The classroom bustles with questions, becoming overwhelming for just one teacher to answer. Just then, a paraprofessional steps in, aiding the teacher in serving the class by providing answers to the students’ queries. A paraprofessional is someone in a school or other educational setting who serves as educational support to students who might need extra help.
Paraprofessional Appreciation Day, celebrated annually on the first Wednesday of April, originated from the recognition of paraprofessionals’ crucial role, particularly after the United Federation of Teachers advocated for better salaries and benefits in the 1970s.
“I work with self-contained, special education students,” Cornelia Wheat said. “We have a total of seven students in our class. Personally, to me, [being a paraprofessional] means the growth that we get to see in our students that when I first started to now. I started as a library aide at Spring Lake Park and realized I wanted to work with students.”
Wheat works with seven self-contained special education students, focusing on curriculum, goals, and behavioral management. She values the bonds and growth she observes in the students over time.
“We do a lot as paraprofessionals. We do everything from taking them to PE to taking them on sensory walks. You get to build relationships with the kids because you’re spending a lot of one-on-one time with them,” Lauren Harris said. “The kids trust you in ways that they don’t trust other people, and anytime I see them get excited about something, I immediately get excited.”
Harris and Wheat perform a variety of tasks, including working with the students, taking them to PE, and going on sensory walks. They also engage in redirecting behavior by using music and dance. The role is deeply personal as it involves building significant relationships with the children they work with and spending a lot of time with them.
Paraprofessional Appreciation Day is a great way to express gratitude for the hard work and dedication that these teachers demonstrate daily.
