Lead Academic Paraprofessional

Description

Position Overview:

At BHA Academy, the Lead Academic Paraprofessional – Special Education is a senior instructional support and coordination role responsible for ensuring high-fidelity implementation of academic, behavioral, and therapeutic programming across classrooms. This role serves as the day-to-day lead for paraprofessional staff, supporting staffing coordination, coaching, documentation oversight, and consistency of classroom systems.

The Lead Academic Paraprofessional works in close partnership with Case Managers, teachers, clinicians, and operations leadership to ensure students receive structured, predictable, and individualized supports aligned to their IEPs, BIPs, and treatment plans. This position requires strong leadership presence, organization, and the ability to support staff and students in high-intensity, therapeutic learning environments.

This role models and reinforces BHA Academy Core Values—Compassion with Purpose, Structure Builds Safety, Professionalism in Every Moment, Positivity Drives Progress, Education is Empowerment, Consistency Creates Change, Reunification is Our Mission, and Advocacy Through Action—through daily leadership, accountability, and mentorship.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Compassion with Purpose

· Build respectful, trauma-informed relationships with students, ensuring dignity, safety, and high expectations

· Support students with significant emotional, behavioral, and developmental needs using evidence-based practices

· Model compassionate, consistent responses to challenging behavior and guide peers in best practices

· Support paraprofessional staff with empathy while holding clear expectations for performance

Structure Builds Safety

· Coordinate daily paraprofessional staffing assignments to ensure classroom coverage and student safety

· Support consistent implementation of classroom routines, schedules, and transitions across settings

· Serve as a first point of contact for staffing issues, coverage gaps, and urgent operational needs during the school day

· Monitor adherence to visual schedules, reinforcement systems, and safety protocols

Professionalism in Every Moment

· Model professionalism, accountability, confidentiality, and ethical conduct at all times

· Provide in-the-moment coaching and redirection to paraprofessionals when expectations are not met

· Communicate clearly and respectfully with leadership, teachers, clinicians, and support staff

· Support a culture of feedback, growth, and mutual respect

Positivity Drives Progress

· Maintain a calm, solutions-focused approach during challenging or high-stress situations

· Encourage staff morale, teamwork, and resilience throughout the school day

· Reinforce strengths and celebrate student and staff progress

Education is Empowerment

· Conduct in-the-moment academic fidelity checks to ensure instructional strategies align with student plans

· Support paraprofessionals in data collection, instructional engagement, and academic supports

· Provide small-group or individualized instructional support as assigned

· Reinforce evidence-based instructional practices across classrooms

Consistency Creates Change

· Ensure consistent expectations, routines, and interventions across paraprofessional teams

· Monitor completion and accuracy of daily documentation, data sheets, student logs, and incident reports

· Identify documentation gaps and support corrective action

· Support continuity of care across classrooms and transitions

Reunification is Our Mission

· Support programming that promotes independence, regulation, and readiness for less restrictive environments

· Communicate observations and trends to Case Managers and leadership to inform student progress

· Ensure consistency of expectations even during staff changes or absences

Advocacy Through Action

· Advocate for student safety, dignity, and access to high-quality instruction

· Elevate concerns related to student needs, staffing, or program integrity to leadership

· Mentor paraprofessionals to build confidence, skill, and professional growth

· Serve as a stabilizing leader across Academy environments

Other Duties

• Support coverage and scheduling coordination in collaboration with designated parties.
• Conduct end-of-day checks on team documentation and ensure completion of required forms.
• Support onboarding and mentoring of new paraprofessionals.
• Perform other duties and special projects to support various organizational initiatives as assigned.
• Participate