Associate of Human Services & Education - Foundations of Teacher Education (105222)

As a paraeducator (instructional assistant), students will work directly with students under the supervision of a licensed teacher. Their education will prepare them to fulfill multiple roles such as assisting students with assignments, guiding behavior, supporting students with special needs (including personal hygiene), and clerical tasks related to instruction. They may work with children from pre-kindergarten through age 21 during the traditional school day and year. Their career opportunities exist in preschools, elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools.

A graduate of this program will have the potential for employment as an educational paraprofessional or paraeducator in schools from the pre-kindergarten through high school level. Paraeducators work with children in preschools, elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools. Paraeducators can also work with children with special needs.

Most job opportunities in this field coincide with the public school system with regard to workdays, holidays, and summers.

Graduates Work As: . Paraeducators, paraprofessionals, teaching assistants, instructional assistants, educational assistants, autism behavior technicians specialized aides in reading, math, computers, or special education, and autism line therapists.

Typical Activities Include: Preparing classroom materials, displays, using computers, supervising classroom and playground activities, giving tests, monitoring students, reading and telling stories, assisting with small and large group activities, managing student behavior, supporting individual needs of all students, following teacher lesson plans, and supporting individual personal hygiene needs.

Program Outcomes: • Demonstrate instructional support strategies for content areas. • Implement developmentally appropriate practices to foster learning. • Adapt instruction to meet the diverse needs of all learners. • Use proactive classroom management techniques. • Incorporate the reflective process to promote professional growth. • Perform professional responsibilities.