Paraeducators have an integral role in the instructional team. A paraeducator is a school employee who works under the supervision of, and alongside, a certificated teacher to assist in providing instructional services to children and their families. Education paraprofessionals support the classroom teacher through a number of activities, such as grading papers, providing one-on-one help to students, or organizing the classroom.
The main role of the paraeducator is to support the classroom teacher. The certificated teacher, on the other hand, remains responsible for the overall conduct and management of the classroom, as well as the design, implementation, and evaluation of the instructional program and student progress.
Paraeducators can work in both private and public elementary, middle, and high schools. In 2014, about 77 percent of teacher assistants were emp loyed by elementary and secondary schools, and nine percent were employed by childcare services.
— David Hurt, Renton School District
If you want to work with kids and help them learn, the paraeducator pathway may be right for you! Paraeducators should enjoy the team aspect of working with a classroom teacher and other staff. This pathway can be a great way to have a career working with kids, or it can be a stepping stone to becoming a certificated teacher.
At the end of the day, if you want to have a successful career as a paraeducator, you need to have an ability to engage with students, a desire to work as part of a team, and a love of learning.
