Paraprofessional Excellence Reference Sheet
Camden Prep • Student support services
PARAPROFESSIONAL QUICK REFERENCE SHEET
Establishing Classroom Excellence, Collaboration, and High-Fidelity Scholar Support
School Year 2026-2027
Primary Mission: Scholar Autonomy & Growth
Key Manager: Special Education Coordinator
Daily Schedule: M-TH: 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM F: 7:30 AM – 1:00 PM
1. Attendance Logistics & Core Hours
Daily Shift Milestones
- 7:30 AM Arrive ready at morning arrival/bus drop-off zone.
- 8:30 AM If scholar is absent, report to SEC for alternate assignment.
- Dismissal Accompany scholar until picked up or boarded on the bus.
Call-Outs & Absence Protocols
- Sick/Emergency: Notify campus SEC via text/email by 6:00 AM on the morning of absence.
- Personal Days: Submit formal request at least 1 week in advance for review.
- Absence Policy: If absences reach 2 or more per quarter, follow-up around attendance from the SEC and/or contractor may occur.
2. Professional Presence & Mindset
Dress Code
No Devices
Scholars match our energy and level of engagement. Distraction leads to escalation.
Phones & earbuds must be completely silent and away.
Mindset
- Active Feedback: View coaching and redirections as essential professional growth tools.
- Positive Framing: Avoid deficit narratives. Speak with empowering, positive language.
3. Support Roles & Boundaries
1:1 Specific
1:1 Behavior Para
Dedicated strictly to one designated scholar. Implements the BIP, tracks behavioral data hourly, proactively avoids escalation cycles, and keeps scholar in close proximity.
Group Focused
Shared Support
Supports 2-3 specific scholars with IEP goals. Directs target behavioral coaching and delivers customized academic modifications during small-group instructional rotations.
Room Wide
Classroom Para
Assists with the general classroom environment. Facilitates target group dynamics, manages room structures, and executes general behavior monitoring under the lead teacher.
Camden Prep • Excellence is not an act, but a daily habit.
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Camden Prep • Special Education Division
SUPPORT PROTOCOLS & DATA MANDATES
Academic Intervention, Behavioral Standards, & Legal Compliance Frameworks
GUIDE
4. Academic Support Standards
Scaffolded Autonomy
Avoid over-guiding or giving away answers. Let the scholar experience productive struggle to build authentic cognitive skills and self-reliance.
" Thomas's dictation bypasses Liam's cognitive process, preventing actual skill mastery." – Onboarding Case Study
Essential Tools & IEP Support
- Active Modeling: Consistently model annotation, note-taking, and tracking the speaker.
- Graphic Organizers: Provide hands-on tools to help scholars structure their thinking visually.
- IEP Accommodations: Execute read-aloud or scribe services with absolute fidelity as written in plan.
5. Behavioral Support Standards
BIP Fidelity
Follow every scholar's Behavior Intervention Plan with absolute fidelity. Administer scheduled breaks and track earned positive rewards consistently without deviation.
Alt Spaces
Utilize pre-planned, productive spaces outside of the Dean's office for sensory de-escalation. Maintain high emotional regulation and low-sensory co-regulation.
Recognizing "Tells"
Become acutely aware of your scholar's personal physical and vocal precursors to distress. Prompt them immediately with pre-planned strategies from their BIP.
6. Mandatory BIP & Data Collection
Legal & Pedagogical Mandate Every paraprofessional is a data collector. No exceptions.
IEP COMPLIANCE
What & When to Track
- Log Target Behaviors: Frequency, duration, intensity.
- Track Antecedents: What occurred immediately before the behavior?
- Log Interventions: What specific BIP strategy did you deploy in real time?
- Frequency: Track hourly. Complete logs before leaving daily.
Communication Pathway
1
Lead Classroom Teacher Address daily pacing, materials, or basic classroom questions here first.
2
Special Education Coordinator (SEC) Contact if structural adjustments are needed or behavior challenges persist.
Camden Prep • Excellence is not an act, but a daily habit.
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