Paraeducator Orientation August Inservice 2015

Welcome!  Paraeducators share many similar qualities:  enjoyment of children  willingness to assist and support the teacher  dedicated to helping students  flexible and resourceful  collaborate well with teachers and other paraeducators

Responsibilities of Paras  Carry out the programs developed by the instructional staff  Attend the required number of staff development hours  Complete time sheets and staff development plans  Assist with non-teaching tasks  Help children become independent learners  Maintain a strict code of confidentiality  Provide supports in the general and special education classrooms

Paraeducators are not responsible for:  Writing lesson plans  Communicating with staff or parents  Assigning grades  Providing whole class instruction  Giving students answers  Doing student work  Working with a challenging student 100% of the time  Providing all the personal care for a student

Confidentiality  Discuss student progress and behavior only with those directly involved with the student (teacher, other paras).  Direct parent inquiries go to the supervising teacher.  If you have any doubt, ask your supervising teacher,  Provide information for instruction only.  If you need a sounding board – talk to your supervising special education teacher

Timesheets  Please keep them on a daily or weekly basis  them into the central office by the 15 th of each month  Must be signed by your supervising teacher  Make sure that timesheets match your leave forms that have been sent to HPEC central office  No more than 35 hours per week unless you have special permission from the director  Unscheduled closings are built in at 7 hours per year to cover snow days, state basketball, music festivals

Technology *Do not text students *Do not text and drive *Do not be distracted from students by your phone *Follow the school’s cell phone policy *If students are not allowed to use their phone during class, then neither should you

Social Media  Please do not add students to your social media  Be careful about what you say and what pictures you post  Please stay off of it during school hours

Chain of Command *Director *Area Supervisor *Principal *Immediate Supervising Teacher *In Class, General Education Teacher *In Resource Room, Special Education Teacher

Staff Development  Beginning August 2009, High Plains Educational Cooperative will support a Tiered Paraeducator Inservice plan. Paraeducators who have worked as a Kansas special education para less than 3 years ( within the past 3 years) are to complete 20 hours of inservice if employed for 9 months during the school year.  Paras can obtain hours by attending workshops, watching videos, reading books, and accessing the Infinitec website at  Need to turn in a Professional Development Plan quarterly to HPEC.

Interested in Becoming a Teacher?  We will reimburse paraeducators for college coursework leading to a degree in education upon approval by HPEC administration. See page 17 of the Para Handbook. Each hour of college credit is worth 20 in-service points. 

Ask Your Supervising Teacher and Your Peer Paras …..  What will my specific responsibilities be?  What are my expected hours?  Tell me more about how to do time sheets, PDC (Engage).  What are your expectations with cell phone usage?  What are the specific goals you have in mind for students?  What techniques work best with what students?

Thanks! Have a great year! We are glad you are here!