Paraprofessional Jobs for OPT Students
Paraprofessional jobs on OPT sit in an unusual position: many school districts and education agencies classify these roles under social services or education support rather than specialty occupation, which affects your H-1B transition timeline. STEM OPT extensions generally do not apply here unless your degree is in a qualifying STEM field.
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Get Access To All JobsPosition Type:
Internal/Internal
Date Posted:
3/25/2026
Location:
Ed & Verma Pastor School
Date Available:
06/01/2026
TITLE:
Paraprofessional
CLASSIFICATION:
Classified Hourly
REPORTS TO:
Summer School Assistant Principal / Summer School Principal
COMPENSATION:
Work Beyond Rate
SUMMARY
The paraprofessional III will provide instructional and non-instructional (clerical) support for the assigned teacher(s).
PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Provide instruction and classroom management services under the direction and supervision of the classroom teacher.
- Provide instruction to individual students and small groups of students.
- Assist in developing and preparing instructional materials and training modules.
- Assist with the establishment and reinforcement of acceptable student behavior, attitudes, and social skills.
- Assist with student enrichment activities including field trips, art, music, drama, and recreation.
- Provide assistance to students with physical limitations, including individual support with positioning, and movement with various pieces of assistive equipment according to their needs.
- Assist students with activities of daily living, such as hygiene, feeding or dressing.
- Assist with record keeping for the instructional program and student records.
- Assist with the inventory and maintenance of equipment and supplies.
- Provide safety monitoring during student transitions, to and from school and on field trips when necessary.
- Monitor and assist students during meal and recess periods.
- Maintain schedule established by supervising teacher.
- Use a variety of activities and materials approved by the supervising teacher.
- Work effectively with general and special education teachers.
- Supervise students as assigned by principal.
- Assist with student testing administration and scoring.
- Assist classroom teacher with general cleanup and preparation.
- Attend in-service training for continued professional development.
- Perform other job-related duties as assigned.
Education:
High school diploma or equivalency and an AA degree or 60 hours of college credits or a passing score on a paraprofessional test.
LICENSES OR CERTIFICATIONS:
- Fingerprint Clearance Card
- Preschool/Early Childhood requirement - Negative TB clearance, current immunizations, CPR and First Aid certificates, Food Handlers Card, Physical
Experience:
Previous experience in working with individuals with physical and learning needs preferred.
Skills/Knowledge/Abilities:
- English proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to work effectively with students, teachers, parents, and administrators of the targeted community.
- Able to work with detail and have patience and understanding of the basic learning process.
- Good emotional and physical health.
- Able to bend, lift 40 pounds, and stand and walk for extended periods of time.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
The work environment is the normal school setting; the noise level ranges from quiet to loud but is usually moderate. The playground setting can include exposure to dirt, dust, and extreme seasonal temperatures.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:
Non-contracted; part-time; hourly program support for 6 hours/day for 16 days of instruction.
EVALUATION:
Performance to be evaluated in accordance with Board policy on evaluation of classified staff.
Position Type:
Internal/Internal
Date Posted:
3/25/2026
Location:
Ed & Verma Pastor School
Date Available:
06/01/2026
TITLE:
Paraprofessional
CLASSIFICATION:
Classified Hourly
REPORTS TO:
Summer School Assistant Principal / Summer School Principal
COMPENSATION:
Work Beyond Rate
SUMMARY
The paraprofessional III will provide instructional and non-instructional (clerical) support for the assigned teacher(s).
PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Provide instruction and classroom management services under the direction and supervision of the classroom teacher.
- Provide instruction to individual students and small groups of students.
- Assist in developing and preparing instructional materials and training modules.
- Assist with the establishment and reinforcement of acceptable student behavior, attitudes, and social skills.
- Assist with student enrichment activities including field trips, art, music, drama, and recreation.
- Provide assistance to students with physical limitations, including individual support with positioning, and movement with various pieces of assistive equipment according to their needs.
- Assist students with activities of daily living, such as hygiene, feeding or dressing.
- Assist with record keeping for the instructional program and student records.
- Assist with the inventory and maintenance of equipment and supplies.
- Provide safety monitoring during student transitions, to and from school and on field trips when necessary.
- Monitor and assist students during meal and recess periods.
- Maintain schedule established by supervising teacher.
- Use a variety of activities and materials approved by the supervising teacher.
- Work effectively with general and special education teachers.
- Supervise students as assigned by principal.
- Assist with student testing administration and scoring.
- Assist classroom teacher with general cleanup and preparation.
- Attend in-service training for continued professional development.
- Perform other job-related duties as assigned.
Education:
High school diploma or equivalency and an AA degree or 60 hours of college credits or a passing score on a paraprofessional test.
LICENSES OR CERTIFICATIONS:
- Fingerprint Clearance Card
- Preschool/Early Childhood requirement - Negative TB clearance, current immunizations, CPR and First Aid certificates, Food Handlers Card, Physical
Experience:
Previous experience in working with individuals with physical and learning needs preferred.
Skills/Knowledge/Abilities:
- English proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to work effectively with students, teachers, parents, and administrators of the targeted community.
- Able to work with detail and have patience and understanding of the basic learning process.
- Good emotional and physical health.
- Able to bend, lift 40 pounds, and stand and walk for extended periods of time.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
The work environment is the normal school setting; the noise level ranges from quiet to loud but is usually moderate. The playground setting can include exposure to dirt, dust, and extreme seasonal temperatures.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:
Non-contracted; part-time; hourly program support for 6 hours/day for 16 days of instruction.
EVALUATION:
Performance to be evaluated in accordance with Board policy on evaluation of classified staff.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Paraprofessional
Verify your OPT work authorization covers the role
Paraprofessional positions must be directly related to your degree field for OPT eligibility. If your degree is in education, psychology, or social work, confirm the job description aligns before accepting an offer to avoid work authorization violations.
Target school districts with established visa sponsorship history
Large urban school districts and private education organizations are more likely to have HR infrastructure for sponsoring work visas. Smaller rural districts often lack the legal resources to file sponsorship paperwork even when they want to hire.
Track your OPT end date against the academic calendar
School-year contracts often end in June, and OPT authorization may expire mid-semester or mid-year. Confirm your authorization dates align with contract periods so you and your employer avoid gaps that disrupt classroom continuity.
Use your practical training period to build a documented record
Concrete outcomes, IEP contributions, and student progress data strengthen a sponsorship case. Employers filing on your behalf need documented evidence of specialized knowledge and measurable impact, not just a list of daily responsibilities.
Ask about TN or O-1 pathways if H-1B sponsorship is uncertain
Canadian and Mexican nationals may qualify for TN status in select education categories. Candidates with exceptional recognition in special education or behavioral support may qualify for O-1. Explore all options before assuming H-1B is the only path.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a paraprofessional on OPT?
Yes, if the position is directly related to your degree field. A degree in education, psychology, special education, or social work typically satisfies the relatedness requirement. General paraprofessional roles that any bachelor's degree holder could fill may be harder to justify as a valid OPT position, so review the job description carefully against your field of study before applying.
Do paraprofessional employers commonly sponsor H-1B visas?
It depends heavily on the employer type and how the role is classified. Large urban school districts and private special education organizations occasionally sponsor H-1B petitions, but the specialty occupation standard is a genuine hurdle for paraprofessional titles. Roles requiring a specific degree in education or behavioral science are better positioned than general instructional aide positions. Browse paraprofessional listings with sponsorship filters on Migrate Mate to identify which employers have a history of supporting international candidates.
Does a STEM OPT extension apply to paraprofessional roles?
Only if your degree is in a STEM-designated field and your employer is E-Verify enrolled. Education and social work degrees are not on the STEM OPT designated degree program list, so most paraprofessionals working in schools will not qualify. If your degree is in psychology with a CIP code that appears on the STEM list, verify your specific program with your DSO before assuming extension eligibility.
What degree fields are most relevant for OPT paraprofessional jobs?
Special education, early childhood education, educational psychology, applied behavior analysis, and social work are the most directly aligned fields. Some employers also accept degrees in child development, rehabilitation science, or counseling. The stronger the match between your coursework and the student population you will support, such as students with IEPs or developmental disabilities, the easier it is to document OPT eligibility and later build a sponsorship case.
How do I find paraprofessional jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Many school districts do not label postings as OPT-friendly even when they are open to it, so filtering by visa sponsorship willingness is more efficient than reading individual job descriptions. Migrate Mate surfaces paraprofessional and education support roles with work authorization filters built for F-1 students, so you can focus on employers already comfortable with OPT rather than spending time on outreach that goes nowhere.
See which Paraprofessional employers are hiring and sponsoring visas right now.
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