Are you seeking collaboration and small classroom ratios? Do you want to gain experience and teaching mentorship? Do you want to work in a camp like atmosphere?
Discover a purposeful and meaningful career that transforms the lives of students and changes the trajectory of their future. Find a nurturing community that values people, ethical practices,
passion, and creativity. Our staff is the most valuable resource we have in accomplishing our mission to empower children with communication delays and learning differences to thrive through whole-child education, innovative therapy, and access to nature.
Elementary Paraeducator
Special Education
School Year 2026-2027
Location: The Parish School (Private)
Full Time (40 hours a week) with benefits
Position Overview:
The Elementary Paraeducator supports diverse learners in a language-based classroom. The paraeducator works alongside a multidisciplinary team to incorporate therapeutic strategies and curricula that support whole child development, including communication, academic and social emotional domains. All instruction is provided in a nurturing environment through a multisensory learning approach, incorporating nature-based education. When permanently assigned to a classroom, the paraeducator functions as a member of a child’s instructional team and provides support to the educator and classroom speech language pathologist. When assigned floating duties, the paraeducator will work across classrooms to meet the needs of students and speech language pathologists/educators as needed.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
The Elementary Paraeducator has job responsibilities that fall under two categories: Instructional and Professional. Other duties may be assigned or changed at the discretion of the Elementary Coordinator.
Instructional:
- Prepares materials needed for instructional activities
- Prepares the classroom area daily for instruction, including set up and clean up
- Leads small and large group lessons utilizing the schools adopted curriculum as guided by the classroom educator and speech language pathologist
- Assists lead educator and speech language pathologist in curriculum assessment on a regular basis
- Understands and implements therapy goals and strategies for each student as guided by the classroom educator and speech language pathologist
- Demonstrates understanding and implementation of the 7 Skills of Discipline aligned with the Conscious Discipline approach
- Provides classroom and behavior management support as guided by the classroom educator and speech language pathologist
- Supports instruction through the arts, PE, library and nature education
- Collaborates with professionals from various disciplines to promote a child’s development in all areas
- Assists with morning/afternoon carpool and supports a student’s transition to and from school.
- Participates in team meetings as needed, including round tables, placement meetings and collaborative committee meetings
- May lead the class when the educator/speech language pathologist is absent or serve as a substitute for instructional staff members as needed
- Attends an overnight camp in the spring if assigned
Professional:
- Stays current on all school communications, including reading and responding to emails and reviewing their Outlook calendar
- Maintains communication with staff and administration
- Utilizes the computer for various resources that support instruction and home to school connections
- Maintains daily attendance, conference minutes, filing, and other reporting documentation
- Fulfills professional development requirements as outlined by the school
- Fosters a positive work culture
Education/Experience:
High school diploma or general education degree (GED); or two years related experience
Certificates and Licenses:
No certificates needed.
Computer Skills:
Proficient in MS Office applications, familiarity with PCs and tablets, and a willingness to learn applications and educational software
Supervisory Responsibilities:
This role has no supervisory responsibilities.
Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate
- The physical environment requires the employee to work both inside and outside in heat/cold, wet/humid, and a variety of other climate conditions
- Working in close proximity to others
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee is required to:
- Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds
- Use hands to finger, handle, feel or type
- Talk and hear, both in person and by telephone or virtual conference
- Stand, walk, sit, reach, climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or craw
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, color vision and ability to adjust focus
About The Parish School
Since 1983, The Parish School has educated children ages 2–12 who have communication delays and learning differences, empowering them with the tools to succeed. This nationally recognized, special needs school in Houston, Texas provides an education for the entire family within the environment of a nurturing and safe 17-acre campus with on-site pediatric therapy clinic, The Carruth Center. Our personalized academic approach—with a focus on communication skills, social learning, independence, nature and the arts—allows children to thrive and grow.
The Parish School is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, gender or religious affiliation.
