Paraprofessionals may have many names. They may be called "paraeducators," "teacher's assistants," "teacher's aides," "instructional aides," "instructional assistants," educational assistants," or a variety of similar titles. Whatever the job title, the function is similar: playing a key role in the educational team for a student or classroom full of students.
What Paraprofessionals Do
There are paraprofessionals at almost every level of education, from pre-kindergarten up through high school. Paraprofessionals may work with children with special needs or disabilities, or even with gifted and talented students. You can find a paraprofessional in almost every educational setting imaginable. And the paraprofessional may be responsible for an almost unlimited number of tasks.
Paraprofessionals may be responsible for any or all of the following tasks (and more):
- grading papers, homework, or standardized tests
- making photocopies for the teacher
- putting bulletin board materials together
- providing one-on-one help for students
- supervising students between classes
- delivering lessons in small groups (or even to the whole class)
In general, paraprofessionals are expected to be available at all times for the classroom teacher and his or her students. A handbook provided by the school administration may also describe the precise job duties of the paraprofessional. You should be able to get a copy of this handbook from a school before starting a job.
Traits of Good Paraprofessionals
Because paraprofessionals spend their days in schools, it is essential that they enjoy spending time with children and have a strong desire to help them. In addition to helping students in the classroom, paraprofessionals must be willing to support the teachers who run the classroom. After all, additional terms for a paraprofessional include "teacher's assistant" or "teacher's aide."
Life in the classroom is rarely predictable, so good paraprofessionals must also be flexible, both for the sanity of the teacher and the students in the class. Materials in the classroom may be limited, so paraprofessionals are expected to be resourceful, using whatever tools they have for the benefit of the students. Lastly, paraprofessionals may work with many teachers in a school—as well as other paraprofessionals—so the ability to work well in a collaborative setting is essential.
Paraprofessional Facts
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 1,312,000 paraprofessionals working in the United States in 2008. Of those employees, the median income was $22,240. The government agency estimates an approximate 10 percent increase in the workforce by 2016, so there should be additional job openings in the coming years.
Career Advancement
Some paraprofessionals use the job as a stepping-stone to a head teacher's position or another position within a school. Others are happy to spend their career as a parapro. Whatever you decide is right for you, you need to put yourself in a position to land that first job with a school.
Get Qualified
The fact that you're reading this book shows that you're serious about getting qualified. As mentioned in the introduction, the No Child Left Behind Act demands that paraprofessionals do at least one of the following:
- complete at least 2 years of study at an institution of higher education;
- obtain an associate's (or higher) degree; or
- meet a rigorous standard of quality and demonstrate this through a formal State or local academic assessment
Passing the Praxis II: ParaPro Assessment usually meets the third point above (depending on your state), but there is more you can do as well.
Depending on where you live, you may be able to attend specific college courses or training programs tailored for paraprofessionals. What better way to show that you are dedicated to your profession than to take a distinct course or training program for it? You should even be able to earn college credits through these classes as well.
Get Experienced
Most schools will not require any experience—and they will provide on-the-job training. However, some schools prefer to hire paraprofessionals with experience, especially schools with gifted students or students with disabilities. Volunteering at a school or youth group can provide a terrific opportunity to work with children and gain excellent parapro experience. This type of experience, even if it's unpaid, can help set you apart from other candidates applying for the same job.
Find a Job Opening
The best place to find a list of available jobs depends on your school district or state. For example, Wisconsin lists all its government jobs (including teaching jobs) on its job website, at www.wisconsin.gov/state/employ ment/app. Other states have a special site dedicated for teachers, such as Virginia's website teach virginia.org or California's site www.teach california.org. See the list of resources in the following section for additional websites.
Depending on the particular job market, you may find some difficulty finding an open position in an area that you want to work. Jeff Mills, a paraprofessional in New Jersey, says that finding a job "really takes persistence and not limiting yourself to a specific district." He recommends that prospective paraprofessionals send their resume and cover letter to all the districts in the area—and "use every contact you have."
It can't hurt to contact a school directly to see if there is a position available. You may want to work at a particular school, based on the location or the people who work there. Feel free to reach out to a school administration office or the human resource department for a school system if you want information about employment opportunities. You might discover opportunities that have not yet opened up to the public. Similarly, you may discover short-term opportunities (like filling in for a paraprofessional on leave) that may end up evolving into a more permanent position.
Job Hunting and Resource Websites
There are a seemingly endless number of job-hunting websites on the Internet. Some of the biggest and best are listed below, but don't limit yourself to them if you know other places to find job listings. There may be some regional job sites (including local newspapers) that can provide additional openings. A quick word of warning: some job opportunities listed on various websites might not be completely legitimate. Be cautious when conducting your search.
www.nrcpara.org
While not a job-hunting site, the National Resource Center for Paraprofessionals can provide invaluable information about the profession—including general information for job seekers. If you're new to the profession, this website is a good place to learn about becoming a paraprofessional.
www.teachers-teachers.com
Claiming to be the "The Internet's largest resource of teaching jobs" with connections to more than 1,500 school systems, this site also provides valuable links to state resources for teaching jobs.
www.aaee.org
AAEE, the American Association for Employment in Education, has focused on education employment since 1934. You can find information about jobs, job fairs, networking, and advice on job hunting on their site.
www.craigslist.org
Yes, you can also use Craigslist to find a used couch, but there are many teaching jobs listed on the site as well. Job listings are free or inexpensive to post, so many institutions like to list jobs there.
www.schoolspring.com
This website combines the educational job listings from across the country into one database with thousands of jobs. For example, if you are looking for a job as a paraprofessional in New Jersey, this site will connect you to job listing through www.njschooljobs.com, one of the state's best resources for educational jobs.
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