What does an education paraprofessional do?
An education paraprofessional's role is to carry out support tasks for a teacher in a school setting. They are responsible for creating learning materials such as visual aids and presentations, participating in devising lesson plans and assessment methods, grading and evaluating student performances, and even maintaining order in the classroom. There are also instances where they must assist students who are having difficulties catching up with the lessons. Furthermore, an education paraprofessional may also teach under the supervision of a more experienced educator.
Education paraprofessional responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real education paraprofessional resumes:
- Work with ESL and special needs students, individually and in small groups, to attain their learning objectives
- Help student become more independent and achieve organizational goals by using self-monitore checklists and adaptive technology.
- Perform responsible human support and paraprofessional work assisting classroom teacher or other professionals, achieve institution objectives.
- Perform technical, clerical and instructional support tasks in a Pre-K classroom for the physically impair
- Target instructional learning activities especially in core content areas of reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies.
- Help assist in Pre-K classroom.
- Utilize CPI training when necessary in the ABC classroom.
- Provide special care to special needs and ESL pupils.
- Work as a one on one para for a special needs student.
- Perform first aid and CPR in emergency situations according to establish procedures.
- Ensure the safety of student and the safety of classmates using CPI strategies.
- Help student keep on task, facilitate social interactions and follow ABA teaching methods.
- Assist with self-help skills, toileting, and implement specialize physical health care plans.
- Help students move into and out of wheelchairs, walkers, and other supportive devices.
- Implement creative techniques to encourage the development and application of self-help skills among the students.
Education paraprofessional skills and personality traits
We calculated that 10% of Education Paraprofessionals are proficient in Autism, Behavioral Issues, and Mathematics. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Interpersonal skills, and Patience.
We break down the percentage of Education Paraprofessionals that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Autism, 10%
Worked directly with three different students with special needs ranging from Down Syndrome to high-functioning autism to severe social/emotional developmental delays.
- Behavioral Issues, 9%
Tutored students with learning disabilities and behavioral issues in a linguistically and culturally diverse school.
- Mathematics, 8%
Assisted students with Mathematics and Reading comprehension.
- Math, 8%
Created specialized activities to increase understanding of math and reading concepts while working one-on-one with struggling elementary school students.
- Instructional Materials, 8%
Assisted the classroom teacher in preparing instructional materials and administer lessons within a Learning Impaired Moderate to Severe classroom environment.
- IEP, 7%
Fostered improved communication between school & Latino community by interpreting linguistically and culturally in formal IEP evaluations and informal student meetings.
Common skills that an education paraprofessional uses to do their job include "autism," "behavioral issues," and "mathematics." You can find details on the most important education paraprofessional responsibilities below.
Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for an education paraprofessional to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what education paraprofessionals do because "teacher assistants need to be clear and concise in discussing student progress with teachers and parents." Additionally, an education paraprofessional resume shows how education paraprofessionals use communication skills: "received intensive training in data collection, communication strategies, severe behaviors, and positive behavior management. "
Interpersonal skills. Another essential skill to perform education paraprofessional duties is interpersonal skills. Education paraprofessionals responsibilities require that "teacher assistants must be able to develop relationships with a variety of people, including teachers, students, parents, and administrators." Education paraprofessionals also use interpersonal skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "have assisted these students with interpersonal/discipline challenges within the general education classroom setting. "
Patience. education paraprofessionals are also known for patience, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to education paraprofessional responsibilities, because "working with students of different abilities and backgrounds may be difficult." An education paraprofessional resume example shows how patience is used in the workplace: "demonstrated patience in a highly demanding learning environment. "
Resourcefulness. A big part of what education paraprofessionals do relies on "resourcefulness." You can see how essential it is to education paraprofessional responsibilities because "teacher assistants must find ways to explain information to students who have different learning styles." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical education paraprofessional tasks: "showed resourcefulness and teaching effectiveness in meeting the needs of individuals with limited english language proficiency as well as learning disabilities. "
The three companies that hire the most education paraprofessionals are:
- AlphaVista Services130 education paraprofessionals jobs
- Denver Public Schools51 education paraprofessionals jobs
- Roseville Area Schools18 education paraprofessionals jobs
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Compare different education paraprofessionals
Education paraprofessional vs. Pre-k teacher
Pre-K teachers play an essential role in the lives of young children ages three to five years old by developing and nurturing their interest in subjects appropriate for their age. They promote a creative learning environment and encourage social interactions among students while providing the fundamental educational foundation that will prepare them for a successful start to kindergarten. They are responsible for overseeing children during their mealtimes, reinforcing personal hygiene, and developing children's social skills. Pre-K teachers also plan curriculum and work with other school staff members.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of an education paraprofessional are more likely to require skills like "autism," "behavioral issues," "instructional support," and "kindergarten." On the other hand, a job as a pre-k teacher requires skills like "kids," "help support," "language arts," and "bilingual education." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Pre-k teachers tend to reach similar levels of education than education paraprofessionals. In fact, pre-k teachers are 3.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Education paraprofessional vs. Esl teacher
An ESL teacher specializes in teaching the English language to non-native speakers of all ages, usually in a virtual setting. Their responsibilities revolve around devising lesson plans, organizing learning materials, evaluating progress, and coming up with strategies to make learners feel comfortable. Furthermore, they must maintain a healthy and safe learning environment, whether the lessons are in a one-on-one or group setting. When it comes to virtual learning, an ESL teacher must have the necessary equipment, a stable internet connection, and an obstruction-free teaching location.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, education paraprofessional responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "autism," "behavioral issues," "math," and "iep." Meanwhile, an esl teacher has duties that require skills in areas such as "kids," "whiteboards," "curriculum development," and "english language." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
On average, esl teachers earn a higher salary than education paraprofessionals. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, esl teachers earn the most pay in the retail industry with an average salary of $52,367. Whereas education paraprofessionals have higher pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $31,602.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Esl teachers tend to reach higher levels of education than education paraprofessionals. In fact, they're 10.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for education paraprofessionals in the next 3-5 years?
Patricia Rogan Ph.D.
Professor, Special Education/Urban Teacher Education, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
Education paraprofessional vs. Teacher associate
A teacher associate is responsible for assisting the teacher in classroom operations and providing teaching support for the students. Teacher associates develop learning materials according to the instructions of the headteachers, helping them to track students' progress and observing class behaviors. They also take class responsibility if the teacher is away, ensuring to keep activity records and attendance for reference. A teacher associate must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in handling students' difficulties and working with the teacher to develop techniques to address those challenges.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from education paraprofessional resumes include skills like "autism," "behavioral issues," "instructional support," and "kindergarten," whereas a teacher associate is more likely to list skills in "child care," "child development," "cleanliness," and "pre-k."
Teacher associates make a very good living in the health care industry with an average annual salary of $32,745. On the other hand, education paraprofessionals are paid the highest salary in the finance industry, with average annual pay of $31,602.teacher associates typically earn similar educational levels compared to education paraprofessionals. Specifically, they're 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Education paraprofessional vs. Classroom aide
Classroom aides or teacher's aides are found in special education centers and schools. Some of their many roles include supervising field trips, attendance checking, and preparing classroom materials. They help the teachers by assisting students who need extra attention to keep up with the lessons. Being very patient and proficient in ASL are skills that all of them need to have, especially when working with students in the special education spectrum. They should be very critical to detail to accurately track the progress of the student under their supervision and discuss them with the teachers and parents.
Types of education paraprofessional
Updated January 8, 2025
