Investing in paraprofessional training — there’s always more to learn.

Ongoing paraprofessional training is essential to working with students with special needs. While the foundational skills you have when you start working in schools can prepare you for success in tackling the first days or weeks, these skills must be refined over time as you gain experience in supporting your students.

As educators, we embrace this growth mentality. No field of work better understands that there's always more to learn!

Unfortunately, many school districts lack the resources to help paraprofessionals with their development. That's why Kelly Education has created an online training program along with many other free resources to help paraeducators grow.

In this article, discover how to invest in yourself to achieve greater success for both yourself—and your students.

Key Takeaways

• Paraprofessional growth directly impacts students' academic and social success.
• Skill development should be ongoing throughout your career.
• Development can be in the form of district-led training, online courses, articles/videos, webinars, and even hands-on mentorship.
• Look for growth opportunities covering topics you are interested in learning more about.

At Kelly Education, we refer to this role as a paraeducator. Like “paralegal” and “paramedic,” this term highlights the professional nature of the field of work. Note that school districts often call this role a paraprofessional, parapro, or teacher’s aide.

Why paraprofessional training matters.

Paraprofessionals support both students' academic and social success. Your skill set can directly translate into how each student progresses.

As you encounter diverse learning environments or get a better understanding of your students’ unique challenges, growing your capabilities in these areas is essential:

• Understanding an Individualized Education Program (IEP) 
• Legal and ethical issues
• Instructional strategies
• Behavior management
• Safety protocols
• Disability awareness
• Professional responsibilities
• Communication and collaboration

Investing in paraprofessional training will build more confidence that you are handling every situation with established best practices. You'll get more job satisfaction as your skills directly translate to improved outcomes for students.

Investing in yourself via ongoing paraprofessional education training can also work to advance your career as supervisors and administrators recognize your growth and commitment to your work.

Types of paraprofessional training.

Paraprofessionals have access to a variety of training opportunities designed to strengthen their skills and support their career growth. The following are some of the most common types of training available to paraeducators in schools.

1. State or district mandated coursework: Some states or school districts require paraprofessionals to complete specific coursework or take an exam to ensure they meet educational standards and are well-equipped to support student learning before their first day. These are often foundational materials and are a launching point for future professional development.
2. School district led staff professional development: School districts organize professional development workshops for faculty and staff. If you are not included, ask to attend especially if the topics focus on strategies, tools, and best practices for effective student or classroom support. You may not be paid for your time, but the lessons are valuable.
3. Dedicated mentorship: New paraeducators can benefit from mentorship opportunities. If a program is not established, ask an experienced colleague to provide guidance, answer questions, and model effective practices.
4. Free paraprofessional training online articles: There’s no shortage of free online articles that offer practical tips, current research, and insights into building skills and confidence. It’s as easy as typing a topic into your favorite search engine.
5. Formal paraprofessional programs or certifications: For those seeking a more comprehensive approach, formal training programs or webinars—offered by colleges, universities, or educational organizations—deliver in-depth instruction and may also lead to certification.

What development topics should I look for as a paraeducator?

In special education environments, there are countless ways to improve your skillset. We recommend that you do a bit of self-evaluation about where you’d like to grow first.

At Kelly Education, we have a skills assessment to help our national team of paraeducators to determine where there are gaps. You can also ask for recommendations from those with whom you work or from a supervisor. In addition to the list at the top of the article, these are just a few more paraprofessional training topic ideas to explore:

• Engaging with your team: Teamwork is an essential skill of a great paraprofessional. Paraeducators must work as part of a larger team and develop the skills to communicate and foster a collaborative culture.
• Adaptability: Since students all learn differently, seek resources to help you think through different ways to present information, motivate a student, or gather feedback about retention.
• How to identify and manage emotions: Whether it's modeling behavior or recognizing non-verbal signs, there are many techniques you can use to support students and de-escalate potential outbursts.
• Research ABA techniques: Check out online training models to improve Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) techniques.

Get online paraeducator training from Kelly Education.

Kelly Education takes pride in providing well-trained paraeducators to hundreds of schools across the country. Using our national LEARN standards, developed by our Ed.D.-credentialed educators and instructional design team, we are offering foundational training to support paraeducator growth. 

The Paraeducator Path covers such important topics as:

Paraeducator 101 - Role and basic responsibilities across social, behavioral, physical, academic, and safety. Understanding IEP implementation and legal foundations.

Foundations of Instruction - Techniques for differentiated instruction, explicit teaching, multi-sensory learning, modeling, and using adapted tools to support diverse learners.

Supporting Behavior - Student and personal safety, Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) implementation, and supporting students' emotional intelligence and self-regulatory skills.

This online program outlines practical applications for encouraging knowledge retention and includes assessments to ensure you're comprehending the material.

Learn more about our interactive, self-paced training.