The vast majority of paras are in Spec ED.

Orientation? I have been in 3 schools, shown to my room, and that was it.

Teacher never introduced me to the class. Kids thought I was a visiting parent.

I showed up to planing sessions but was never acknowledged; I have a masters in Education and taught at several communities colleges over the last 20 years.

Like other posters, I did it for the benefits. I have a good tutoring business on the side.

How do you get a school to hire paras who are specifically helping with reading skills tutoring or basic math skills to get students up to speed?

Anonymous wrote:Para educators - What was your first day like as a paraeducator? Were you shown around the school/training?

Shown around the school - yes, briefly, and given a map. Training is mostly on the job, with either the teacher you're helping explaining what to do or other paras helping you out (if you have lunch/recess duty). Don't be afraid to ask other paras if you have questions; most are willing to help explain how things are done!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do they typically hire older 65yrs+ (e.g. grandparents) for paras position?

I seriously doubt it. Being a para is physically demanding, even when one is working only with the general ed population. We had an older para at my school who kept holding out on retiring, and they had to make a lot of physical allowances for her during her last few years, which put more demands on the other staff. Certainly, there are some very fit people who are 65+, but why would a school hire someone new who's already at high risk for illnesses and injury?

Because age discrimination is illegal. If someone can't physically do the job, regardless of age, that is one thing, but you can't say "you're older and you're more likely to get sick" -- that's illegal.

Well, of course they'd never say that to a person who was interviewing, but the physical demands in the job description say that frequent bending, walking, running, and lifting of objects/equipment up to 50 pounds may be required. If an applicant doesn't appear to be able to meet those qualifications, they can reject them in favor of someone else. And current employees get first priority, thanks to the union.

Anonymous wrote:Para educators - What was your first day like as a paraeducator? Were you shown around the school/training?

Which time? I've been in several schools. Not much of an orientation in any of them, mostly just told where to go and given a map of the school and a quick walk to a couple key places. The very first time I was given a seat at a computer for the mandatory training.

What are you looking for?

Para educators - What was your first day like as a paraeducator? Were you shown around the school/training?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do they typically hire older 65yrs+ (e.g. grandparents) for paras position?

I seriously doubt it. Being a para is physically demanding, even when one is working only with the general ed population. We had an older para at my school who kept holding out on retiring, and they had to make a lot of physical allowances for her during her last few years, which put more demands on the other staff. Certainly, there are some very fit people who are 65+, but why would a school hire someone new who's already at high risk for illnesses and injury?

Because age discrimination is illegal. If someone can't physically do the job, regardless of age, that is one thing, but you can't say "you're older and you're more likely to get sick" -- that's illegal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes there’s a shortage, but the lunch/recess coverage is still bad even when you are fully staffed. There is no money for more than 2 staff members per 100 students or so.

How can this be? You need 1 teacher for 30/students in a classroom, right? So wouldnt you need at least 3-4 paras at lunch recess if 100 students?

Pretty sure the guidelines, not mandates, for recess are one para per 150 students. It's atrocious

It is 1 for every 50 students.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes there’s a shortage, but the lunch/recess coverage is still bad even when you are fully staffed. There is no money for more than 2 staff members per 100 students or so.

How can this be? You need 1 teacher for 30/students in a classroom, right? So wouldnt you need at least 3-4 paras at lunch recess if 100 students?

Pretty sure the guidelines, not mandates, for recess are one para per 150 students. It's atrocious

Is this true for the K-2 grades?

I always thought it was 1:125 students at recess. We always try to have at least 3 people for that number of students, though. And yes, that's for k-2.

Parents should voice any concerns they have about this, so that we can get more staffing!!!!

What's the guidelines for middle school? My kid was saying it seems like 1 teacher for 100 kids at lunch/recess, and I thought he was joking.

Anonymous wrote:Para is better than substitute teacher. Paras can get benefits. I've done both. I am still a para because it gives better and cheaper benefits for my family than my DH's job. I work 830 -3pm which works well for my family. Lots of (unpaid) time off and with summers off with my kids.

After deductions there is practically nothing left in my paycheck so we just use it for household change and additional contribution to the retirement or college fund.

Must be some great benefits. I was in DC and was not able to use any of them. I already had health; I drove. so no need for metro card, and the retirement was useless. I minimized retirement to $50 and now the money is stuck yet in another account somewhere.
The work was mentally and physically exhausting which meant I was too tired to go to my night or weekend job that paid $30 an hour. All I know is that according to DCPS my pay was $39k which doesn't sound too bad. In reality, I took home $1020 every two weeks. I will never know what was added back to it to make it out to be $39k. My guess is that even the summer vacation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes there’s a shortage, but the lunch/recess coverage is still bad even when you are fully staffed. There is no money for more than 2 staff members per 100 students or so.

How can this be? You need 1 teacher for 30/students in a classroom, right? So wouldnt you need at least 3-4 paras at lunch recess if 100 students?

Pretty sure the guidelines, not mandates, for recess are one para per 150 students. It's atrocious

Is this true for the K-2 grades?

I always thought it was 1:125 students at recess. We always try to have at least 3 people for that number of students, though. And yes, that's for k-2.

Parents should voice any concerns they have about this, so that we can get more staffing!!!!

Anonymous wrote:Do they typically hire older 65yrs+ (e.g. grandparents) for paras position?

I seriously doubt it. Being a para is physically demanding, even when one is working only with the general ed population. We had an older para at my school who kept holding out on retiring, and they had to make a lot of physical allowances for her during her last few years, which put more demands on the other staff. Certainly, there are some very fit people who are 65+, but why would a school hire someone new who's already at high risk for illnesses and injury?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes there’s a shortage, but the lunch/recess coverage is still bad even when you are fully staffed. There is no money for more than 2 staff members per 100 students or so.

How can this be? You need 1 teacher for 30/students in a classroom, right? So wouldnt you need at least 3-4 paras at lunch recess if 100 students?

Pretty sure the guidelines, not mandates, for recess are one para per 150 students. It's atrocious

Is this true for the K-2 grades?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes there’s a shortage, but the lunch/recess coverage is still bad even when you are fully staffed. There is no money for more than 2 staff members per 100 students or so.

How can this be? You need 1 teacher for 30/students in a classroom, right? So wouldnt you need at least 3-4 paras at lunch recess if 100 students?

Pretty sure the guidelines, not mandates, for recess are one para per 150 students. It's atrocious

Para is better than substitute teacher. Paras can get benefits. I've done both. I am still a para because it gives better and cheaper benefits for my family than my DH's job. I work 830 -3pm which works well for my family. Lots of (unpaid) time off and with summers off with my kids.

After deductions there is practically nothing left in my paycheck so we just use it for household change and additional contribution to the retirement or college fund.