Preschool:
Preschool paraprofessionals are responsible for all students within the preschool classroom.
They perform duties required by the teacher to provide students with the support they need in
toileting, self-help skills, social skills, readiness skills and play. It is important for the individuals
who fill this position to be patient, positive, comfortable sitting on the floor, and possess the love
of play, singing and dancing. Individuals in this position are required to perform toileting duties
as needed by individual students. On rare occasions, the individual in this position may need to
display swift feet to catch a fleeing child as well as training in emergency physical restraint
techniques.
WISE and ARTS Fritz/Highland/DAG/Moran/LHHS/Sheehan Elementary: K-12:
This program services special education students in grades K-12. The
emotional/behavioral/mental health needs in the regular setting are so significant that there has
been a documented negative impact on their education. The program provides a small, highly
structured environment with a behavior modification program to assist in developing prosocial
behaviors. There is also a part-time school social worker and school psychologist for all mental
health and behavioral needs. Paraprofessionals in this position are required to implement
specific behavior plans with all students in the classroom. The paraprofessional will follow
guidance from the mental health providers in regard to the most effective strategies to use with
individual students. It is important for the individuals who fill this position to be patient and
positive, willing to accept feedback, and able to follow behavior plans with fidelity. Individuals in
this position should also have training in emergency physical restraint techniques.
S.T.A.R.S. (Succeed Together and Achieve with Responsive Support) Stevens/Pond
Hill/Dag: STARS is Wallingford Public Schools’ specialized autism program supporting the
needs of students with autism who exhibit significant concerns with language, behavioral and/or
adaptive skills. This is an ABA (applied behavioral analysis) based program designed to support
each individual students’ needs, while systematically and explicitly increasing language,
behavioral and/or adaptive skills. The STARS preschool program for students who are 3 and 4
is housed at Cook Hill. The primary program for students in grades K-2 is housed at Stevens,
and the elementary program for students in grades 3-5 is located at Pond Hill.
Paraprofessionals in this position are required to implement specific behavior and academic
plans with all students in the classroom. The paraprofessional will follow guidance from the
BCBA and teachers in regard to the most effective academic strategies to use with individual
students. It is important for the individuals who fill this position to be patient and positive, willing
to accept feedback, and the ability to follow behavior and academic plans with fidelity.
Individuals in this position should also have training in emergency physical restraint techniques.
INSPIRE (Dag Hammarskjold Middle School and Lyman Hall High School):
INSPIRE is for students who need intensive support to be successful in the public school
setting. Students may be diagnosed with a variety of exceptionalities including autism,
intellectual disability, or multiply handicapped. They typically work on their own individualized
