What do you do? Special Education Paraeducators

Jennifer Clary and Jana Woods are paraeducators in the same elementary special education classroom. Here, they share what the job entails, including the challenges and joys, and explain why it's a great fit for them.

[joshuameek]

It's sad that a lot of kids with special needs are mistreated! It's nice to know their are nice people out their who care.

[conniejohnson]

My experience as a para in Spokane. 1 teacher was awesome. The rest treated paras like dirt. No matter your experience or education. Now I am in a small school in Idaho. Wonderful staff and support. It makes all the difference.

[spookyruinsfest]

Other teachers make me cry more than the kids. Cause some of them think less of me just as a TA. I am glad I get to work with a great teacher and great students.

[avamcelroy-reoj]

I have two paraprofessionals in my class I love them and one who is a registered nurse saved my life when I passed out

[emeraldbeauty]

All of you ladies are wonderful at what you do. Thank you so much for the hard work you put in! By the way, those shirts are awesome!

[pawankumar-yzmh]

Good work, I'm special education teacher from India

[aleepadhy]

No two days are the same! Exactly my experience in a SpEd class

[deniselee]

Our first teacher always included her paras, current teacher that up and quit yesterday didn't even want us to talk to kids that we had a great repoire with for several years. Some teachers are amazing, some need 100 percent control, its a sad situation.

[vanity]

Thank you for sharing this. I'm just starting at this myself

[SunshineJoe-cxyz]

Great field. But you must be a calm and patient personality to work with small children.

[JessicaSalamone]

I see a classroom that is well staffed. I also see a classroom that is self-contained. This line of work is made more difficult when you are short staffed and are forced to integrate despite intense physical aggression.

[savannahwilliams]

my great aunt Tracy is a paraprofessional aide in Texas.

[specialteacher]

I want to join this community it will be proud full I'm from india and i want to join your community please tell me if i can do it .

[patriciaayala]

Where did you get the shirt? I would love one.

[marvinjohnson]

I’m hoping to become one in a couple of years

[astarisborn]

I live in NYS, while we are compensated pretty decently. Para’s for the most part especially para’s of color are treated like dirt. I wouldn’t recommend this profession for anyone, except someone coming out of jail looking to rehabilitate their life.

[ralph]

Hi I'm just a old friend I'm 42 years old I was in special ed at 3 but I guess they thought I did so well they decided to put me right into regular classrooms as soon as 1st grade it's great and all I know is by 1st set of friends who were the best set of friends I've ever had and there are little special needs kids just like these kids in the video say oh thank you Most definitely to the parents for letting these children be in this video on YouTube I should be phrased up my 1st set of friends Had abilities not disabilities because they were the most we were the most vulnerable of all and we're not in but innocent at the time still I innocent I'm just ready to find out why I'm going through what I did when I had to go to😇😝 school at 3 years old for physical disabilities and it's hard but at least these kids are gonna have at least lightly flung friends Thank you ❤️ 😍 💖