IDEA Public Schools Careers

Role Mission: The Exceptional Student Education paraprofessional position is ideal for a candidate looking to gain valuable experience in Exceptional Student Education teaching.  This position is also ideal for a candidate who has at least 30 college hours, wants challenging work, and the opportunity to advance in his or her education career.

RISE stands for Reaching Independence through Support and Education. IDEA Exceptional Student Education para-professionals work with students with significant cognitive and/or pervasive developmental disabilities. The needs of these students require a functional curriculum focused on the acquisition of daily living and vocational skills leading to a successful transition to adult life within the community. These K-12 classrooms provide instruction in practical academics, communication, community, domestic, leisure/recreation, and vocational skills utilizing a functional curriculum in a general education school building. The classrooms emphasize communication, maximum independence, and opportunities to generalize skills in natural settings as well as participation in general education activities with typical peers. IDEA Exceptional Student Education paraprofessionals support the Exceptional Student Education RISE classroom in the Academy (K-5) or College Prep (6-12) as they work with students in lower student-teacher ratios (often 1 to 3) to support their academic needs.

What We Offer

Compensation: 

• Compensation for this role is set at an hourly rate ranging between $15.00 for 0 years of experience and $18.46
• Hourly co-teachers earnings are paid out over a 12-month period

Other Benefits:

We offer a comprehensive benefits plan, covering the majority of the employee premium for the base medical plan and subsidizing the majority of costs for a spouse/domestic partner and children. Some of the special benefits we offer at IDEA include:

• Paid Family Leave: Eligible staff may receive up to 8 weeks of paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child, based on their tenure with the organization and caregiver designation.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Staff members may apply for up to​ 50% of tuition paid toward a qualifying degree program, up to $5,250 maximum per year subject to manager discretion and budget availability.
• Employer-Paid Mental/Behavioral Health: 5 face-to-face counseling sessions within a year, unlimited 24/7 telephonic counseling, and other work-life services available at no cost.

Other benefits include dental and vision plans, disability, life insurance, parenting benefits, flexible spending account options, generous vacation time, referral bonuses, professional development, and a 403(b) plan. IDEA may offer a relocation allowance to defray the cost of moving for this role, if applicable.

What You Bring -- Competencies

Qualifications:

• Education: High School Diploma Required OR High School Equivalency Diploma issued pursuant to State Board of Education rules required; an Associate degree OR at least 30 hours of college credits preferred
• Experience: Experience working with children with cognitive and/or pervasive developmental disabilities strongly preferred
• Licenses or Certifications: Willingness to pursue, or currently enrolled in program for a Special Education Paraprofessional Certification preferred but not required

Knowledge and Skills:

• Capable of physically assisting students with special needs as required (positioning, lifting, transferring, restraining)
• Ability to instruct students and manage student behavior
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to adjust and adapt to a multitude of situations in the school environment

What You’ll Do -- Accountabilities

Responsibilities:

• Assist in the educational and social development of students under the direction and guidance of the facilitator and classroom teachers
• Assist in the implementation of Individual Education Plans for the students and monitor their progress
• Provide support for individual students inside and outside of the classroom to enable them to fully participate in activities
• Work with other professionals, such as speech therapist, social worker, occupational and physical therapists
• Assist classroom teachers with maintaining student records
• Support students with emotional or behavior concerns and assist them in developing appropriate social skills
• Assistance of daily living may include feeding, lifting and/or toileting in the Life Skills Unit 
• At some campuses, school bus riding to accompany students may be needed before or after school

We look for Team and Family who embody the following values and characteristics: 

• Believes and is committed to our mission and being an agent of change: that all students are capable of getting to and through college  
• Has demonstrated effective outcomes and results, and wants to be held accountable for them 
• Has a propensity for action, willing to make mistakes by doing in order to learn and improve quickly 
• Works with urgency and purpose to drive student outcomes 
• Thrives in an entrepreneurial, high-growth environment; is comfortable with ambiguity and change 
• Seeks and responds well to feedback, which is shared often and freely across all levels of the organization 
• Works through silos and forges strong cross-departmental relationships in order to achieve outcomes 
• We believe in education as a profession and hold ourselves to high level of conduct, professionalism and behaviors as models for our colleagues and students 

About IDEA Public Schools 

At IDEA Public Schools, we believe each and every child can go to college. Since 2000, IDEA Public Schools has grown from a small school with 150 students to a multi-state network of tuition-free, Pre-K-12 public charter schools.   

IDEA Public Schools boasts national rankings on The Washington Post and U.S. News & World Report’s top high schools lists. IDEA serves over 80,000 college-bound students in 143 schools across Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Ohio, and is on-track to maintain its legacy of sending 100% of its graduates to college.    

When you choose to work at IDEA, you are part of our IDEA Team and Family. You will work alongside team members who set and reach ambitious goals every day, are excited to continue to grow with IDEA, and work relentlessly to make college for all a reality.

Staff Culture and Belonging

At IDEA the Staff Culture and Belonging Team uses our Core Values to promote human connection and a culture of integrity, respect, and belonging for all Team and Family members.  Learn more about our Commitment to Core Values here!

To Apply

Please submit your application online through Jobvite. It’s in your best interest to apply as soon as possible.

IDEA Public Schools in Florida intends to promote and establish a Drug-Free Workplace Program to maximize safety and productivity in the workplace, enhance our competitive position in the marketplace, without experiencing the costs, delays, and tragedies associated with accidents that result from drug or alcohol abuse by employees. A Drug-Free Workplace means that of our employees must remain Drug-Free both on and off the job, and free from alcohol on the job. In holding to this policy, all staff members will undergo drug testing prior to starting in their new role with us.

To read our full policy, please click the following link: https://ideapublicschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/FL-Drug-Free-Workplace-Policy.pdf