Paraeducators

[Anonymous]

I was a LAD para to start my career back in the mid-2000s.

Now I'm a RTSE at a large high school.

I love each and every one of the dozens of special education paras at our school.

They truly are the most pure position in the school, as I tell them all the time, because their sole job is to work with kids.

No paperwork, no planning, just working with kids. (Yes, I know that paras can fill out student data sheets or give feedback to case managers; they CHOOSE to plan things sometimes too. This comment isn't to disparage paras' jobs...again, I was one for 4 years before I moved onto MCEA. It's to say how special, critical, and important their role is since they only have to focus on kids and not much else in terms of paperwork/red tape).

With that said, I wish there were more incentives to get more people in the job. It truly is hard to make that choice to be a para when I can make more waiting tables or working in retail, and with less stress (both of which I did between the ages of 16 and 24 before I started in MCPS 16 years ago).

[Anonymous]

Pay paraeducators an extra five more dollars or that comes out, roughly, twelve million dollars per month for the entire district. Eliminate eighty central office positions paying a hundred and fifty thousand or more to cover that expense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All central employees should have to spend 1/day per month in a school. They need to spend time in an ES, MS, and HS. Each time you spend the day it needs to be in a different school zone.

You can be a sub or a para depending on your qualifications but you must spend the day in the classroom. You cannot assist in the front office.

I love this so very much! They should be required to go in as a para 6 times a year and a sub six times a year. I would love to see a similar requirement for board members as well to go in at least twice in their tenure —once as a sub and once as a para.

[Anonymous]

I was a para for 4 years. It was an awesome job, I loved the kids... Hated the parents as they were just doing too much. The pay was the worst, like 18k a year, and then we did not get paid in the summer and had to find another job. Had to go to work during spring break to get paid, it was the worst. At the school where I worked all the para had a BA/BS so we eventually left within 4/5 years.

[Anonymous]

What is job security like for a para educator? Is it a year to year contract?

I would like to find a para educator job, but I don’t want to quit my stable job for something that won’t be in certain.

[Anonymous]

Yes, there's a shortage. My chikd was finally given a 1:1 aide and it still hasn't been filled in over a year. It would significantly improve her life at school, but it hasn't been filled most likely because of the school (and the school has a great team). It's unfortunate.

[Anonymous]

If they increased pay by 10-15k the positions would be full. MCPS is a multibillion dollar system that absolutely can afford this. But the central office would rather give themselves raises...

[Anonymous]

Maybe. But there are other issues / shortages, like counselors, substitutes, and more. The pay raises would be needed for several different classes of employees.

[Anonymous]

So a para working with a special needs student does not need a degree in special education? Do they receive any training? Some of the special needs students are a full time job 1:1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So a para working with a special needs student does not need a degree in special education? Do they receive any training? Some of the special needs students are a full time job 1:1.

I am not sure what it is like in MCPS, but in most states, no, a degree is not required. And I've never seen a para of any kind get any kind of significant training. Maybe a special ed teacher might spend a few minutes showing them how to use the chart?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is job security like for a para educator? Is it a year to year contract?

I would like to find a para educator job, but I don’t want to quit my stable job for something that won’t be in certain.

You don't need to worry about job stability. I guarantee you that every school has unfilled positions. Even if you got a para job and it ended, there'll ALWAYS be another para job open at a school. If you don't mind working for pennies, there's plenty of options.

[Anonymous]

Until robots replace paras, no need to worry about not finding a para job. Bring along a friend, schools need you both!

[Anonymous]

For the most part, I wouldn't recommend it, if only because paras are currently being treated as disposable and used as classroom substitutes, daily. Something has to change, or the attrition losses will continue and we will just cycle through warm bodies.

[Anonymous]

I am a special Ed teacher who has considered quitting to be a para - no paperwork, direct work with kids, no planning... But the pay is terrible and they don't get paid for snow days and professional development days.

There are some very wonderful paras who would be great teachers and there are some who are terrible - can't follow simple direction from teachers, call out sick constantly, not educated enough to help support the teaching, not patient or motivated.

[Anonymous]

Most paras at our ES and MS got benefits after I think a year. I know at least 2 that were able to get tuition paid to get their teaching certificates. It could be we just have really good principals but the principals really seem to invest in the paras. I also think by virtue of being a "nice" school they tend to attract paraeducators who have 4-year-college degrees and are either looking for a career change or are right out of college and still on the fence about whether to go into education or something else.