Most of the paras I work with have a bachelors or masters. (I have a masters.) This is normal for the DC area; it doesn't matter what the "requirements" for the job are. One of my colleagues at a different school has a PhD and teaches at College Park as well.

It just so happens you can't beat the benefits at MCPS. It's one of the reasons I am a Para. My DH makes good money but the bennies are crappy. I work 30 hours/week with full benefits. Nearly my entire paycheck goes to our retirement fund. But I have 3 kids and want to be home when they get home. (I work 8-2) It is also easy to take them to their myriad doc appmts. I could never do this with a "regular" 8-5 job.

It has worked well for 6 years. I know all the teachers I work with are grateful and depend on me. I am treated as an equal professional. I never felt that in other jobs.

I have been a para for 10 years. I get great health care benefits for my family. I have the hours I love to work. (4.5 hours per day.)

3 evenings a week I teach at Montgomery College. It's the perfect balance.

Anonymous wrote:I would like to be a para but when I last checked they were all no benefits.

Many of the new positions are temp/no benefits. Many of the paras who want to can transition to perm positions with benefits the next year.

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.

Seems like there are a few regular posters who are on a mission to spread misinformation and create animosity and grievance.

Anonymous wrote:I would like to be a para but when I last checked they were all no benefits.

There are para positions with benefits.

I would like to be a para but when I last checked they were all no benefits.

I was a para for 7 months as part of my degree requirements. I hated it so much. It was exhausting making sure kids don't play or talk the 6.5 hours.
I didn't care for any of the benefits. Lunch hour was 20 minutes long only. I spent a lot of time and money trying to figure out what I can gulp down.
I'm better off taking care of a child part time. Some families allow me to have my own elementary school kid around while watching theirs. The few holidays and snow days don't make up for the rigidness and low pay of the para job.
Try it out but be ready for it to be exhausting unless you can sit on your phone.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

PP you’re replying to - I have a masters degree, not that it necessarily makes me better at my job than someone else. My fellow paras in self-contained special ed programs have skills, patience, and dedication that no degree can compensate for.