The growing number of students limited in English proficiency enrolling in U.S. public schools has led to a critical shortage of bilingual teachers. Districts across the nation have addressed this shortage by employing bilingual paraprofessionals to work under licensed teachers. Currently, school districts work collaboratively with institutions of higher education to develop locally based programs that provide paraprofessionals opportunities to complete the necessary basic education that may lead to a teaching license while they continue their employment as a paraprofessional. This article describes a model that provides social, financial, and academic support to paraprofessionals while they navigate their way through the first 2 years of college. The article also addresses critical factors that contribute to paraprofessionals' success in a college setting.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Calderon, M. (1991). Cooperative learning builds communities of teachers . Teacher Education and Practice, 6(2), 75—77.
2.
Cortez, A. (2001). Teacher shortages: Implications for reform and achievement for all students. Intercultural Research Development Association, 38 (7), 5—16.
Fideler, E.F. (1996, February). Paraeducator to teacher programs—Diversifying the profession. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education, Chicago, IL.
5.
French, N.K. (1998). Working together: Colorado resource teachers and paraeducators. Colorado Council for Learning Disabilities Newsletter, 21(1), 5—8.
6.
French, N.K. (2001). Supervising paraprofessionals: A survey of teacher practices. The Journal of Special Education, 35, 41—53.
7.
Genzuk, M., & Baca, R. (1998). The paraeducator-to-teacher pipeline. Education and Urban Society, 31(1), 73—88.
8.
Gordon, J.A. (1994). Why students of color are not entering teaching: Reflections from minority teachers. Journal of Teacher Education , 465(5), 346—353.
9.
Haselkorn, D., & Fideler, E. (1996). Breaking the class ceiling: Pathways to teaching . Belmont, MA: Recruiting New Teachers .
10.
Johnson, D.W., Johnson, R.T., & Holubec, E.J. (1988). Cooperation in the classroom. Edina, MN: Interaction Book Company.
11.
Krueger, R.A. (1994). Focus groups: A practical guide for applied research (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA : Sage.
12.
Lau v. Nichols, 414 U.S. 563 (1974).
13.
Martinez, J.C. (2000, January 4). Changing the way kids learn: Lawmakers united to push sweeping education reforms. Denver Post, p. A1.
14.
Martinez, J.C., & Brown, F. (2000, January 7). Improving the schools, an ambitious challenge. Denver Post, p. A1.
15.
Middleton, E.J., Mason, R.J., Stilwe, W.E., & Parker, W.C. (1988). A model for recruitment and retention of minority students in teacher preparation programs. Journal of Teacher Education, 39 (1), 10—13.
16.
Miles, M.B., & Huberman, A.M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis: A source book of new methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
17.
Nicklos, L.B., & Brown, W. (1989). Recruiting minorities into the teaching profession: An educational imperative. Educational Horizons, 67, 145— 149.
18.
Ovando, C.J., & Collier, V.P. (1985). Bilingual and ESL classrooms: Teaching in multicultural contexts. New York: McGraw-Hill .
19.
Parla, J. (1994). Educating teachers for cultural and linguistic diversity: A model for all teachers. New York State Association for BilingualEducation Journal, 9, 1—6.
20.
Pearman, E.L., Suhr, D., & Gibson, F. (1993). Colorado system of personnel development needs assessment: Paraprofessionals. Denver: Colorado Department of Education.
21.
Pickett, A.L. (1989). Restructuring the schools: The role of paraprofessionals . Washington, DC: Center for Policy Research, National Governor's Association.
22.
Pickett, A.L. (1990, March). Paraprofessionals in education: Personal practices that influence their performance, training needs, and retention . Paper presented at the Rural Education Symposium of the American Council on Rural Special Education and the National Rural and Small Schools Consortium, Tucson, AZ.
23.
Public Law 103-382 Improving America's Schools Act of 1994. (Oct. 20, 1994; 108 Stat. 3518; 545 pages)
24.
Rubin, P.M. (1994). Who is teaching our children: A look at the use of aides in Chapter 1. Washington, DC: International Reading Association.
25.
Rueda, R., & Monzo, L. (2000). Apprenticeship for teaching: Issues surrounding the collaborative relationship between teachers and paraeducators. Santa Cruz: University of Southern California , Center for Research on Education, Diversity & Excellence.
26.
Slavin, R.E. (1983). Cooperative learning. New York : Longman.
27.
Villegas, A.M., & Clewall, B.C. (1998). Increasing teacher diversity by tapping the paraprofessional pool. Theory Into Practice, 37(2), 121—130.
