Banning Lewis Academy - SPED Paraprofessional

About the Team

ACCEL Schools is seeking a highly-qualified Special Education Paraprofessional in Colorado Springs, CO. The Special Education Paraprofessional provides essential administrative support to the Special Education department at Banning Lewis Ranch Academy in Colorado Springs, CO. This role involves managing paperwork, maintaining records, and assisting in the coordination of services for students with special needs. 

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 Paraprofessional include-

• Documentation Management:
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of all special education students.
• Organize Individualized Education Program (IEP) documents, assessments, and other confidential student records.
• Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements regarding student records.

• Communication and Coordination:
• Assist in scheduling meetings, appointments, and IEP reviews.
• Communicate effectively with parents, teachers, and support staff regarding student progress and administrative matters.
• Serve as a liaison between the Special Education department and other school personnel.

• Data Entry and Reporting:
• Enter data into specialized software systems used for tracking student progress and compliance.
• Generate reports as needed by Special Education coordinators and school administrators.
• Help compile data for state and federal reporting requirements related to special education.

• Support Services:
• Provide administrative support during meetings, including preparing materials and taking minutes.
• Assist in the coordination of accommodations and resources for students with special needs.
• Collaborate with teachers and support staff to ensure that IEP goals are being met.

• General Administrative Tasks:
• Perform general office duties such as answering phones, responding to inquiries, and maintaining office supplies.
• Assist in the organization of special events or workshops related to special education.
• Uphold confidentiality standards and protocols regarding sensitive student information.

• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.
• Empathy and understanding of the needs of students with disabilities and their families.
• Adaptability and ability to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality and handling sensitive information with discretion.

• Work Environment:
• The Special Education Clerk primarily works in an office setting within the school environment. The role involves regular interaction with students, parents, teachers, and administrators.

• Physical Demands:
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to sit for extended periods and occasionally lift or move objects weighing up to 20 pounds.

Note: This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the position and is not an exhaustive list of skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities, or working conditions associated with it.

About You:

• High school diploma or equivalent; additional education or training in office administration or a related field is a plus.
• Experience working in an educational setting or familiarity with special education processes preferred.
• Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal relation skills. 
• Proficiency in office software (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite) and ability to learn specialized software for student record management.
• Basic math and accounting skills.  
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• 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.

Compensation and Benefits:
The compensation and benefits information below is accurate as of the date of this posting. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, with or without notice, subject to applicable law.

The starting hourly rate for this position is $21.37/hour.  Factors which may affect starting pay within this range may include geography/market, skills, education, experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate. 

We offer the following benefits for full-time positions, subject to applicable eligibility requirements: medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, life insurance, long-term disability insurance, short-term disability insurance, 10 paid holidays annually. All eligible employees will participate in Colorado’s Family & Medical Leave Insurance Program, in accordance with state law. 

Paid Time Off: The amount of Paid Time Off (PTO) employees accrue is determined by both their position and the length of their employment term. Employees could accrue up to 10 days of paid time off for 10-month roles, 11 days of paid time off for 11-month roles and 15 days of paid time off for 12-month roles. 

We offer several plans to choose from, with a wide range of deductibles and co- insurance levels. We offer plans with set co-pays for certain medical services, as well as a high deductible plan with set co-insurance levels after deductibles have been met. All plans offer both in-network and out-of-network coverage. We also offer flexible spending and health savings accounts.

Application Instructions:
The deadline for applying for this position is April 30, 2025.  Visit our careers page at https://blracademy.org/careers/ to apply.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Banning Lewis Academy and ACCEL Schools are equal opportunity employers committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. 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.