Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Paras are rock stars. They do so much. Often when the teachers are out, they become the sub because they know the class so well (and the subs that are hired are often the ones sitting on their phones and are warm bodies - at least this was the case in PEP). Paras are lucky in that they can just leave the classroom behind at the end of the day. But during their working hours they are helping students, cutting, photo copying, helping with behaviors, taking data, toileting/changing diapers. They are also micro managed to some degree and not given the same flexibility as teachers. They are definitely underpaid.

Para and a PP here - thank you for saying this.

Considering the requirement for a para educator is a high school diploma, they are paid along the lines of the required skills for the job.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Para quality varies widely. Some genuinely try to help the kids while others just sit on their phone in a corner of the classroom

I'm one of the paras who commented above. I subbed at a lot of schools before I became a permanent employee and never witnessed this kind of behavior. Yes, sometimes paras will glance at their phones or check their email to see if their lunch/recess duty has been added to or changed, but ignoring the students to browse on their phone? It is NOT the norm. Stop trying to discredit those of us who devote our days to helping out children who need extra care.

Are you in elementary school? Maybe it is different compared with HS. Maybe some of them feel less comfortable helping students with complex math assignments but they literally just sit on their phone. I would be happy explaining the work to them but they don’t ask

Paras at our high school do not help students with the course curriculum. The teacher has that responsibility.

Anonymous wrote:Paras are rock stars. They do so much. Often when the teachers are out, they become the sub because they know the class so well (and the subs that are hired are often the ones sitting on their phones and are warm bodies - at least this was the case in PEP). Paras are lucky in that they can just leave the classroom behind at the end of the day. But during their working hours they are helping students, cutting, photo copying, helping with behaviors, taking data, toileting/changing diapers. They are also micro managed to some degree and not given the same flexibility as teachers. They are definitely underpaid.

Para and a PP here - thank you for saying this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Para quality varies widely. Some genuinely try to help the kids while others just sit on their phone in a corner of the classroom

I'm one of the paras who commented above. I subbed at a lot of schools before I became a permanent employee and never witnessed this kind of behavior. Yes, sometimes paras will glance at their phones or check their email to see if their lunch/recess duty has been added to or changed, but ignoring the students to browse on their phone? It is NOT the norm. Stop trying to discredit those of us who devote our days to helping out children who need extra care.

Are you in elementary school? Maybe it is different compared with HS. Maybe some of them feel less comfortable helping students with complex math assignments but they literally just sit on their phone. I would be happy explaining the work to them but they don’t ask

Paras are rock stars. They do so much. Often when the teachers are out, they become the sub because they know the class so well (and the subs that are hired are often the ones sitting on their phones and are warm bodies - at least this was the case in PEP). Paras are lucky in that they can just leave the classroom behind at the end of the day. But during their working hours they are helping students, cutting, photo copying, helping with behaviors, taking data, toileting/changing diapers. They are also micro managed to some degree and not given the same flexibility as teachers. They are definitely underpaid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So MCPS pads Central Office with extra staff and is making up for it by hiring paras as TPT. Same job, but hourly, no benefits. How is this legal?

MCPS used to hire Special Educators to work with students. Then they changed to Paras. The difference is a highly qualified teacher or just a warm body. Difference is night and day. The change was based on funding, not the needs of students with disabilities.

Warm bodies....okay. I was going to say you sound like an idiot but that would be rude so I'll just say you seem to be severely misinformed. While every single para may not be fantastic I'd like to see you do that job for one day, you might have a different opinion of paras. There are funding issues, obviously, but the majority of special ed paras are very dedicated and pretty competent. It may be harder to find quality employees right now (as in so many jobs) but "warm bodies" is quite insulting to most paras.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So MCPS pads Central Office with extra staff and is making up for it by hiring paras as TPT. Same job, but hourly, no benefits. How is this legal?

MCPS used to hire Special Educators to work with students. Then they changed to Paras. The difference is a highly qualified teacher or just a warm body. Difference is night and day. The change was based on funding, not the needs of students with disabilities.

MCPS has had both for decades.

Anonymous wrote:So MCPS pads Central Office with extra staff and is making up for it by hiring paras as TPT. Same job, but hourly, no benefits. How is this legal?

MCPS used to hire Special Educators to work with students. Then they changed to Paras. The difference is a highly qualified teacher or just a warm body. Difference is night and day. The change was based on funding, not the needs of students with disabilities.

So MCPS pads Central Office with extra staff and is making up for it by hiring paras as TPT. Same job, but hourly, no benefits. How is this legal?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a 70 hour para and I make 27k/year.

And that's why there are so many openings for paras. $27,000 a year for 35 hours a week (minus taxes) and no benefits.

Please stop spreading misinformation! The only paras who don't receive benefits are those working under 20 hours per week or those who are considered temporary.

They are considered temporary. That's why they're all listed as "TEMPORARY PART TIME, NO BENEFITS" on the MCPS career page. The reason is that the kids may leave the school, etc. But probably also because it saves MCPS a lot of money.

Paras are the bottom of the totem pole and get treated with absolutely zero respect by some principals (think Bethesda area) even though they are underpaid saints.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Para quality varies widely. Some genuinely try to help the kids while others just sit on their phone in a corner of the classroom

I'm one of the paras who commented above. I subbed at a lot of schools before I became a permanent employee and never witnessed this kind of behavior. Yes, sometimes paras will glance at their phones or check their email to see if their lunch/recess duty has been added to or changed, but ignoring the students to browse on their phone? It is NOT the norm. Stop trying to discredit those of us who devote our days to helping out children who need extra care.

I'm also a para and I agree--most paras are very dedicated to the students

The ones hanging out on phones are doomed to remain TPTs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Para quality varies widely. Some genuinely try to help the kids while others just sit on their phone in a corner of the classroom

I'm one of the paras who commented above. I subbed at a lot of schools before I became a permanent employee and never witnessed this kind of behavior. Yes, sometimes paras will glance at their phones or check their email to see if their lunch/recess duty has been added to or changed, but ignoring the students to browse on their phone? It is NOT the norm. Stop trying to discredit those of us who devote our days to helping out children who need extra care.

I'm also a para and I agree--most paras are very dedicated to the students

Anonymous wrote:Para quality varies widely. Some genuinely try to help the kids while others just sit on their phone in a corner of the classroom

I'm one of the paras who commented above. I subbed at a lot of schools before I became a permanent employee and never witnessed this kind of behavior. Yes, sometimes paras will glance at their phones or check their email to see if their lunch/recess duty has been added to or changed, but ignoring the students to browse on their phone? It is NOT the norm. Stop trying to discredit those of us who devote our days to helping out children who need extra care.

Para quality varies widely. Some genuinely try to help the kids while others just sit on their phone in a corner of the classroom

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:According to the chart, you will be making about $19 per hour. Because you are not full time, probably no benefits or leave.

Why do people comment on things they don't know about?? Permanent paras (v. temporary) get benefits if they work 20 hours per week or more AND receive leave and benefits.

OP, you'll make $18.97 per hour starting. Paras will be paid for 197 days next school year (see the Work Schedule for that information).

Those of us who choose to be paras over working retail do it in part because we love to help children learn and become more confident in their abilities. I have no desire to work in retail and deal with complaining adults every day; I love the energy in a school and knowing that I am making a difference in children's lives.

Best of luck, OP!

+1 - this PP is spot on, OP. If the job listing says TPT, that means no benefits (TPT = temporary part time) and you won't be paid for any snow days or any holidays. I started out in MCPS in a TPT position to get my foot in the door. If it's a permanent position of at least 4 hours per day, you're eligible for full benefits immediately.

I have a kid with special needs and being in a part-time job that is also roughly on their school schedule is a huge help for our family - so while it isn't the highest pay, it has flexibility that I value a lot. I also really enjoy working with kids but very much do not want to be a classroom teacher so this is a great fit for me.