Wanted: Good Paraeducators
Leslie recently commented that she thought she might want to become a paraeducator. She has a passion for helping kids with disabilities; is that enough
to do a good job?
The paras that I have worked with
generally fall into three categories. The younger group of paras often aspires to become certified teachers. I like working
with this group especially well because then I can help mentor them along. I am always recruiting.
A second group are those in transition
to something apart from special education. They are doing this until their children get older or until something else better
comes along. Most of these don’t last long in my room. There are many other easier jobs.
Then there are the lifers. These
folks don’t necessarily need the money (but might need the insurance benefits) and are not going back to school. They
may have already done some other things and are not necessarily looking for a promotion or maybe they are sick and tired of
the rat race. This last group is a more diverse group as far as age and life circumstances.
The life of a special ed para can
be very satisfying if a body can put aside their ego. In the organizational chart of a school building, paras are at the bottom,
if they are even included at all. Custodians, secretaries, cafeteria workers and bus drivers all have their own unique fiefdoms
from which to project their power and importance. But not so a para in a classroom.
In exchange for the low status
comes a lessening of headaches compared to their immediate supervisor, the teacher. When an administrator knocks on the door,
he/she wants to speak to the teacher. Who do parents want to talk to about their child? The para? No, the teacher. Who does
the SLP consult with? Teacher again! Same with PTs, OTs’ vision and hearing specialists, doctors, probation officers,
social workers, healthcare workers, social security administration workers….you name it, they all want the teacher.
Not many of these responsibilities can be delegated off to the paras. I certainly can not delegate IEP writing and meetings!
Sometimes I wish I could! But this is why I get paid the big bucks.
Paras are the ones doing the biggest
share of “grunt work.” This is work no one wants to do, like running copies, changing diapers, tube feeding, feeding,
PT exercises and supervising students with the most extensive needs. Training is often poor, if present at all. While teachers
have a myriad of inservices and workshops to hone skills, the training selection for paras is often sparse and it’s
even harder for them to get leave time to do it.
But the single biggest factor which
I’ve found that determines how happy a para is, is the relationship with the teacher. This basically involves matching
styles and personalities the same way one might match a couple for marriage. If teacher and para can work together as a team,
it can be very rewarding. If conflicts occur, mount up and fester then it can be hellish.
How timely.
I’ve been working on this
post for a few days and just learned that a para has just resigned. You know, the one that was smart and sharp and taking
the data on Thomas? Yes, that one, Ms. Dee.
So now I’ll switch up a bit,
taking off the teacher hat and putting on the parent hat.
Probably the biggest concern Jane
and I have as parents is getting a para who either has some knowledge of autism, or is eager to learn. In fact, the willingness
to learn is one thing that clearly distinguishes a superior para from others. This is why a para falling into my first group
above would be my first choice. Someone with a heart and passion for the business combined with a bit of ambition and drive
makes for a winning combination. They tend to be more teachable because they have a stake in the process as well as the outcome.
It is also important that Thomas
like whoever is going to be working with him. However, the one drawback to the para who is resigning was that she was a bit
of a pushover and he did not necessarily see her as an authority figure. This caused a lot of the behavior problems that we
were seeing.
Job security for paraeducators
is generally good, as schools always need good and experiences people and the turnover can be rather high. However, paras
are constantly being moved around and reassigned and the para’s preference is not always a factor. In my time in this
room, I can not begin to count how many paras who have come through here and are now scattered around the county. Like a true
grunt, they go where they are sent and redeployments are common.
While the benefits (retirement
and insurance) are generally good, the money is not. Under NCLB, paras are supposed to have at least 2 years of college, but
no provision has been made to raise the pay accordingly. Magnolia county does have a step-level system so that additional
education does result in increased pay, but it isn’t much of an increase. It is not enough to live on, and most paras
I know have other jobs on the side. Coach helps coach football as well as works part-time respite care, Queen collects tickets
at sporting events as well as works retail on Saturdays during holiday peak periods. Patience works at a daycare during breaks
and summers. Princess, who was redeployed this year, is going to school. Ruth, who is being redeployed back with us for one
hour, has a pension check and will be drawing social security soon. So all of these folks have other things going on the side.
This says two things: One is that the pay is very poor. Secondly, while the job can be somewhat demanding there is time and
energy to spare for other things. The planning, grading, paperwork and other responsibilities go to the teacher. When I was
a para, I actually did plan for a class or two because I wanted to and the teacher was only too happy to let me. Being responsible
for a segement or two of instruction kept me in teacher mode and gave the teacher a much-needed break because she did not
have ANY duty-free planning.
As a parent, I would like the most
competent, caring person possible. Truth be told, I’d like a person with all of the attributes that I would want in
a full-fledged teacher! But this is just not the norm. Back when I did it in the early 1990’s, there was a recession
going on so it was not unusual to have degreed teachers. It still happens sometimes, as you often find a mother whose kids
are in school wants to go back to work without all of the headaches of being a teacher.
So if any of you competent folks
are out there and are looking for position in Georgia, now is a good time to apply!
dick
My post about Para pay is here, for those interested.
To read comments
http://specialed.wordpress.com/2006/09/28/wanted-good-paraeducators/
