Banning Lewis Academy - Special Education Para Educator - SY 24-25

About the Team

ACCEL Schools is seeking a highly-qualified Special Education Para Educator in Colorado Springs, CO dedicated to providing a superior education for all students in our upcoming 2024-2025 school year! The Special Education Para Educator will work in a team environment in partnership with general and special education teachers and other para educators in all school settings. The para educator will assist students in academic areas such as reading, writing and/or math including implementing curriculum, adapting instructional strategies and materials according to the needs of students. Further, the para educator will support a range of social, emotional, and behavioral interventions. The para educator will provide instructional and/or behavioral support to students who are eligible for special education services under any of Colorado’s eligibility categories under the direction of a special education teacher.

At Banning Lewis Academy, we blend the tradition of character development and values with modern technology and tools to create an engaging learning environment that accelerates student achievement and readiness without losing sight of student well-being and personal development. Our mission is to create a safe, positive environment that fosters intellectual curiosity and a thirst for discovery where students and staff success through exceptional programs.

At Banning Lewis Ranch, we serve students in Grades K-5. Highlights include our Capturing Kid’s Hearts Program, Celebration of Learning Nights, 5th Grade Capstone Field Trip to Washington DC, and a well-rounded student schedule that includes Spanish, Art, PE, Music & Technology.

At Banning Lewis Prep, we serve students in Grades 6-12. We carefully transition students into Middle School with purposeful social activities and programs as LEAD our leadership development program, sports through the Central Colorado Athletic League, and numerous clubs and electives. In High School, we offer traditions such as Homecoming, Prom, and Student Senate. We focus on Concurrent Enrollment opportunities, Service Learning Projects, Senior Capstone Projects, and college and career readiness (such as online courses, career & technical business programs, foreign exchange program opportunities and much more. At the High School level, our athletes compete in the Tri-Peaks League and have many additional extracurricular opportunities such as Mock Trial, Jazz & Concert Band, National Honor Society, and more.

About the Opportunity:

Responsibilities and qualities of the Special Education Para Educator include-

• Provides appropriate behavioral support to students using research-based interventions and strategies as directed by the special education teacher.  
• Provides research-based, data driven specialized instruction to address the instructional goals and objectives contained within each students’ Individualized Education Program (IEP) as directed by the special education teacher.  
• Reinforces a positive learning environment with emphasis on individualized instruction.  
• Administers instruction to align with provided curricula including Extended Evidence Outcomes (EEO’s) as needed. 
• Maintains record of students’ activities, progress, behaviors, observation sheets, point sheets and other data collection as directed.  
• Provides program and lesson modifications for individual students to enhance appropriate academic, social,emotional and cognitive skills as directed by special education and general education teachers. 
• Provides clerical assistance to teachers by grading papers, making copies, collating packets, running errands, etc.  
• Utilizes district provided CPI training appropriately and consistently.  
• Demonstrates leadership qualities including role modeling, diffusing volatile and stressful situations and following through on appropriate discipline per guidelines.  
• Administers behavior modification as directed.  
• Acts as a liaison between special and general education teachers including relaying messages, input and feedback on how things are working.  
• Provides support for substitute teachers so the classroom can run effectively in the absence of a regular teacher.  
• Assists and supervises students’ assessments, including national, state and teacher generated testing as assigned.  
• Participates in special education, in-service training and building level staff meetings.  
• Performs other duties as assigned.

About You:

• No experience required; experience working with special needs children preferred.
• Training or willingness to train in nonviolent crisis intervention (CPI) techniques preferred.
• Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal relation skills.  
• Basic math and accounting skills.  
• Customer service and public relations skills.  
• Critical thinking and problem solving skills.  
• Organizational skills.  
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and tasks with frequent interruptions.  
• Ability to communicate effectively with various stakeholders.  
• Ability to maintain excellent attendance.  
• Ability to understand and follow complex oral and written instructions.  
• Ability to perform responsibilities without the necessity of close supervision. 
• Must be proficient in the use of personal computers and common software applications including Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Google Apps.
• Criminal background check required for hire.  
• Valid Colorado driver’s license required for hire.  
• CPR and First Aid within 6 months of hire.  
• CPI within 6 months of hire.

 About Us

“We believe that every child should be able to be anything they want in life, regardless of their birthplace and circumstances.” – Ron Packard, CEO & Founder

ACCEL Schools is a network of 80+ high-performing, public charter schools serving PK-12 students. We proudly advocate for school choice and work to address educational inequities throughout the United States. Our schools are inclusive and widely differ to reflect the unique values of the many urban, suburban, and rural communities we serve. Our brick-and-mortar, virtual, and hybrid schools specialize in closing educational gaps and offer innovative models such as career-technical education, sports training, bilingual programming, and more. We have been recognized and praised by legislators, authorizers, and researchers for providing exceptional education options to students in historically under-resourced communities.

We offer the following benefits:

Compensation and Life benefits – time & peace of mind

• Salary will begin at $19.75 per hour and is commensurate with experience
• Paid time off
• Retirement contributions
• Optional Basic Life and AD&D insurance
• Voluntary life insurance (employee, spouse, child)
• Discounted childcare at Early Learning Academies locations

Health benefits – stay well & thrive

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Voluntary short-term disability insurance
• Voluntary long-term disability insurance

Career benefits – keep growing

• Career advancement opportunities throughout Accel Schools and our strong network of 4,000+ instructors and education professionals

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

It is our policy to abide by all federal, state and local laws prohibiting employment discrimination based solely on a person’s race, color, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy, childbirth, physical disability, mental and/or intellectual disability, age, military status, veteran status (including protected veterans), marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, familial status, gender (including sex stereotyping and gender identity or expression), medical condition, genetic information, sexual orientation, or any other protected status except where a reasonable, bona fide occupational qualification exists.

Last updated on Apr 25, 2024