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What does a substitute paraprofessional do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
What does a substitute paraprofessional do

The man who is highly acclaimed working in the education field is simply known as the substitute paraprofessional. These professionals are education workers who help licensed teachers in student administration.

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Substitute paraprofessional responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real substitute paraprofessional resumes:

  • Obtain finger print clearance card, CPR and first aid certify.
  • Help students with strategies to assist them with studying, reading and math.
  • Assist teachers with math, literacy and science centers and chaperone field trips.
  • Assist in a variety of classrooms throughout the district with children who qualify for para support
  • Provide care for kids in grades k-12 in a fun, safe environment after school.
  • Assist students with reinforcement activities in areas such reading, mathematics and language arts, etc.
  • Review and apply information from documents such as IEP's and BIP's of students with special needs.
  • Assist lead teachers in carrying out the work of a para by first understanding curriculum and class instruction procedures.
  • Participate in updating IEP and behavioral benchmarks as well as presenting plans to the student's parents and home district.
  • Work one-on-one with kindergarten students on sight reading and number recognition.
  • Assist in establishing unique programs and initiatives for students, para-professional educators, and substitutes in both academic and occupational environments.
  • Record daily student attendance.assist students with reading and mathematics.assist teachers with daily activities and paperwork.record student grades.
  • Job duties range from filling teaching positions to supplementing regular classroom curriculum with additional enrichment activities for students.

Substitute paraprofessional skills and personality traits

We calculated that 15% of Substitute Paraprofessionals are proficient in Instructional Support, Math, and Classroom Environment. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Interpersonal skills, and Patience.

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

  • Instructional Support, 15%

    Provided individual instructional support and personal care assistance to students with special needs.

  • Math, 9%

    Teach bilingual children basic Math concepts and more advanced mathematical concepts such as Algebraic equations, formulas and expressions.

  • Classroom Environment, 9%

    Monitored student progress and created a positive classroom environment.

  • Mathematics, 8%

    Assisted students with reinforcement activities in areas such reading, mathematics and language arts, etc.

  • Classroom Management, 7%

    Assisted classroom teachers with classroom management and general supervision of students and activities.

  • Para, 7%

    Assist in a variety of classrooms throughout the district with children who qualified for para support

"instructional support," "math," and "classroom environment" are among the most common skills that substitute paraprofessionals use at work. You can find even more substitute paraprofessional responsibilities below, including:

Communication skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a substitute paraprofessional to have is communication skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "teacher assistants need to be clear and concise in discussing student progress with teachers and parents." Substitute paraprofessionals often use communication skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "facilitated social, communication and behavioral support for students with disabilities in a self contained and inclusive setting. "

Interpersonal skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling substitute paraprofessional duties is interpersonal skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "teacher assistants must be able to develop relationships with a variety of people, including teachers, students, parents, and administrators." According to a substitute paraprofessional resume, here's how substitute paraprofessionals can utilize interpersonal skills in their job responsibilities: "have assisted these students with interpersonal/discipline challenges within the general education classroom setting. "

Patience. This is an important skill for substitute paraprofessionals to perform their duties. For an example of how substitute paraprofessional responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "working with students of different abilities and backgrounds may be difficult." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a substitute paraprofessional: "exhibited patience, ability, and desire to work with children who have special needs.assisted classroom teacher with lessons and activities. ".

Resourcefulness. For certain substitute paraprofessional responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "resourcefulness." The day-to-day duties of a substitute paraprofessional 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 substitute paraprofessionals do: "showed resourcefulness and effectiveness in meeting the needs of students with limited english language proficiency as well as learning disabilities. "

See the full list of substitute paraprofessional skills

The three companies that hire the most substitute paraprofessionals are:

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Compare different substitute paraprofessionals

Substitute paraprofessional vs. Teacher aide

Teacher aides help lead teachers in managing the classroom. They assist teachers in conducting classroom sessions by setting up the classroom in advance, sourcing materials needed for class activities, helping in presentations, and guiding students during class activities. Teacher aides are also responsible for maintaining classroom cleanliness and helping clean up after the children. They also help manage the students during breaks and during classes. They help the lead teacher keep the students'students' attention. They also assist the students in any other tasks that they may need.

If we compare the average substitute paraprofessional annual salary with that of a teacher aide, we find that teacher aides typically earn a $566 higher salary than substitute paraprofessionals make annually.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between substitute paraprofessionals and teacher aides are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like classroom environment, mathematics, and classroom management.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, substitute paraprofessional responsibilities require skills like "instructional support," "math," "para," and "k-12." Meanwhile a typical teacher aide has skills in areas such as "child care," "cpr," "learning environment," and "art projects." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Teacher aides really shine in the finance industry with an average salary of $35,388. Comparatively, substitute paraprofessionals tend to make the most money in the government industry with an average salary of $28,129.On average, teacher aides reach similar levels of education than substitute paraprofessionals. Teacher aides are 1.9% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Substitute paraprofessional vs. 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. They take part in meetings and jot down their minutes. It is part of their job to conduct research at the request of the supervisor. They make updates to social media platforms and make posts. Also, they create images to be used in posts through different social media platforms.

On average, teacher interns earn a $19,484 higher salary than substitute paraprofessionals a year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both substitute paraprofessionals and teacher interns have skills such as "classroom environment," "mathematics," and "classroom management. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that substitute paraprofessional responsibilities requires skills like "instructional support," "math," "para," and "k-12." But a teacher internship might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "classroom management strategies," "language arts," "professional development," and "learning styles."

On average, teacher interns earn a higher salary than substitute paraprofessionals. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, teacher interns earn the most pay in the education industry with an average salary of $47,436. Whereas substitute paraprofessionals have higher pay in the government industry, with an average salary of $28,129.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Teacher interns tend to reach similar levels of education than substitute paraprofessionals. In fact, they're 4.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Substitute paraprofessional 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 scale, assistant daycare teachers bring in lower salaries than substitute paraprofessionals. In fact, they earn a $1,390 lower salary per year.substitute paraprofessionals and assistant daycare teachers both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "classroom environment," "pre-k," and "behavioral issues," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, substitute paraprofessionals are more likely to have skills like "instructional support," "math," "mathematics," and "classroom management." But a assistant daycare teacher is more likely to have skills like "child care," "kids," "cpr," and "child development."

When it comes to education, assistant daycare teachers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to substitute paraprofessionals. In fact, they're 4.0% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Substitute paraprofessional vs. Child care teacher

A child care teacher is responsible for educating young learners, observing their personal and social behaviors. They also prepare engaging and fun activities for the children, ensuring their safety and security. Child care teachers assist the children's daily activities and provide progress reports and updates to the children's parents for any concerns and support needed. They also maintain the cleanliness and orderliness of the facilities by adhering to the safety standards and protocols. A child care teacher must have excellent communication and organizational skills and implement learning methods that would fit the curriculum.

Child care teachers typically earn lower pay than substitute paraprofessionals. On average, child care teachers earn a $2,878 lower salary per year.

Even though a few skill sets overlap between substitute paraprofessionals and child care teachers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a substitute paraprofessional might have more use for skills like "instructional support," "math," "mathematics," and "classroom management." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of child care teachers require skills like "child care," "child development," "cpr," and "customer service. "

Child care teachers reach similar levels of education compared to substitute paraprofessionals, in general. The difference is that they're 1.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of substitute paraprofessional

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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