Paraeducators
Paraeducators are key members of
the special education team. Today's paraeducator may be found in a
pre-kindergarten class for children with special needs, out in the
community, serving as a job coach for a student with developmental
disabilities, in a resource room for adolescents with learning
disabilities, or in a 4th-grade classroom that contains some students
with and without special needs. In short, paraeducators are present in
most educational settings under the supervision of the teacher, and they
have skills and contributions that make them highly valued.
Paraeducators share many similar
qualities:
- enjoyment of children
- willingness to assist and support the teacher
- dedicated to helping students
- flexible and resourceful
- collaborate well with teachers and other paraeducators.