RTAP Special Education Paraprofessional (Part-time, 15 to 19 hrs/week) - 3 positions for Substantially Separate Programs at ECC, Bates, and Collins Middle School, Salem Public Schools, Salem MA [SY 2025-2026]

RTAP Special Education Paraprofessional (Part-time, 15 to 19 hrs/week) - 3 positions for Substantially Separate Programs at ECC, Bates, and Collins Middle School, Salem Public Schools, Salem MA [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.

About Salem’s RTAP Program and Role for RTAP Paraprofessional:

As a result of a state grant, Salem Public Schools’ in partnership with Salem State University has launched the RTAP Program. This program supports three full-time apprentices within three of Salem’s substantially separate special education classrooms to prepare to become teachers by engaging in on-the-job training together with coursework over two years. To be successful in the program, apprentices must focus on specific skills and practices during the day as well as attend meetings and consultations with their mentor teachers. As a result, these classrooms will need additional support to ensure consistent learning and development throughout each day and week. We seek a . 5 FTE (half-time) paraprofessional to provide an additional layer of coverage and support within the RTAP classrooms. Schedules for this role may vary by school and may be flexible to accommodate the apprentice/mentor needs along with the RTAP paraprofessional’s availability. 

What You’ll Do: 

Paraprofessionals assist teachers and/or other service providers in providing an innovative, high quality education program designed to meet the unique needs of children with disabilities in the Salem Public Schools. Paraprofessionals work with school staff to create an educational environment in which quality, social connections and continuity are key factors. In addition to sound reasoning and good organizational skills, paraprofessionals are expected to contribute to a positive school culture and climate. Paraprofessionals are district-wide employees and subject to the negotiated Paraprofessional Contract, as well as the rules and regulations of Salem Public Schools The position will include personal care, lifting, feeding, academic support, behavioral interventions and the use of technology. The right person for this position is eager to work in a substantially separate program within our elementary school setting. The intensive paraprofessional must be dependable, organized, flexible and willing to learn through hands-on experience, professional reading/training and through consultation and observation with clinicians and specialists.

Role Responsibilities:

• Demonstrate an understanding of assigned student’s profile and learning needs, read student IEP and engage in related professional development
• Support and collaborate with the special education teachers and service providers on an ongoing basis
• Reinforce and redeliver lessons
• Assist with student supervision; administer behavior modification programs/ point systems, data taking, discrete trials, under the direction of the classroom teacher
• Assist teacher in implementing accommodations and specialized strategies, including ABA techniques, for instruction and skill reinforcement
• Facilitate self-care routines.
• Facilitate social interactions and model language between peers
• Escort and assist student as needed throughout the building, on community-based experiences, during lunch/recess and on/off the bus
• Supervise student lunch and recess
• Attend special events with class.
• Set-up/operate and maintain various learning aides, materials, and assistive technology
• Follow direction of the supervisor/teacher and assure safety of student at all times
• Step in to assist with general classroom operations and supervision, as needed
• Attend district-wide and building-based professional development and training
• Other duties as prescribed by building administrative staff and PPS Executive Director, as described within the Paraprofessional contract

Position Expectations for Intensive Instructional Paraprofessionals

• May need to assist in toileting and Activity of Daily Living (ADL) skills, as determined by student need and following safety and hygiene protocols
• Work closely with service providers to learn how to provide access using assistive technology or alternate learning/communication methods
• Must be physically capable of and willing to engage in restraint, bending, and/or lifting, as required to meet unique student needs

The selected candidate must have the skills, abilities and aptitude to meet all unique needs of their assigned students/classroom.

What You’ll Bring:

We are looking for candidates who have diverse backgrounds and experiences, are inspired by our mission and are highly motivated to change children’s lives through education. You’ll be right at home here if you are a reflective practitioner who values collaboration with colleagues and pushes yourself, your work and the people around you to the next level.  We expect our SPS employees to:

• Hold a deep commitment to students and families and value diversity - The SPS community is vibrant, diverse in background, ethnicity, language, and perspective. You embrace and affirm the backgrounds of all members of the SPS community and view our diversity as a powerful resource that supports us each in learning and doing our best work.
• Hold high expectations for yourself, students, and colleagues – You see potential in all, especially our SPS students, and maintain high expectations for achievement, while providing the support necessary to meet that bar. You hold yourself to high expectations, modeling SPS values and seeking opportunities to continuously improve.
• Build authentic, caring relationships with colleagues, students, and families – You build strong relationships across students, families, and colleagues that are collaborative in nature and contribute to the individual and collective success of SPS.  You partner with families and colleagues to make decisions in the best interest of students and learning.
• Embrace feedback – You are a reflective practitioner who learns from mistakes and challenges and uses them as opportunities for growth. You model persistence and growth mindset and thrive in a culture of feedback.

Job requirements:

• High School Diploma or GED
• Forty-eight (48) Credit Hours of College Coursework or an Associate’s 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 one year experience working with school-aged children
• Possess effective written and oral communication skills
• Safety Care Training Certification or willing to be certified (District will provide training)
• Second language (Spanish and/or Portuguese) proficiency a plus
• Bilingual candidates and candidates of color strongly encouraged to apply
• Current authorization to work in the United States

Reports to: The Paraprofessionals report to the building Principal, Special Education Supervisor, students’ assigned classroom teacher(s) and Executive Director of Special Education. 

Work Year: Teachers in Salem Public Schools work a 185 day school year (180 student contact days plus 5 professional development days. Please click here to view the 2025-26 district and/or school calendars. 

Compensation/Salary: Paraprofessional compensation in the Salem Public Schools are determined by the Paraprofessional and School Related Personnel (PSRP) collective bargaining agreement. This position is paid on the Tier 3 salary schedule ($26.47 to $28.47 per hour).

Benefits: This position is part-time (19 hours per week or less) and is not eligible for health benefits.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Salem Public School District is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally, we prohibit retaliation against individuals who oppose such discrimination and harassment or who participate in an equal opportunity investigation.