1. Employment Profile: What exactly does a Special Education Paraprofessional do? |
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 What field is your job in?
Education
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What is your job title?
Special Education Paraprofessional
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Please provide a brief description of the firm or organization that you currently work for
(size and general description of what type of organization it is)
I am currently employed with a local board of education. I am leaving after this year, to work for a large state university who maintains a special education program.
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How long have you been employed in this position?
5 years
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How many hours do you work a week on average?
32
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Please provide a BRIEF description of your duties and responsibilities. (job description)
I am a personal assistant to a teenage student with epilepsy and a disorder that is on the autism spectrum. I help him with his classwork and any other needs he has (including custodial needs and feeding).
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What was your gross income last year? Please include any bonuses or incentives received.
$17,000
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What is your expected gross income for this year? Please include any bonuses or incentives you expect to receive.
30000
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Please
list any benefits you have (Please include number of weeks vacation,
sick leave and type of health insurance, retirement plan 401k)
state health/medical, vision, dental, 401K, life insurance, pension
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Do you feel you are under/well/over compensated at your current position?
I am under compensated in my current position. The functions that are performed in the job are worth more.
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2. Work environment! |
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Does
your job entail you working with others on a daily basis? Is this
something you like/dislike about your job? Explain
My job entails working with 5 other paraprofessionals in the classroom, a classroom teacher, and 11 students. I dislike the fact that I currently have to work with so many other individuals.
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Do you work collaboratively with supervisors/managers?
Yes
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Do you work collaboratively with your co-workers?
Yes
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Describe
your work location (e.g., office, home, theatre, in the field) and what
you like/dislike about working in it
I really enjoy working in a school. I do not dislike anything about working in a school.
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Please rank in order of importance from 1-8 (1- most important 8- least important) Assign each number once.
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8 Income
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4 Work Environment - co-workers
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5 Work Environment - supervisors
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2 Benefits
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1 Hours
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6 Level of responsibility
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3 The actual "work" you do at your job
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7 Job Title
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3. How should someone new to the workforce get a J-O-B like yours? |
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If someone wanted to go about getting a job similar to yours, what would you recommend for him or her to do?
I would recommend for the individual to attend classes at a commmunity college and obtain their substitute certificate. If they were interested in working with special needs people, I would also recommend that they substitute prior to applying full time.
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What
skills do you think a person should have if they want to pursue a
position like yours? Please be specific and explain why (e.g., social
skills, organization skills, technical skills)
A person who is a teacher assistant should have social skills. They should be compassionate, understanding, and empathetic. It can often be a job without tangible reward, so you often must be a giving person.
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Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?
An associates degree is recommended, along with a substitute certificate
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What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?
I would advise someone who is about to work as a teacher's assistant to continue taking classes and attempt to obtain their teaching degree. Much of the work is similar to that of the classroom teacher, at a fraction of the pay. The individual should really have a great heart and want to work in a job whose ultimate reward is helping children.
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