How to hire an at risk paraprofessional

How to hire an at risk paraprofessional, step by step

Here's a step-by-step at risk paraprofessional hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an at risk paraprofessional job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new at risk paraprofessional
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the at risk paraprofessional you need to hire. Certain at risk paraprofessional roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an at risk paraprofessional to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire an at risk paraprofessional that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of at risk paraprofessional salaries for various roles:

   Type of At Risk Paraprofessional	Description	Hourly rate
   At Risk Paraprofessional	Teacher assistants work under a teacher’s supervision to give students additional attention and instruction.	$12-18
   Substitute Teachers Aide	A substitute teacher's aide assists classroom teachers in executing their tasks such as evaluating the progress and needs of students. Substitute teachers' aides ensure education's progress by providing assistance to lead classroom teachers... Show more	$10-15
   Teacher Internship	Teaching interns are individuals who assist teachers and educators in the classroom. The interns are instructed to fulfill the tasks set out and provided by the supervisors for them... Show more	$16-32

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Learning Environment
   • Instructional Program

   Responsibilities:

   • Provide educational support instruction, lesson plan development, implementation, recordkeeping and assessments.
   • Care for 1on1 special needs children as a sub for such as autistism, adhd, ect.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your at risk paraprofessional job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An at risk paraprofessional can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, at risk paraprofessionals' average salary in new mexico is 30% less than in hawaii.
   • Seniority. Entry-level at risk paraprofessionals 36% less than senior-level at risk paraprofessionals.
   • Certifications. An at risk paraprofessional with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an at risk paraprofessional's salary.

   Average at risk paraprofessional salary

   $15.15hourly

   $31,502 yearly

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   Entry-level at risk paraprofessional salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 31, 2026

4. Writing an at risk paraprofessional job description

   An at risk paraprofessional job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of an at risk paraprofessional job description:

   At risk paraprofessional job description example

   As a thought-leader and best-in-class provider in education, wellness, youth development, and community-building, The YMCA of Metro Atlanta is one of the oldest and most essential non-profits serving in Atlanta. Today, we're looking for you to join us as we carry out our mission to positively impact lives and communities across the state.
   
   At the Y, we're an association of like-minded people (staff, volunteers, and members), on the forefront of a movement to ensure that everyone -- especially children -- experience an equal opportunity to reach their full potential. In the course of a year, we provide more than 3,000 children, ages 6 weeks through Pre-K with high-quality literacy and STEAM-infused learning; give 58,000 youth and teens access to sports, aquatics, day and resident camps, teen leadership development programs, and employment opportunities; provide over 200,000 members with programs, services, and facilities to enjoy connection and maintain wellness regardless of age; and engage over 25,000 volunteers and donors from across Atlanta to share in the gift of supporting their communities.
   
   The opportunities to serve are vast, and we're looking for a diverse mix of people, who share our values of CARING, HONESTY, RESPECT, and RESPONSIBILITY, to join us and do their best work. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion is reflected in our people, our members, and our partners. We are fully focused on equality and believe deeply in diversity of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin and all the other wonderful characteristics that make us different.
   Commitment to Health and Safety
   
   The YMCA of Metro Atlanta has implemented a COVID-19 Vaccination requirement for all Full-Time positions. For further information, please visit our Vaccine Hub, or speak to your recruiter. Reasonable accommodations for medical and religious objections will be considered.
   
   Nature and Scope:
   
   Under the direction of the After School Program Director, the 21st Century Paraprofessional, will be primarily responsible for supporting the 21st CCLC Academic Team for the Afterschool 21st CCLC program with the delivery of the academic and enrichment component of the specified school site. The 20-hour program will include the following academic instruction, tutoring, homework assistance and STEAM project-based learning opportunities for the students. This position will play a support role for the 21st CCLC Team in supervision of children delivery academic instruction to the students in a virtual environment.
   
   Minimum Requirements:
   
   * Paraprofessional certificate, 2 Year Associate preferred
   * A minimum of 2 years' experience in working with in Title 1 schools preferred.
   * Required certifications, Paraprofessional certificate, 2 Year Associate Teaching Certificate; must obtain any other certifications required for the position.
   * Ability to obtain working knowledge of 21st CCLC requirements
   * A working knowledge of computers: MS Word, MS Excel, data base management.
   * Attend required professional development activities.
   * Exemplify YMCA ideals, leadership qualities.
   * Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills.
   * Ability to handle multiple tasks, work independently, problem solve and possess effective time management skills.
   * Strong customer service skills, and personal commitment to service and hospitality.
   * Must be at least 21 years of age.
   * Pass a criminal background and drug screening check.
   * Pass a Motor Vehicles Record and have own transportation.
   * CPR within 30 days of employment and maintain throughout employment.
   
   Responsibilities:
   
   * Carry out daily program tasks related directly to the position's scope and responsibility.
   * Stay updated on current issues regarding 21st CCLC programming.
   * Support Site Coordinator and Academic Team promote, monitor, evaluate and ensure that 21st CCLC site run smoothly with a high level of service to participants.
   * Assist with timely collection and submittal of data/reports as required by 21st CCLC.
   * Maintain branch and association certifications in CPR, Multi-Media First Aid, Blood borne Pathogens, Metro Atlanta YMCA New Staff Orientation, and Branch and off-site Emergency procedures and any other required certifications and/or training required by the Metro Atlanta YMCA.
   * Assist as needed in all aspects of the YMCA and school community.
   * Responsible for maintaining and reporting incident/accident paperwork in a timely fashion.
   * Other duties as assigned.
   * Assist with delivery of age and/or grade level appropriate lessons.
   * Assist with homework and class work instruction and tutorials.
   * Collaborates with youth, parents, and school day teachers to ensure that youth receive effective academic sessions.
   * Supports in Academic and enrichment activities.
   * This position must perform duties in accordance with the policies, goals, mission, values and objectives established by the Metropolitan Atlanta YMCA, Branch Strategic Plan, Safety Protocols Including COVID, and Member Services Guidelines and Non-Negotiables. Emphasis will be placed on member service, program knowledge, member/staff safety, and communication with members and staff.
   * Implements the YMCA safety protocols both related to COVID and branch operations.
   * Implement wellness checks and provide a leadership role in ensuring member/staff adherence to the safety protocols, with a commitment to positive member and staff safety.
   
   Y-Competencies:
   
   Mission: Accepts and demonstrates YMCA values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility; demonstrates a desire to serve others and fulfill community needs; recruits volunteers and supports fundraising activities.
   
   Collaboration: Works effectively with people of different backgrounds, abilities, opinions and perceptions; builds rapport; seeks first to understand others' point of view and remains calm; speaks and writes effectively; takes initiative.
   
   Operational Effectiveness: Strive to meet or exceed goals and deliver a high-value experience for members; Makes sound judgments and transfers knowledge from one situation to another; establishes goals, clarifies tasks, plans work and actively participates in meetings; follows policies and procedures; strives for best practices.
   
   Personal Growth: Pursues self-development; demonstrates an openness to change; is emotionally mature.
   
   Ergonomic Requirements: Sitting, bending, stooping, standing, 15% repetitive keyboard work, seeing, verbal communications, lift up to 25 pounds.
   
   Effect of End Result:
   
   This position has a primary impact on the overall effectiveness of the After School Program and the success of services to the community. The effectiveness of this position is primarily measured by the stated satisfaction of members and ensuring a safe, clean, controlled and fun environment in accordance with the Metro Atlanta YMCA Philosophy.
   
   Location:
   
   Andrew & Walter Young Family YMCA

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5. Post your job

   To find at risk paraprofessionals for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any at risk paraprofessionals they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level at risk paraprofessionals with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your at risk paraprofessional job on Zippia to find and recruit at risk paraprofessional candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit at risk paraprofessionals, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new at risk paraprofessional

   Once you've decided on a perfect at risk paraprofessional candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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