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The Para Place
Paraeducator news and views...
The Paraeducator Dilemna- on Making a Living Wage
One of the most popular posts on our site is a discussion started by a para from Sioux City, Iowa asking what paraeducators make in different states. The 100 replies to that question show that there is a lot of interest in that area. If you enjoyed that discussion you will likely also appreciate a recent article titled The Paraeducator Dilemma about paraeducators in Yakima, Washington fighting for a living wage.
The entire article provides a great overview of the work that paraeducators do and some of the struggles that they face. Here are a few quotes to whet your appetite:
From Heidi Mann:
"At MLK, the teachers treat us like equals," Mann says. "We're not saying we are equal to them. But I'd say we're at least worth half of what they make."
One of the most popular posts on our site is a discussion started by a para from Sioux City, Iowa asking what paraeducators make in different states. The 100 replies to that question show that there is a lot of interest in that area. If you enjoyed that discussion you will likely also appreciate a recent article titled The Paraeducator Dilemma about paraeducators in Yakima, Washington fighting for a living wage.
The entire article provides a great overview of the work that paraeducators do and some of the struggles that they face. Here are a few quotes to whet your appetite:
From Heidi Mann:
"At MLK, the teachers treat us like equals," Mann says. "We're not saying we are equal to them. But I'd say we're at least worth half of what they make."
On working for a living wage:
While they're taking care of other people's children on the playground and in the school cafeteria, many paraeducators struggle to provide for their own children. Many of their children qualify to receive free or reduced lunch in the district for which they work.
"As far as we understand, we are the lowest-paid unit in the district, and we are the ones who are teaching in the classrooms," (Buffy) Phillips says. "We're not asking to be paid like the teachers are paid. We just need enough to live on."
On the work that paras do:
Paraeducators supervise children on the playground, in the lunchroom and classroom, and before and after school. They tutor students in math. They help children learn to read. They lead small groups. And while they don't craft lesson plans, paraeducators do help teach the lessons.
"I just really could not do my job without them," says Joan Kirk, a special education teacher at Gilbert Elementary School. "We're a team."
Does anything in the article sound familiar to you?
The Paraeducator Dilemma from the Yakima Herald
Caroline Hester- Mother, Paraprofessional and Breast Cancer Survivor
Channel WSAV in Savannah, Georgia highlights Caroline Hester:
The mother and paraprofessional who grew up on Isle of Hope is in the midst of a tough journey...
View the video of Caroline below:
The Role of Para-educator
Introduction to a great article by Richard Finegan:
I have a degree in journalism, a law degree, and am only a few hours short of being certified as a mild-moderate special education teacher. So why am I working as a para-educator/classroom aide?
His answer?
Because I like being able to focus on the students. Only on the students. Not grading 150 of yesterday’s five-paragraph essays, or preparing tomorrow’s lessons, and especially not tolerating all that frustrating, annoying administrative stuff that teachers are expected to deal with.
Paraprofessional Thank you
I missed this when it was posted back in May, but it is good enough that it is still worth sharing. Below is a blog post where a kind teacher takes the time to publicly thank her two paraprofessionals at the end of the school year:
I am dedicating this blog post to my two Para-Professionals that I work with, Mrs. Rogers and Mr. Nelson. Both have made my year spectacular and I truly mean that I could not have made it without them.
Paraprofessional Interview Questions
While gathering some information for the Are you a Paraprofessional Expert? post a few days ago, I came across a couple of questions where paraprofessionals were asking for advice on upcoming interviews:
- How should I answer these questions in a paraprofessional interview?
- What strengths would you bring to our classroom?
After reading those, I was interested in finding out what other resources were available on paraprofessional interviews. This is what I found:
- Paraprofessional Interview Questions A 7-page form used when interview paraprofessionals.
- What should we ask and NOT ask during the interview?
- How do I do a Getting Acquainted Interview?
Other Resources
- Questions to ask for Special Education Paraeducator / Paraprofessional interview?
- I am interviewing for a full time paraprofessional position. Any suggestions as to what they might ask? And what should I bring? I'm going to bring my portfolio and a mini-portfolio (resume, references, brochure). HELP!
- Teachers Aide Interview Questions??
- Do you have any other ideas for good questions?
Paraprofessional Educator Entry on Wikipedia
Wikipedia now has an entry titled Paraprofessional Educator that begins:
A paraprofessional educator, alternatively known as para-pros, instructional assistants, teacher's aides or classroom assistants, is a teaching-related position within a school generally responsible for specialized or concentrated assistance for students in elementary and secondary schools.
Not all states have a fixed definition of 'paraprofessional' and may use all of the terms listed above interchangeably.
After that, the article could use some help- the good news is, you can change it! If you have an addition or idea to make the article better, just click on "edit this page" at the top of the page and start editing. If you need help, check out How to Edit Wikipedia pages. Once you have edited the document, press "Save page" and your changes will be live! (use responsibly)
Para News Roundup
It's been awhile since we've done a roundup of para news...
About.com Answers a Very Important Question
Under ideal circumstances, having a certified, enthusiastic, well-prepared paraprofessional can make an enormous difference in the efficiency of your child's classroom and the implementation of your child's IEP.
Connecticut Layoffs
When New Haven’s schools open in a couple weeks, there will be 19 fewer assistant teachers in the classroom.
The layoffs were necessary to ensure that federal funding is not taken away, said Will Clark, chief operations officer for New Haven schools. Since the certification test is a requirement of the No Child Left Behind Act, feds could pull funding if uncertified teachers are working in the schools.
19 Assistant Teachers Laid Off
Advice to Teachers on Working with Paraprofessionals
Above all, treat your paraprofessional with dignity and respect. If an issue arises, talk about it, discuss it like two professionals. You both should be on same page from the beginning, and continue to communicate your needs and frustrations throughout the school year. Remember, you are a team.
How to get along and effectively utilize your paraprofessional
Georgia Car Accident
Victoria "Tori" Thompson, 30, died in a single-car accident around 3:15 p.m. Wednesday while driving home from Chicopee Woods Elementary School... She worked for the school system since 2005 and was a special education pre-K paraprofessional at Chicopee Woods.
Do you have any news that we missed? Please Let us know!
Are you a Paraprofessional Expert?
Think you know a few things about paraeducators? Why not take a few minutes to help some people with questions. Of course you can always find a few unanswered questions on our message board, but that is not the only place people are looking for answers:
Yahoo Answers is the largest question and answer site out there with lots great questions and answers:
- What's the dfference of a teacher aide and a teacher assistant?
- Where is the best place to find paraeducator/paraprofessional resources online?
- What can I do at 14 to become a special education teacher?
- What does a Title 1 paraprofessional do in a classroom?
- Paraprofessional work in an elementary school setting: What's it like?
- Lots more special education questions...
Welcome Back to School!
Last year, we posted a popular inspirational video of Dalton Sherman, a young man who reminded educators, "We need you now more than ever."
I don't know if that video can be matched, but here are a few more to help you get excited about a new school year:
Taylor Mali answers the question, "What do I Make?"
So You Want to Be a Teacher Song
Star Fish Story - Making a Difference Every Day
And Lastly, 40 Inspirational Speeches in 2 Minutes
Enjoy! Let us know if you have any favorites in the comments.
Video Description of the Job of Teacher Assistant
Does this sound right?
Sensitivity and patience are key assets.
Watch the video below for more:
Another great video available on our site is, "What do Paraeducators Do?"
Interview with a Para
There isn't very much information about this video and the music is a little loud, but this paraeducator gives answers to some questions about her job that you may relate to:
Consuelo Castillo Kickbusch Conference Keynote
Consuelo Castillo Kickbusch was the Saturday keynote speaker at the National Conference this year as she shared her love, laughter and tears with us. If you ever get a chance to listen to Consuelo, do not pass it up!
Right after her Keynote address she had a table full of books in the hall that quickly sold out. For anyone who is still interested, her book is titled Journey to the Future: A Roadmap for Success for Youth.
From the biography on our Keynote Conference page:
Born and raised along the border in a small barrio in Laredo, Texas, Consuelo Kickbusch is all too familiar with the challenges of poverty, discrimination and illiteracy. Although she grew up without material wealth, she was taught by her immigrant parents that she was rich in culture, tradition, values and faith. The values she learned as a child were reinforced throughout her career in the U.S. military. After graduating from Hardin Simmons University, Consuelo entered the U.S. Army as an officer and served for two decades. During that time, she broke barriers and set records in the military where she became the highest-ranking Hispanic woman in the Combat Support Field of the U.S. Army. When the opportunity to assume a command post arose, LTC Castillo Kickbusch shocked the military by deciding to retire. She chose to honor her mother's dying wish to get back to her roots and become a community leader.
She also shared these slides in a separate presentation about SLICK, a youth mentoring organization that she startedMore about Consuelo Castillo Kickbusch:
Educating the Whole Child with 21st Century Skills
Linda Mariotti was our keynote speaker this morning and gave a wonderful presentation titled, "Educating the Whole Child with 21st Century Skills"
She discussed the differences between digital immigrants and digital natives and contrasted the skills of 20th century educators with those needed by 21st century educators. Are you ready for our 21st century students?
More about Linda:
Linda began her career as an educator in 1971, teaching middle school English in California. Moving to Utah in 1985, Linda taught English in junior and senior high schools in Granite School District. She moved to the district office as a secondary language arts/foreign languages curriculum specialist in 1992. After receiving her administrative credentials in 1996, she worked as an intern administrator, assistant principal at both the junior and senior high school levels, and then as a junior high school principal. Linda returned to the district office in 2000 as the director of curriculum services. The following year she assumed her current position of assistant superintendent.
Paraeducators in China
Meet Jessica Dai (parent of a child with autism), Larissa Feng (social worker) and Sophie Xie (special educator), pioneers in promoting the important work of paraprofessionals in China.
Their presentation was highlight of the State Leadership Meeting last night. They told us about two organizations- the Childrens Palace and the Special Parents Club in Guangzhou who started a non-profit Paraeducator Program to provide training for paraeducators. Lacking government funding this training is actually paid for by the parents of childrens with disabilities. We congratulate them on the work they are doing and hope to hear more from them in the future!. Their presentation is available below:
State Leadership Meeting Review
The conference had begun and last tonight leaders from all over the country and world gathered here in Salt Lake City to discuss successes and challenges in their own states and countries, including three visitors from China.
The last half of the meeting was spent going around the room to hear about good things that were happening with paraprofessional all over the world. There was a lot of information and coordination that came really fast, but here are a few of the notes I was able to write down:
If you were there and I missed anything or you would like to add a website, just leave a comment!
Susan Simon From Iowa:
Iowas has now had voluntary paraeducator certification for 10 years, with large numbers of people certified.
Barbara Jo Stahl from Minnesota:
Barbara shared a new series of graduate level courses: Learning Support- a publication for teaching assistants in primary schools. A growing number of publishers producing books for teaching assistants.
Ritu Chopra from Colorado:
Elena Sandoval-Lucero fro Colorado
Working on bilingual issued for teachers and paraeducators in urban settings.
Donna Broyles from Arkansas:
Focusing on how to work together as a team and a para to teacher initiative with community colleges and universities and partnering with school districts to get paras into that pipeline.
Carla Mitchler from California:
with the California CSEA with 80,000 paras in their membership. California just had their 12th State paraprofessional conference, open to anyone who wants to go. They also have a paraeducator task force and a magazine with tips for paraeducators.
Marilyn Likins from Utah:
Asked by the state to write a handbook for instructional paraeducators that wil go out to paraeducators, administrators and teachers. Working with the Professional Employment Center on career pathways for a para to teacher program.
Sue Koprowski from Wisonconsin:
We had an active task force that provided a lot of training through state and regional conferences as well as stronds within the teacher conferences. Unfortunatley in January the funding was dropped. Working on establishing more avenues for students to move on to get teacher education.
Kent Gerlach from Washington:
Washington State has 14 competencies that paras must get within three years. Now focusing on school administrators and teachers- we have worked some paraprofessional interview questions for special educators. Concerned about the appropriateness of some training packages.
Betty Montgomery from Maryland:
Established a new Paraeducator Coordinator position to work with paraeducators and instructional data assistants.
Sally Murek from Maryland:
150,000 students, 200 schools and 2400 paraeducators in their district. Making sure the voice of the para is heard and that training is happening. Working on university partnerships. 60% of their 2400 paraeductors already have a 4 year degree.
Anna Lou Pickett
Ann Lou wrapped things up saying, "I'm sitting here listening and getting cold chills up my spine because we have made so much progress. However sometimes it feels like we are reinventing the wheel." She gave everyone the advice that whenever progress is made to make sure that there are people and policies in place so the progress will continue after you are gone.
