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What does a para professional do?

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read
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Para professional responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real para professional resumes:

  • Train and manage kindergarten classroom and achieve significant improvements in their productivity.
  • Perform responsible human support and paraprofessional work assisting classroom teacher or other professionals, achieve institution objectives.
  • Develop individual educational plans (IEPs) design to promote students' educational, physical, or social development.
  • Obtain CPI certification through the school district.
  • Follow ABA procedure by redirecting students when behavior occurs.
  • Implement learning and ABA programs as written and instruct by the BCBA.
  • Assist other teachers in the classroom with teaching materials and lessons for the ESL students.
  • Assist ESL students in the learning of the English language by following teacher lesson plans.
  • Prepare objectives, outlines or other materials for courses of study, following curriculum guidelines or requirements.
  • Work with students that participate in the work program as part the occupational course of study program.
  • Collaborate with special education teacher in planning and implementing lesson plans for reading, writing, and mathematics.
  • Assist the classroom teacher in instruction of reading, language arts, mathematics, computer instruction, and other skills.
  • Assist in technology as related to IEP accommodation and modifications.
  • Assist general education classroom teachers in modifying curricula appropriately for IEP students.
  • Aid kindergarten teacher in supervising children, preparing lesson material, and escorting children to different locations.

Para professional skills and personality traits

We calculated that 19% of Para Professionals are proficient in Para-Professional, Mathematics, and IEP. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Interpersonal skills, and Patience.

We break down the percentage of Para Professionals that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Para-Professional, 19%

    Assisted in establishing unique programs and initiatives for students, para-professional educators, and substitutes in both academic and occupational environments.

  • Mathematics, 10%

    Collaborated with special education teacher in planning and implementing lesson plans for reading, writing, and mathematics.

  • IEP, 7%

    Assisted general education classroom teachers in modifying curricula appropriately for IEP students.

  • Kindergarten, 6%

    Aided kindergarten teacher in supervising children, preparing lesson material, and escorting children to different locations.

  • CPR, 5%

    Complete all necessary training including NAPI, Core, Blood Borne Pathogens, basic First Aid and CPR classes.

  • Crisis Intervention, 4%

    Provided crisis intervention for particular situations involving students with emotional and behavioral disorders

Common skills that a para professional uses to do their job include "para-professional," "mathematics," and "iep." You can find details on the most important para professional responsibilities below.

Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for a para professional to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "teacher assistants need to be clear and concise in discussing student progress with teachers and parents." Additionally, a para professional resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "gained skills to overcome challenges associated with providing support and communication to individuals with learning disabilities such as autism. "

Interpersonal skills. Another essential skill to perform para professional duties is interpersonal skills. Para professionals responsibilities require that "teacher assistants must be able to develop relationships with a variety of people, including teachers, students, parents, and administrators." Para professionals also use interpersonal skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "utilized interpersonal and communication skills to solve behavioral issues and to encourage social interaction. "

Patience. para professionals are also known for patience, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to para professional responsibilities, because "working with students of different abilities and backgrounds may be difficult." A para professional resume example shows how patience is used in the workplace: "maintain a professional attitude maintain confidentiality skills used patience understanding compassion"

Resourcefulness. For certain para professional responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "resourcefulness." The day-to-day duties of a para professional rely on this skill, as "teacher assistants must find ways to explain information to students who have different learning styles." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what para professionals do: "showed resourcefulness and teaching effectiveness in meeting the needs of individuals with limited english language proficiency as well as learning disabilities. "

All para professional skills

The three companies that hire the most para professionals are:

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Compare different para professionals

Para professional vs. Student internship

Student interns are student trainees in a company. They undergo on-the-job training as it may be required by their degree program in order to graduate. They are assigned to departments in companies that are related to the field of their degree program. Student interns are expected to get enrichment from the experience while also applying what they have learned in the classroom. They are usually given activities or tasks that will help expose them to the professional sphere of their chosen careers and the bigger world outside of the university. They may join company events and activities that will help acclimate them. Student interns should be responsible and diligent.

We looked at the average para professional salary and compared it with the wages of a student internship. Generally speaking, student interns are paid $3,138 higher than para professionals per year.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between para professionals and student interns are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like mathematics, iep, and kindergarten.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, para professional responsibilities require skills like "taking care," "para-professional," "behavior management," and "instructional materials." Meanwhile a typical student internship has skills in areas such as "patients," "student intern," "patient care," and "powerpoint." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Student interns tend to make the most money working in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $37,485. In contrast, para professionals make the biggest average salary, $27,718, in the education industry.On average, student interns reach similar levels of education than para professionals. Student interns are 1.7% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 1.4% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Para professional vs. 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. To work effectively, they apply dynamic strategic planning, project management skills, and prioritization to meet deadlines. They work in paraprofessional positions providing the behavior and academic needs of the students. Also, they are always there to help students in any way possible.

On average, substitute teachers aides earn a $630 lower salary than para professionals a year.A few skills overlap for para professionals and substitute teachers aides. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "mathematics," "iep," and "cpr. "

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, para professional responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "taking care," "para-professional," "kindergarten," and "crisis intervention." Meanwhile, a substitute teachers aide has duties that require skills in areas such as "teacher aides," "student learning," "autistic children," and "lunch room." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Substitute teachers aides may earn a lower salary than para professionals, but substitute teachers aides earn the most pay in the education industry with an average salary of $27,274. On the other hand, para professionals receive higher pay in the education industry, where they earn an average salary of $27,718.substitute teachers aides earn similar levels of education than para professionals in general. They're 0.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Para professional vs. Assistant daycare teacher

An assistant daycare teacher is responsible for performing support tasks in a daycare center. Most of the duties primarily revolve around maintaining a safe and healthy environment for children, preparing meals and learning materials, assisting children during bathroom or hygiene-related activities, and keeping the classroom clean and sanitized. Furthermore, there are instances when an assistant daycare teacher must come up with recreational activities, maintain student records, and help children improve their motor skills and basic knowledge in concepts such as recognizing the alphabet or coloring.

On average, assistant daycare teachers earn lower salaries than para professionals, with a $594 difference per year.By looking over several para professionals and assistant daycare teachers resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "cpr," "classroom environment," and "behavioral issues." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a para professional is likely to be skilled in "taking care," "para-professional," "mathematics," and "iep," while a typical assistant daycare teacher is skilled in "child care," "kids," "child development," and "open communication."

When it comes to education, assistant daycare teachers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to para professionals. In fact, they're 4.3% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Para professional vs. Special education aide

A special education aide works with therapists and special education teachers to teach children with disabilities. Special education aides teach children with behavioral and emotional disorders, intellectual disorders, and those with physical and communication disabilities. They perform their job in a small group or individual setting. The scope of their job is performed outside or inside the classroom. Patience, attention to detail, and communication are necessary for performing their job.

Special education aides typically earn higher pay than para professionals. On average, special education aides earn a $3,520 higher salary per year.According to resumes from para professionals and special education aides, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "mathematics," "iep," and "kindergarten. "While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "taking care," "para-professional," "crisis intervention," and "independent study" are skills that commonly show up on para professional resumes. On the other hand, special education aides use skills like paraprofessional, autism, adaptive, and math on their resumes.In general, special education aides earn the most working in the education industry, with an average salary of $31,679. The highest-paying industry for a para professional is the education industry.special education aides reach similar levels of education compared to para professionals, in general. The difference is that they're 1.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.4% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of para professional

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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