toileting, tube feeding, cleaning catheterization, and suctioning equipment
  • Performs other duties related to Special Education, as assigned by teacher or administrator

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree preferred but not required. 
  • Commitment to and experience with youth of various cultural and lower economic backgrounds.
  • Satisfactory outcome of a background check.

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Compensation and Benefits:

Pay is based on the 10-month teacher salary scale.

Employees are eligible to participate in employer benefits including health, dental, life, accidental death and dismemberment, short and long term disability and participation in Oklahoma Teacher Retirement plans.

As an equal opportunity employer, KIPP Oklahoma does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, or any other basis made unlawful by applicable federal, state, or local laws or regulations.

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