The Biggest Challenges for a Paraprofessional and How to Approach Them

Between the teacher and students, a classroom is filled with different personalities and learning styles. This increases the potential for misunderstanding and misalignment throughout the day, leading to unnecessary stress.

A paraprofessional in the classroom can help teachers and students overcome common challenges, plus provide a better learning experience. But who is there to support a paraprofessional when they encounter a challenge?

Support staff are necessary to a school’s health; however, these hardworking individuals need their own guidance as they encounter situations unique to their profession. They need their own guidance and support structure, the way they provide one for teachers.

To help stomp out potential stress, we’ve outlined common paraprofessional challenges and the best ways to navigate them.
 

You don’t see eye to eye with the classroom teacher

Paraprofessionals and teachers work as a team to provide students with individualized learning, mentorship and a safe space to grow. So, when the two leaders are misaligned, the classroom is not conducive to learning.

In a Facebook forum, a former paraprofessional and current teacher outlined helpful steps for a user going through this particular challenge:
 

1. Be as pleasant as you can. All you can do is be kind and set a good example for your kids.
2. Ask the teacher what their expectations of you are right away at the beginning of the year. That way, you know what is expected of you before you start.
3. Ask for clarification if you have questions.
4. You are on the same team, and I am sure you both want what’s in the best interest of the students. Go into it with a team mindset and collaborate with that teacher when you notice something.

If these steps do not work, teachers’ unions, which also represent paraprofessionals, often provide free mediation services. A Reddit user cited Education Minnesota in this recent thread. New Jersey residents can contact the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) to see if the same service is provided in their state.

Administrators also play a role in ensuring their staff is working together smoothly, so approaching leadership is another option when struggling to connect with a teacher. This We Are Teachers article outlines six strategies administrators can utilize when navigating staff conflict.

Your students are disengaged

Disengagement can stem from many reasons, and paying close attention can help paraprofessionals discover ways to motivate their students.

All individuals learn differently, which is why getting to know students and understanding the learning modalities that get them excited is so essential. Some students thrive in visual environments, while others connect to their world through movement. Ask your student what they like and dislike about particular lessons and assignments to identify areas to enhance and areas to adjust.

Active learning is a great way to boost engagement because it harnesses students' natural energy and curiosity. This Edupotia article offers thoughtful active-learning recommendations, including a mind-warming activity that combines collaboration and competition.

Strengthening routines and adhering to them is also important to keep students engaged with the classroom, the teacher and their peers. Additionally, having clear expectations contributes to successful engagement because students understand their roles in the classroom, and for each lesson and activity.

Resources and staff support are limited

Classroom size varies from school to school and even state to state. While New Jersey’s class size average ranges from 16.9 to 20, states like California average 19.5 to 27.5 students per teacher. Regardless of class size, teachers are outnumbered by students, and having a second professional could drastically transform a student’s learning experience.

Even when paraprofessionals are available, resources may still be limited in schools and classrooms. A 2023 Elevate K-12 webinar addressed how limited resources result in responsibilities piling up on paraprofessionals, citing data collection and day-to-day duties being handed down from teacher to paraprofessional.

When onsite resources are limited, many teachers and paraprofessionals seek advice from their peers. This can be through in-person meetups, online forums or virtual support groups. Below are examples of places paraprofessionals go to seek resources and support.

NJEA Education Support Professionals
This page on NJEA’s website provides information and resources specific to paraprofessionals working in New Jersey.

Paraprofessional Educators (Original)
A private Facebook group that was established as a place where paraprofessionals from all over can receive updates, resources and participate in conversations.

r/paraprofessional
This subreddit invites paraprofessionals to discuss topics, work through challenges and celebrate wins.

r/specialed
A subreddit focused on special education. Users include teachers, paraprofessionals and parents who come to the forum to share challenges and seek solutions.

A program that caters to paraprofessionals

Paraprofessionals are strong candidates for full-time teaching, providing the necessary foundations to transition into the role. They represent a community of intelligent and motivated individuals;, however, only 20 percent of paraprofessionals say they are very satisfied with the professional development opportunities available.

Knowing that paraprofessionals are looking for new challenges, removing barriers to becoming certified full-time teachers benefits school districts.

An NJDOE-funded teacher apprenticeship initiative, ParaPreppED helps districts support college-degree-holding paraprofessionals in becoming full-time licensed K-12 teachers. We know paraprofessionals have a foundational on-the-job-training that makes them great full-time teachers. Now, the path to career growth is easier.

Resources from the Teacher Apprenticeship Network provide additional support for Rutgers Graduate School of Education to partner with districts to promote the apprenticeship, establish new USDOL-approved teacher registered teacher apprenticeship programs, and recruit talent.

The program’s format accommodates the unique experiences and needs of substitute teachers and paraprofessionals, making the appropriate channels easy for them to reach.

Overall, the program aims to:

-Increase the number of Registered Teacher Apprenticeships in the state;
-Expand the teacher pipeline, leveraging the existing district talent;
-Address barriers for aspiring teachers through targeted support like Praxis prep; and
-Conduct and disseminate ongoing research on the implementation and impact of the initiative.

ParaPreppED is driven by the expressed interests of district leaders who wish to identify overlooked or hidden teaching talent among eligible paraprofessionals and substitutes the district can support to fill teaching vacancies, including those in Special Education, Science and Math, and English as a Second Language or Bilingual Education.

If you’re considering following your dream of teaching, Rutgers Alternate Route can offer you the support and training you need to succeed. Be sure to follow Rutgers Alternate Route on Twitter and sign up for Alternate Route’s monthly newsletter for more information and stories from the field of education.