Paraprofessionals are some of the most important members of many school teams. Also known as paraeducators or classroom/teachers’ aides, they fill a variety of roles in the classroom. If you’re getting ready to hire a new paraeducator, you’ll want to make sure your job description truly captures the work involved and necessary requirements. Take a look at these tips and paraprofessional job description examples to guide you through the process.
What should a paraprofessional job description include?
Like any job description, yours should include information that’s useful to people when they’re deciding whether to apply for a job. A strong job description is also helpful for existing staff, as it defines and clarifies the overall responsibilities and expected performance results. Here’s what to include in a paraeducator job description:
Job Title
Your job title should be short and succinct, which helps prospective applicants find it easily. Examples:
- 5th Grade Paraeducator (Inclusion Classroom)
- High School Literacy Assistant
- Title I Paraprofessional, Grades 6-8
- Kindergarten Classroom Aide
- K-5 Paraprofessional (Floating)
You may also wish to indicate whether the job is full-time or part-time. If part-time, note the number of hours.
Summary
In a few sentences, give the applicant a general idea of what the job looks like overall. Explain the basic role and the type of person best suited for it. Job candidates use summaries to quickly decide whether they want to continue reading the more detailed description. Tip: It’s sometimes easier to write this summary after you’ve written the rest of the description.
Learn more: What Is a Paraprofessional?
Duties and Responsibilities
This is the section to list more specific details about the job. It’s usually written in a bulleted list and sometimes broken into sections. Go ahead and be very detailed here; it’s helpful for everyone to be clear on the expectations for this role up front.
Learn more: What Does a Teaching Assistant Do?
Qualifications and Experience
Be sure to specify any hard-and-fast requirements here. You can also include preferred qualifications, which helps applicants see how well qualified they really are. Examples:
- High school diploma or equivalent required; associate’s or bachelor’s degree in education-related field preferred
- Experience working with children in classroom or educational settings (minimum 1 year; 3+ years preferred)
- 2 years of higher education (60 credit hours) or associate’s degree required; education-related majors preferred
Working Conditions
What conditions can the person working this job expect? Will they need to stand on their feet for long periods? Will they have to be outside in all weather conditions for recess or bus duty? Do they need to be able to lift a certain amount of weight? Are there any expectations for working outside regular school hours? Provide that information here.
Salary Range
This is still a controversial section for job descriptions. Job applicants like to know up front what a job might pay so they can avoid applying for jobs that don’t fit their own personal requirements. It benefits an employer too, since they don’t risk spending hours reviewing a potential candidate only to find they can’t come to terms on salary. Some states require salary ranges as part of a job posting (and some local areas do even if the state does not).
Learn more: 2023 Average Paraprofessional Salaries
Tips for Writing a Paraprofessional Job Description
Before writing a job description, spend some time brainstorming every task and duty they might be expected to fulfill. It’s OK if the list is really long! Once you have everything down, you can look at condensing and grouping some items. For instance, if you listed “laminating stuff,” “organizing classroom supplies,” and “handling daily attendance,” you might just condense that into “Assist with daily classroom management tasks.”
Be honest about what’s expected of a successful person in this role. The more information people have about a job, the more informed their decision to apply will be. This will net you better applicants up front, making the hiring process easier.
Highlight any opportunities for growth, such as professional development courses or long-term career advancement. Also include any expectations you have of candidates, like accruing a certain number of continuing education credits each year.
Provide information about your organization, like mission statements or overall culture. This helps candidates know whether your values align well with their own.
Finally, don’t be afraid to let AI help you! This is one of those areas where ChatGPT and other AI interfaces can really save you some time. In fact, we used ChatGPT to generate the first paraprofessional job description example below! Once you have a basic description, you can adjust it however you like to fit your own needs.
Paraprofessional Job Description Examples
Paraprofessional Job Description Template #1
(Source: We asked ChatGPT to write a description using this prompt: “Write a job description for a fourth grade paraprofessional in an inclusion classroom.”)
Job Title: Fourth Grade Paraprofessional (Inclusion Classroom)
Job Summary:
We are seeking a dedicated and compassionate Fourth Grade Paraprofessional to join our inclusive classroom team. In this role, you will work closely with the classroom teacher and other professionals to provide support to students with diverse learning needs. The ideal candidate will have a strong commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment where all students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with the classroom teacher and other team members to implement individualized education plans (IEPs) and accommodations for students with diverse learning needs.
- Provide instructional support to students, both individually and in small groups, under the direction of the classroom teacher.
- Assist with classroom management and behavior support strategies to promote a positive and inclusive learning environment.
- Support students in accessing the curriculum and completing classroom assignments, including modifying materials as needed.
- Foster positive relationships with students, building rapport and trust to support their academic and social-emotional growth.
- Assist in monitoring student progress and collecting data on student performance to inform instructional planning and decision-making.
- Collaborate with the classroom teacher and other professionals to develop and implement appropriate interventions and strategies to address student needs.
- Communicate regularly with parents and guardians to provide updates on student progress and collaborate on support strategies.
- Provide support during transitions and other non-instructional times to ensure student safety and well-being.
- Participate in professional development opportunities to enhance knowledge and skills related to supporting students with diverse learning needs.
Qualifications:
- High school diploma or equivalent required; associate’s or bachelor’s degree in education, special education, or a related field preferred.
- Experience working with children, particularly in educational or youth development settings.
- Knowledge of inclusive education principles and practices, including understanding of different learning styles and abilities.
- Ability to follow directions and work effectively as part of a collaborative team.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with students, colleagues, and families.
- Patience, empathy, and a genuine passion for supporting the academic and social-emotional growth of all students.
- Flexibility and adaptability to meet the evolving needs of students and the classroom environment.
- Willingness to participate in training and professional development opportunities to enhance skills and knowledge.
Working Conditions:
- This position is based in a fourth-grade inclusion classroom within a school setting.
- Work hours may vary but typically align with regular school hours.
- May involve standing, walking, and lifting or assisting students as needed.
- Collaborative work environment with opportunities for professional growth and development.
Teacher’s Aide Job Description Template #2
(Source: April 2024 Listing on Monster.com)
Title: Teacher’s Aide
Description:
Lutheran Services Florida (LSF) envisions a world where children are safe, families are strong, and communities are vibrant. LSF is looking for a talented Teacher’s Aide who wants to make an impact in the lives of others. The candidate must be bilingual in English and Spanish.
Purpose and Impact:
This position will assist the teacher with providing education for all clients registered in the program. They will work a year-round school calendar and participate in English as a Second Language classes. They will monitor client participation to ensure adequate instruction and assistance to each individual refugee. Teacher Assistant will be bilingual in English and Spanish.
Essential Functions:
- Work with small groups or selected individuals to assist with lessons to ensure a positive learning experience for students with diverse backgrounds.
- Monitor and, when necessary, document student behavior.
- Assist teaching staff in the preparation of lessons, materials, and equipment.
- Assist as needed in searching, transportation, and supervision of students.
- Must model appropriate behavior.
- Meet departmental and program deadlines to ensure contractual compliance with reporting requirements. Regular and punctual attendance.
Other Functions:
- Cover classrooms and groups as needed.
- Assist with training, duplication of materials, setting up, documenting.
- Help maintain physical property as needed or assigned.
- Assist with building positive relations with family members, community members, and funding agencies.
- Able to react to change productively and handle other essential tasks as assigned.
Physical Requirements:
Must be able to read, write, and communicate. While performing the responsibilities of this job, the employee is required to bend, lift, seize, hold, or otherwise work with hand or hands. Must be able to lift up to 40 pounds.
Education:
High school diploma or equivalent.
Skills:
- The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented orally and in writing.
- Ability to work with a challenging student population.
Principal Accountabilities:
- Reports to Program Manager.
- Must be a team player.
- Accurate, complete, and timely submission of required reports and documentation to funder & LSF.
- Effective working relationships.
- Adherence to LSF policies and procedures.
