Paraeducation positions - no experience working with students

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a para and I love it! I get to have all the fun of working with kids without having to deal with the back-and-forth parent emails (joking!).

You will start the application through MCPS Careers (upload resume, cover letter, any additional docs like courses taken, etc.), and then you can apply to individual job postings at different schools. I would spend time crafting a cover letter that reflects how your experience working with your own children had led you to a desire to work as a para. HR will look at applications received for a particular posting, and will pass along the names of the top three candidates to the principal, and the principal will schedule interviews. I was hired two years ago and did not have a pre-interview before being interviewed by the principal. Once I was hired, it took about 6 weeks to complete the hiring process (along with fingerprinting and completing a background check, MCPS needed every past employer to certify I have never been fired for sexual abuse/assault).

The benefits are pretty good but the pay is low - great option for someone wanting to work part time (5.5 hours a day). I love seeing the kids everyday and feel the kids look forward to seeing me when I come in the classroom. Now that my own kids are older, it’s easier for me to give energy to the kids at school.

What is the average pay in MCPS?

Way too low for Paras given the crap we get. But if you can swing a permanent position of 4 hours or more (albeit tough in the first year), the benefits are great.

[Anonymous]

You would be so welcome in my daughter’s SN’s classroom. Please apply

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a para and I love it! I get to have all the fun of working with kids without having to deal with the back-and-forth parent emails (joking!).

You will start the application through MCPS Careers (upload resume, cover letter, any additional docs like courses taken, etc.), and then you can apply to individual job postings at different schools. I would spend time crafting a cover letter that reflects how your experience working with your own children had led you to a desire to work as a para. HR will look at applications received for a particular posting, and will pass along the names of the top three candidates to the principal, and the principal will schedule interviews. I was hired two years ago and did not have a pre-interview before being interviewed by the principal. Once I was hired, it took about 6 weeks to complete the hiring process (along with fingerprinting and completing a background check, MCPS needed every past employer to certify I have never been fired for sexual abuse/assault).

The benefits are pretty good but the pay is low - great option for someone wanting to work part time (5.5 hours a day). I love seeing the kids everyday and feel the kids look forward to seeing me when I come in the classroom. Now that my own kids are older, it’s easier for me to give energy to the kids at school.

OP here. Thank you so much. This is really helpful. I appreciate you taking the time to write this.

[Anonymous]

OP again. Thanks again everyone for your encouragement. I do plan to apply. I should note that it’s not that I specifically want to be a para for SN kids, it’s just the the majority of the para jobs posted are ones working with SN kids. I am basically looking for a part time position in the school system.

[Anonymous]

Different poster. Any tips to finding a position with benefits?

[Anonymous]

Even a four hour/day position with MCPS gets you full benefits. Even crossing guards get benefits. OP- you sound perfect for para, please do apply!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even a four hour/day position with MCPS gets you full benefits. Even crossing guards get benefits. OP- you sound perfect for para, please do apply!

The 4 hour position needs to be "permanent" not "temporary" to get benefits. Most advertised positions are temp. If you have a certain credentials, it's fairly usual to convert to permanent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again. Thanks again everyone for your encouragement. I do plan to apply. I should note that it’s not that I specifically want to be a para for SN kids, it’s just the the majority of the para jobs posted are ones working with SN kids. I am basically looking for a part time position in the school system.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sure why would special needs kids deserve anyone with training or experience?

F-off.You are a terrible human being,make no mistake. OP is willing to learn. Have fun being awful.

NP. Actually, it is you, immediate PP, who is a terrible human being. Special needs kids in the system have a legal right to a free and appropriate education. It is what they need to grow and become contributing members of society. Teaching special needs kids requires an understanding of the best methods of instruction and an understanding of the broad ways that disabilities present. IME, untrained staff often blame and are punitive to special needs students because the educator misperceives behavior due to disabilities. Also our SN students don't learn without appropriate instruction and just fall further and further behind, negatively impacting their mental health, their future prospects and the family system.

You wouldn’t be too happy if your student was assigned a math teacher with no teaching experience and no math experience. Why should special needs parents feel differently?

It is not enough to throw whatever warm body can be found for $ 18.79 (or less) an hour

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sure why would special needs kids deserve anyone with training or experience?

F-off.You are a terrible human being,make no mistake. OP is willing to learn. Have fun being awful.

NP. Actually, it is you, immediate PP, who is a terrible human being. Special needs kids in the system have a legal right to a free and appropriate education. It is what they need to grow and become contributing members of society. Teaching special needs kids requires an understanding of the best methods of instruction and an understanding of the broad ways that disabilities present. IME, untrained staff often blame and are punitive to special needs students because the educator misperceives behavior due to disabilities. Also our SN students don't learn without appropriate instruction and just fall further and further behind, negatively impacting their mental health, their future prospects and the family system.

You wouldn’t be too happy if your student was assigned a math teacher with no teaching experience and no math experience. Why should special needs parents feel differently?

It is not enough to throw whatever warm body can be found for $ 18.79 (or less) an hour

That's why the requirements for a paraeducator are different than those for a teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sure why would special needs kids deserve anyone with training or experience?

+1. But he’ll if you can speak English you are ahead of the game! My DC was frustrated beyond belief to finally get someone - and then be unable to understand them. Second worse is having the ‘bright’ student try to ‘explain’. Ah left MCPS for greener pastures...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even a four hour/day position with MCPS gets you full benefits. Even crossing guards get benefits. OP- you sound perfect for para, please do apply!

Because it’s a jobs program first, hook up for well connected companies second (Pearson) and an educational system third.

[Anonymous]

OP, I hope you’re still reading. My daughter is a special ed teacher. She has two paras in her class. One of them was hired last week. No experience outside of her own child. My daughter says she is fantastic! The kids love her and respond really well to her. Paras are desperately needed in most districts. You’ll learn by being in the classroom. Definitely apply!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sure why would special needs kids deserve anyone with training or experience?

F-off.You are a terrible human being,make no mistake. OP is willing to learn. Have fun being awful.

NP. Actually, it is you, immediate PP, who is a terrible human being. Special needs kids in the system have a legal right to a free and appropriate education. It is what they need to grow and become contributing members of society. Teaching special needs kids requires an understanding of the best methods of instruction and an understanding of the broad ways that disabilities present. IME, untrained staff often blame and are punitive to special needs students because the educator misperceives behavior due to disabilities. Also our SN students don't learn without appropriate instruction and just fall further and further behind, negatively impacting their mental health, their future prospects and the family system.

You wouldn’t be too happy if your student was assigned a math teacher with no teaching experience and no math experience. Why should special needs parents feel differently?

It is not enough to throw whatever warm body can be found for $ 18.79 (or less) an hour

That's why the requirements for a paraeducator are different than those for a teacher.

But, MCPS uses paraeducators as teachers. My DS has had IEP services since grade school and has never received appropriate instruction mostly because he is working with the paraeducator 99% of the time, who is simply giving him more prompts and telling him what to write instead of teaching him. We finally gave up with the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I hope you’re still reading. My daughter is a special ed teacher. She has two paras in her class. One of them was hired last week. No experience outside of her own child. My daughter says she is fantastic! The kids love her and respond really well to her. Paras are desperately needed in most districts. You’ll learn by being in the classroom. Definitely apply!

OP here. Thank you for this.