Paraprofessional

The purpose of this position is to provide behavioral, emotional, and academic support for students while creating, assisting, and maintaining a safe school environment for all Knapp School and Yeshiva students and staff. The individual holding this position must be able to enact principles of trained methodologies in order to provide a range of supports for students throughout the school day. They must be aware of the whereabouts of students at all times and be able to physically intervene using trained methods in order to reduce the risk of harm to students and/or staff in the event of unsafe behaviors. They are able to perform all duties as assigned under the supervision of classroom teachers and school and organizational administration.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Maintain controlled, calm, helpful and appropriate demeanor during crisis situation and post crisis debrief. Use proper language for school setting and maintain appropriate professional boundaries with students and staff.
• Be familiar with and assist in implementing students' crisis support plans, including elopement protocols.
• Remain present and available in designated work location/station during entire scheduled shift unless directed otherwise due to assignment change or crisis. Communicate location via radio and plans for coverage when temporarily unavailable.
• Assist Teachers in classroom during instruction (small group, whole group, and individual), behavior management, as well as in crisis situations
• Helps supervise the lunchroom during the lunch period with the assigned classroom teacher.
• Successfully complete and maintain certification in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) and UKARU.
• Utilize interventions prescribed by TCI, Collaborative Problem Solving in order to provide support for students, with the goal of reducing the likelihood of a crisis situation and to deescalate critical situations. Utilization of TCI methods could include manually restraining students who are a variety of heights, weights, and strength capacities should they become physically out of control and consequently a danger to him/herself or others. This task may involve taking the student from a standing position to the floor, deflecting and or absorbing blows, bumps, kicks, spitting and other physically aggressive acts, moving furniture or other large, heavy objects in order to clear a space in which the student can be safely restrained.
• Effectively intervene in students' challenging behaviors using TCI prescribed methods to de-escalate critical situations.
• Maintain radio communication with staff and administration, ensuring the radio is turned on in audible position as well as on physical person at all times.
• Communicate with Administration regarding crisis situations as applicable. Complete all required post-crisis documentation as required by school policy.
• Executes lesson plans as assigned by the classroom teacher(s).
• Participates and cooperates in special events, activities, parent/teacher conferences as deemed necessary by school administration.

Additional Job Responsibilities:

• Represent JCFS and its programs in a positive manner to both internal and external contacts.
• Adheres to all applicable company policies and procedures.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Respects student confidentiality, as defined by HIPAA and FERPA

Requirements:

• Must be able to successfully complete Therapeutic Crisis Intervention and Ukeru training and maintain the required credentials.
• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• ISBE Certified Paraprofessional or able to obtain the necessary credentials within 30 days of hire.
• Prior experience working with students with disabilities, more specifically ED, ASD, or OHI populations
• At least one year of related experience, preferred