Description

At Heartspring, our mission is to help children with autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), behavioral challenges, and other neurodevelopmental disabilities reach their fullest potential. We're looking for a compassionate, dependable Lead Paraprofessional to support students while providing leadership and guidance to classroom staff. If you're passionate about special education, enjoy mentoring others, and want to make a lasting impact in the lives of children and families, we'd love to meet you.

• Position: Lead Classroom Para 
• Schedule: Full-Time Days
• Hours: Monday-Friday 7:15a-4p
• Requirements: 2+ years of leadership or supervisory experience, 2+ years working with children with autism or developmental disabilities 
• Pre-Employment Requirements: must pass a state and federal background check, drug screening, physical, and lifting test

As a Lead Paraprofessional, you'll partner closely with the Special Education Teacher to support daily classroom operations while helping students succeed academically, socially, emotionally, and behaviorally.

Student Support

• Support students with autism, developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and behavioral needs in the classroom.
• Assist with academics, communication, social skills, emotional regulation, life skills, and activities of daily living (ADLs) as needed.
• Encourage independence through positive behavior support and individualized instruction.
• Build trusting relationships that help students grow and succeed.

Classroom Leadership

• Help oversee daily classroom routines and maintain a structured therapeutic learning environment.
• Lead classroom operations when the teacher is unavailable.
• Coach, mentor, and support paraprofessionals and classroom staff.
• Assist with onboarding and training new team members.

Behavior & Safety

• Implement behavior intervention plans (BIPs) and positive behavior supports.
• Respond appropriately during behavioral escalations using approved crisis intervention techniques.
• Maintain a safe, supportive, and inclusive classroom for all students.

Collaboration & Communication

• Partner with teachers, therapists, nurses, and families to support student success.
• Document student progress, incidents, and observations accurately.
• Communicate professionally and effectively with staff and families.

Quality & Compliance

• Follow Heartspring policies and educational standards.
• Support quality assurance initiatives and maintain accurate documentation.
• Protect student confidentiality and ensure compliance with all applicable regulations.

What You'll Bring

You'll be successful in this role if you are:

• Dependable, ethical, and accountable with a strong work ethic.
• Calm under pressure and able to make sound decisions during challenging situations.
• An effective communicator with excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills.
• Organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Passionate about providing exceptional service to students, families, and coworkers.
• A collaborative leader who enjoys coaching and supporting teammates.
• Comfortable using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).

Requirements

Education & Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent
• 2+ years of leadership or supervisory experience
• 2+ years of experience working with children with autism, developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, behavioral challenges, or other neurodevelopmental disabilities in a school, special education, therapeutic, or behavioral health setting

Preferred

• Valid Kansas driver's license
• Kansas licensed substitute teacher certification
• 60 or more college credit hours

Pre-Employment Requirements

Because the safety of our students is our highest priority, all candidates must successfully complete Heartspring's required pre-employment screening process before beginning employment. This includes:

• DCF fingerprinting
• State and federal background checks
• Drug screening
• Pre-employment physical and required physical abilities testing
• Reference verification
• Verification of required professional licensure
• Other required employment and regulatory clearances

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid holidays
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution
• Employer-paid life insurance
• Tuition reimbursement and continuing education support 

Physical Requirements:

• Lifting: Up to 30 lbs. frequently; 50 lbs. rarely
• Carrying: 10-15 lbs. frequently; 50 lbs. seldom
• Sitting/Standing/Walking: sit rarely; stand constantly; walk frequently
• Climbing: rarely
• Bending/Twisting/Kneeling/Reaching: frequently
• Reaching: frequently
• Pushing/Pulling: 10-15 lbs. occasionally; 50 lbs. rarely
• Dexterity: constant hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity
• Stamina/Endurance: mild exertion frequently; heavy exertion occasionally
• Vision/Hearing: constant ability to see clearly and hear instructions or warnings
• Mind-Body Connection: frequent awareness of body positioning and task execution

Work Environment:

• Environment: Indoor and outdoor work environments
• Safety Compliance & PPE Requirements: Adherence to safety protocols and protective gear use constantly. Mandatory use of Heartspring standard PPE, with additional protective gear (e.g., gloves, helmets, arm guards, leg guards) provided as needed.
• Physical Interactions & Exposure Risks: Frequent exposure to physical interactions from clients, including slapping, hitting, punching, kicking, head-butting, and biting. Potential exposure to infectious diseases, parasites, bodily fluids, and blood-borne pathogens in a school and residential care setting.

Why Heartspring?

• A meaningful career where you make a lasting impact every day.
• Collaborative, multidisciplinary teams dedicated to student success.
• Paid training, including CPR and CPI certification.
• Opportunities for professional growth and leadership development.
• A mission-driven culture built on compassion, teamwork, and excellence.

If you're looking for a rewarding career in special education, autism support, behavioral health, or therapeutic education, apply today and help us create brighter futures for the students we serve.