Para eLink: Where Minnesota's Paraprofessionals Learn Online

competencies | tutorial | glossary | help | site index

1.3 (1K3B): Understanding of the distinctions between roles and responsibilities of professionals, paraprofessionals, and support personnel.


	1	1R	2	2R	3	3R	4	4R

What is a Paraprofessional?

Depending on the setting in which you work, the role of a paraprofessional who works with students can have various definitions. For example, one definition of educational paraprofessionals includes the following (Pickett & Gerlach, 1999):

Whose position is either instructional in nature or who delivers other direct services to individuals and/or their parents.
Who works under the supervision of a professional staff member who is responsible for the overall management of the program area including the design, implementation, and evaluation of instructional programs and the individual's progress.

You will have an opportunity to explore roles and responsibilities in more detail later in this lesson. As always, be sure to find out any differences where you work.

Keep in Mind…

Paraprofessionals are being employed in increasing numbers as a means of extending services to students, both with and without disabilities. The impact of paraprofessionals is especially significant because of the primary role they play in delivering learning activities to students. Paraprofessionals are a viable means of enriching services to students when programs are systematically planned and personnel are properly trained.

To move to the next activity in this unit:
Click the next button or the next arrow (at the top of the page).