District and School Supports for Paraprofessionals
By Kristen Blazsik
As key supports for students with disabilities and their classroom teachers, paraprofessionals play an integral role in our schools. These resources and best practices are intended to help schools and districts seeking supports for paraprofessionals.
THE ROLE
Utilize paraprofessionals as key instructional staff, and include paraprofessionals on instructional teams. Be sure to understand the role paraprofessionals can play in supporting student achievement.
This guide, Improving Results for All Children: Guidelines for Ohio Paraprofessionals Supporting the Education of Children with Disabilities and Learning Difficulties, provides a comprehensive overview of the role of paraprofessionals in the instructional process.
TRAINING
Ensure paraprofessionals have the necessary training and professional development to successfully support students. Customize professional development to meet the specific needs of paraprofessionals and provide opportunities for paraprofessionals to voice their needs for training and development. Include paraprofessionals in the district or school professional development plan and consider creating an induction program for paraprofessionals that includes an orientation. To learn more about developing a strong onboarding system, visit our Onboarding page.
Consider implementing OPEPP’s District Action Planning Process to improve the use of paraprofessionals in support of district goals.
Understand the role of district, school or special education administrators in training and developing paraprofessionals and supporting teachers with paraprofessionals in their classroom.
The Council for Exceptional Children’s (CEC) Supporting Your Paraeducators: The Administrator’s Role is a free on-demand workshop that provides an understanding of the administrator’s role in fostering collaboration among staff and establishing effective training and supervision systems for paraeducators. This workshop is a complementary component of the CEC’s Successful Systems & Strategies for Admins and Teachers program which includes 8 on-demand workshops.
SUPPORTS FOR TEACHERS WORKING WITH PARAPROFESSIONALS
Provide guidance to teachers whose classrooms have paraprofessionals. Teachers should be given the tools and skills necessary to be able to coach those paraprofessionals in their classrooms.
Support teachers to utilize paraprofessionals in co-teaching models such as;
One teach, one support where the teacher primarily delivers instruction and the paraprofessional offers support, such as managing behavior.
Alternative teaching where the teacher delivers instruction to the majority of the class while the paraprofessional pulls a student or small group of students for remedial instruction and enrichment activities.
Station teaching where the teacher and paraprofessional design stations to introduce concepts or skills to students. The teacher and paraprofessional are able to support individual students as needs arise.
MORE IDEAS
Read more about strategies to support teachers in coaching paraprofessionals in the Teachers Coaching Paraprofessionals, developed by OPEPP.
Consider creating a paraprofessional mentor program where new paraprofessionals are paired with experienced paraprofessionals.
Consider a pay scale for paraprofessionals depending on the difficulty or intensity of work.
Paraprofessionals are an excellent demographic to become licensed teachers within the district. Providing paraprofessionals instructional time not only gives a window into the teaching profession, but it also prepares them for the role. Consider developing a Grow Your Own program for paraprofessionals to create a sustainable staffing pipeline at your school or district. To learn more about these programs, visit our Grow Your Own page.