INSTRUCTIONAL PARAPROFESSIONAL (PREK), BATES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, SALEM PUBLIC SCHOOLS [SY 2025-2026]

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. We aim to ensure that all students will be locally engaged, globally connected, and fully prepared to thrive in a diverse and changing world. We hold 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 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.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• High School Diploma or GED
• Forty-eight (48) Credit Hours of College Coursework or an associate degree, or a passing score on one of the two following Formalized Standardized Assessments: ParaPro Assessment (http://www.ets.org/parapro/) or WorkKeys
• Minimum of two years’ experience working with school aged children
• Written and oral English proficiency required
• Possession of high energy and patience levels
• Fluency in Spanish advantageous
• Citizenship, residency or work VISA in United States required

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

The successful candidate will be a passionate, mission-driven, and collaborative educator who desires an opportunity to teach in a diverse and welcoming school environment. This teacher will instruct PreSchool students in Physical Education and instruction and will be expected to offer students instruction that is appropriately modified to address individual student needs. This teacher will be expected to foster in students a love of movement and foster healthy habits. This teacher will also work with students with disabilities and plan adaptive lessons that meet their needs. This teacher will work with the school administration and fellow members of the specialist team to positively manage student behavior and collaborate in a standards-based environment to provide exceptional education to your students. Above all, the successful teacher should be guided by an ethos of care and an unwavering belief in the ability of ALL students to reach their potentials.
Description: Paraprofessionals in the Salem Early Childhood Center assist classroom teachers and other certified personnel in providing an innovative, high quality education program designed to meet the unique needs of young children with disabilities in the Salem Public Schools. Paraprofessionals work with school staff to create an educational program which provides students with opportunities to engage in hands-on learning and social engagement with peers in a safe and fun environment. Paraprofessionals are expected to contribute to our professional and positive school culture and climate. The job includes modeling language, assisting with personal care, lifting, providing academic support, providing behavioral interventions, and using assistive technology. The right person for this position has a positive and happy disposition. The candidate is dependable, organized, flexible, and eager to learn through participation in professional development, hands-on experiences, reading, and workshop trainings.

GENERAL PARAPROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Read students’ Individual Education Programs (IEPs), demonstrate an understanding of assigned students’ profiles and learning needs, and deliver supports as outlined in the IEPs
• Engage in related PD based on student profiles.
• Support and collaborate with the Preschool Special Education teachers and service providers on an ongoing basis
• Deliver and/or reinforce learning activities with individual or small groups of students
• Read stories and poems aloud
• Monitor and facilitate outdoor play
• Prepare materials
• Learn to facilitate the students’ use of assistive technology
• Assist with classroom management & supervision; administer positive behavior support programs including related data collections and discrete trials
• Assist teacher in implementing accommodations and specialized strategies for instruction, skill reinforcement and work production
• Attend therapy sessions with students outside of the classroom and facilitate skill carry-over back into the classroom
• Escort and assist students as needed throughout the building and on community- based experiences
• Oversee safe and organized arrival and dismissal procedures
• Assist students with breakfast and lunch routines
• Follow direction of supervisor and assure safety of students at all times
• Other duties as prescribed by ECC Director or PPS administrative staff as described within the Paraprofessional contract