Paraprofessionals
Paraprofessionals play a significant role in the education of students in public and charter schools. Although they are not licensed to teach, they support classroom teachers and perform many duties both individually with students and organizationally in the classroom. They are part of the instructional team of professionals who support student learning.
Each person employed as an educational aide (paraprofessional) must hold an educational aide certificate which is issued by the school district. An educational aide(paraprofessional) is assigned to a specialized area, such as vocational education, special education, and title programs and must meet the eligibility requirements assigned to that area. (TAC 230.559)
ParaEducators PD Now Online Courses, offers a total of 136 online training courses for paraeducators each ranging from 40 minutes to 1 hour in length.
In addition, paraprofessionals are welcome to attend any workshop offered at Region 10. Workshops for those working in early childhood areas are offered by the preschool department. Workshops in inclusion support and behavior management are offered through the special populations department. Links to these events are provided below.
NCLB Paraprofessional Institutes and Contact Information
Contact Information
Chris Kanouse, Program Director
Phone: 972-348-1680
Fax: 972-348-1681
Workshops
No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Paraprofessional Institute
General Education Paraprofessional Roles and Responsibilities
- Provide one-to-one or small group instruction to students under the supervision of the teacher.
- Provide assistance with individualized programmed materials
- Implement tutoring activities designed by the teacher
- Assist the teacher in observing, recording, and charting behavior
- Prepare the classroom environment for learning activities
- Provide instructional support to students in a library, lab or media center
- Assist the teacher in classroom management
- Assist in school-wide management
- Assist students with physical needs (i.e. toileting, eating)
- Participate in professional activities and meetings
- Work with audio-visual equipment, computers and/or assistive technology
- Clerical activities and office machines
- Supervise children in the hallway, lunchroom, playground if assigned
- Score objective tests and papers and maintain records for the teacher
TAC 230.560
Preschool Workshops and Contact Information
Contact Information
Cindy Griffith, Program Coordinator, Head Start
Phone: 972-348-1752
Fax: 972-348-1753
Workshops
Preschool Services Staff Development
Preschool Paraprofessional Roles and Responsibilities
Head Start (HS):
- Plan with teacher based on parent input and interests of the children.
- Perform duties as related to classroom instruction.
- Attend training sessions as appropriate.
- Collaborate with teacher regarding ongoing assessment of students (such as checklists, anecdotal records, formal instruments, etc.).
- Participate in field trips per district guidelines.
- Interact with children throughout the day.
- Assist teacher in meeting individual student needs (academic and social).
- Assist teacher with toilet learning activities as appropriate.
- Assist teacher with inclusion of students with special needs.
- Maintains inventory of materials per district and campus guidelines
- Supervises students.
- Maintain records and create materials per district guidelines.
- Assists in implementation of IEP goals.
- Follows campus and district policy, as well as state and federal laws.
- Maintains confidentiality regarding students.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Pre-Kindergarten (PK):
- Plan with teacher based on parent input and interests of the children.
- Perform duties as related to classroom instruction.
- Attend training sessions as appropriate.
- Collaborate with teacher regarding ongoing assessment of students (such as checklists, anecdotal records, formal instruments, etc.).
- Participate in field trips per district guidelines.
- Interact with children throughout the day.
- Assist teacher in meeting individual student needs (academic and social).
- Assist teacher with toilet learning activities as appropriate.
- Assist teacher with inclusion of students with special needs.
- Maintains inventory of materials per district and campus guidelines
- Supervises students.
- Maintain records and create materials per district guidelines.
- Assists in implementation of IEP goals.
- Follows campus and district policy, as well as state and federal laws.
- Maintains confidentiality regarding students.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Preschool Programs for Children with Disabilities (PPCD):
- Plan with teacher based on parent input and interests of the children.
- Perform duties as related to classroom instruction.
- Attend training sessions as appropriate.
- Collaborate with teacher regarding ongoing assessment of students (such as checklists, anecdotal records, formal instruments, etc.).
- Participate in field trips per district guidelines.
- Interact with children throughout the day.
- Assist teacher in meeting individual student needs (academic and social).
- Assist teacher with toilet learning activities as appropriate.
- Assist teacher with inclusion of students with special needs.
- Maintains inventory of materials per district and campus guideline
- Supervises students.
- Maintains records per teacher direction and district guidelines
- Create instructional materials per teacher direction and district guidelines.
- Assists in implementation of IEP goals.
- Provide specialized care for medically fragile students, as directed.
- Follows campus and district policy, as well as state and federal laws.
- Maintains confidentiality regarding students.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Professional Organizations and Resources
Special Education Contact Information and Workshops
Contact Information
Cindy Pierce, Consultant Special Populations
Phone: 972-348-1436
Fax: 972-348-1437
Workshops
Online Courses
Please click on the course and you will be taken to our Online Professional Development catalogue. All three are listed on page 2. These online courses are free to participants who reside within Region 10.
Special Education Aide/Paraprofessional Roles and Responsibilities
- Accommodates the special needs of students with physical, emotional, behavioral and mental disabilities, providing supplemental services as necessary.
- Assists in the implementation of unique intervention strategies to manage aggressive student behavior.
- Assist the special education teacher in providing students with equal access to district adopted core curriculum in various settings.
- Updates special education teacher regarding student progress.
- Administers first aid and medical assistance to provide appropriate care for the medically fragile student, including toileting needs.
- Participates in daily activities, training sessions and special activities to assist in the implementation of IEP goals.
- Assists in implementing instruction necessary for students to meet IEP goals.
- Maintains and monitors effective group and individual student behavior to provide an optimum learning environment, implementing established discipline practice and policy.
- Assists in the evaluation of student performance by administering informal assessments.
- Collects data through assessment or observation on student academic and behavioral progress.
- Writes clear and concise notes to teachers and staff.
- Assists with preparation of, and works with specialized instructional materials, assists with preparation.
- Duplicates and assembles instructional materials using office equipment, computer, and audio visual equipment.
- Provides supervision to special education students during non-instructional periods.
- Maintains required documents, records and files.
- Maintains inventory of special education books, supplies, and equipment.
- Assist in the maintenance of student files and retrieval of pertinent information.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
Texas Education Agency Guidance