The right fit Shadow Teacher can make the whole school year come to life!
Whether your child needs support at home or at school, we have the right fit paraprofessional; AKA Shadow Teacher, who creates a world of difference.
Paraprofessional is the term used in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
The paraprofessional role is also called ed techs, classroom assistants, instructional aides, shadow teachers, teacher assistants, paraeducators, and paras. But, no matter what you call them, paraprofessionals are essential to a school’s community.
Paraprofessionals are not certified teachers but vital school support staff members. They have credentialed, educated professionals who work alongside and under the direction of a certified teacher or school professional.
Shadow Teacher/Paraprofessionals Role
The Paraprofessional’s role is to provide instructional, behavioral, and other support to students in and outside the classroom. Paraprofessionals often work one-on-one with students receiving special education and related services or with a 504 plan. Other paraprofessionals work with students in a special or general education classroom and possibly rotate to support classes and specific grade levels.
How do we customize our Shadow Teacher/Paraprofessional programs to fit every child’s unique needs at school or home?
Rapport-Building: With our KOTY Rapport-Building Method, children learn from the best and from a paraprofessional | Shadow Teacher who genuinely cares for them.
Evaluate: We evaluate the children’s strengths and opportunities for growth to meet them exactly where they are so we know where to start.
Customized Programs: We create customized programs based on your child’s interest combined with their preferred learning skill level and pace, so every child feels engaged and motivated – never frustrated, rushed, or bored.
Balancing Strategies: Balancing tailored strategies with independent practice so every session advances your children’s skills while also being fun. (Yes, fun!)
Four common ways paraprofessionals provide support:
Instructional Support
Paraprofessionals typically work one-on-one with students or in small groups to reinforce learning. They provide extra support during or after a teacher’s lesson to ensure learning happens. They can also assist in small group activities, allowing the teacher to support students one-on-one.
Language Support
A bilingual paraprofessional provides language support to English language learners (ELL), especially for students just beginning to learn English. In addition, paraprofessionals may help ELLs students understand lessons’ academic content by speaking with students in their home language.
Behavioral Support
Paraprofessionals also work with students who struggle with maintaining expectations for classroom behavior. Paraprofessionals providing behavioral support are taught strategies to help with behavior, like giving specific praise for appropriate behaviors and documentation about how behavioral interventions work.
Physical and Medical Support
Paraprofessionals working with children with physical disabilities help with adaptive skills, like self-care and communication. They also collaborate with the school nurse and other professionals to work with medical support.
Qualifications and Training
A paraprofessional does not have the same training and certification as a classroom educator. The requirements vary from state to state and even among school districts. Under ESSA, paraprofessionals provide teaching support and must have a high school diploma (or its equivalent) and also meet one of these requirements:
Paraprofessionals play essential roles in schools and help make classrooms more inclusive. They add another support layer to the classroom, allowing students more opportunities for one-on-one support. Everyone benefits when students, teachers, and families embrace paraprofessionals as key education team members.
