Paraprofessionals, often called “paras,” do a lot more than assisting students in the classroom. Their support is academic, social, emotional, and crucially important for all students to receive a holistic educational experience. Although they do so much, their work is often overlooked or misunderstood. Because of this, I thought it would be interesting to take a closer look inside the life of a para.
What stands out right away is that no two days are exactly the same. Flexibility is a requirement in this job. I interviewed Emma Smith, a Rocky grad and now a para. She said “Every day is different. I never know what it’s really gonna look like!”
Whether it is adapting to the changing needs of a student or “just ensuring our students safety” (the primary goal of a para) the job requires a continuing willingness to adjust and respond to each circumstance.
Beyond the unpredictability of their day to day, paraprofessionals play a key role in helping their students experience things they might not otherwise have. One of the things that Emma does is a career class.
“We get to talk around and hand out passes… It is a lot of fun.”
She also has a student she goes to a jewelry class with.
“The jewelry class is a lot of fun, too. Without our paraprofessional program, some of these kids might never get to make jewelry or go do similar things like pottery.”
As a para, Emma works closely with a handful of students, although the entire program collaborates to help their students as much as possible.
“There are classes where all of our students are together, which is great for each of our students.”
Emma’s favorite part is watching the students grow. Progress can be slow, but it is incredibly meaningful.
“Looking back three years ago, and seeing where they are at now, I just love seeing them experience all the new and different things.”
The job requires a lot of patience and resilience. This comes along with burnout and emotional strain. Coping with these challenges is really important. Emma shared that “taking time for yourself has really helped me.”
Rocky Mountain High School has a high level of integration. The inclusion of all students helps them all to participate meaningfully. Emma said that each year, the program works on getting their students into gen ed classes, “making sure the school is as inclusive as possible.”
A large part of a para’s job is collaborating with teachers, sometimes modifying assignments to be more inclusive. Emma gave the example of making mousetrap cars.
“We had students in a physics class that wanted to make mousetrap cars. The teachers helped change the assignment so everyone could participate.”
Emma is proud of where the program is and how far it has come. This inclusion has followed years of advocates fighting for progress. Just a few decades ago, the students “weren’t really integrated into gen ed programs.”
The opportunities, dignity, and daily growth that students experience wouldn’t be possible without paraprofessionals. Emma is proud she is able to “ensure students’ safety and help them experience new amazing things.”
