The Lansing School District serves over 10,000 PreK-12 students across 25 school buildings in the increasingly diverse urban community of Lansing, MI. We are unique compared to other districts because of the wide variety of exciting and innovative educational options from which families and staff members can choose. All of Lansing School District’s team members are dedicated to our mission to provide an excellent education to all students in a safe and nurturing environment.
In pursuit of this mission, we are hiring a Specialized Assistant. This individual will help ensure the safety and success of students in the building that they are assigned to, which are often students with disabilities. Specialized Assistants build relationships with students they work with, support teachers in ensuring that students are engaged and supported during lessons, and interact with parents and families. They are a crucial component of a student's support structure at school. Often, Specialized Assistants support students with special education needs and disabilities.
This position will work directly with Grades K-4.
Minimum Qualifications - Must have one of the following:
- Associate's Degree
- 60 completed college credits
- Proof of passing the ETS Paraprofessional Exam
Preferred Qualifications
- Previous experience working with students in small group and RTI settings
- Understanding of how to read and understand a student's IEP
- Desire to become a certified teacher long term
Job Responsibilities
- Demonstrate passion for working with students, especially in one on one and small group situations, and especially students with special education needs
- Effectively prioritize tasks as assigned by teachers and school leaders
- Ensure safety of students on caseload
- Learn and grow by incorporating feedback from school leaders, colleagues, students, and professional development sessions
- Build relationships with students and parents to ensure a safe, welcoming, and engaging learning environment
- Other duties as assigned to best support the Lansing School District mission
Work Environment & Physical Requirements
- The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.
- Must be able to stand, walk, and move quickly between indoor and outdoor settings for extended periods.
- Regularly required to bend, kneel, crouch, and assist with physical transfers or interventions involving students.
- Must be able to lift, push, or carry up to 50 pounds as needed.
- Frequent verbal communication is required to support students, coordinate with staff, and manage emergent situations.
- Occasional use of computers, radios, and other communication or documentation tools.
- May be exposed to noise, weather conditions, and other elements associated with a school environment.
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
At the Lansing School District, we champion diversity, equity, and inclusion, providing equal opportunities to all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or sexual orientation. We foster a rich environment for professional growth and student experiences by valuing diverse perspectives. As an equal opportunity employer, we invite passionate individuals dedicated to educational excellence to apply for our positions.
We value internal mobility and list "Strong Internal Candidate" when considering an internal candidate before posting a job. We still encourage all candidates to apply.
Complete the attached online application at your earliest convenience. If selected, we will contact you to set up an interview. While we strive to provide prompt feedback, the high volume of applicants may limit our ability to do so. All of our jobs will be posted for at least 10 days (unless otherwise noted), but we will review applications on a rolling basis.
External candidates interested in multiple positions within the same department need only apply to one posting and can indicate other roles of interest in the final question. We will consider your application for various roles based on your qualifications.
Internal candidates should apply using their SSO email address and submit separate applications for each role of interest.
Thank you for your interest in joining our mission-driven team. We look forward to meeting you!
This job description is intended to outline the general responsibilities and qualifications for the position. It is not an exhaustive list of duties, and the Lansing School District reserves the right to modify job responsibilities as needed. Due to the evolving needs of the District, additional job responsibilities may be assigned (depending on funding sources).
