In rural districts the use of paraprofessionals provides a valuable resource that is often essential to the success of educational programs. Unfortunately, variables exist that can lead to ineffective collaboration between professionals and paraprofessionals. This article provides concrete strategies to lead to more effective professional-paraprofessional collaboration: (a) clarifying roles and responsibilities, (b) discussing job expectations, (c) daily scheduling, (d) on-going communication, and (e) providing regularly scheduled training.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AshbakerB., & MorganJ. (1996). Paraeducators: Critical members of the rural education team. In MontgomeryD. (Ed.), The American Council on Rural Special Education Conference—Rural Goals 2000: Building programs that work (pp. 130–136). Stillwater, OK: Oklahoma State University.
2.
BlalockG. (1991). Paraprofessionals: Critical team members in our special education programs. Intervention in School and Clinic, 26, 200–214.
3.
BlalockG. (1993). Strategies for school collaboration. In PollowayE. A. & PattonJ. R. (Eds.), Strategies for teaching learners with special needs (5th ed., pp. 123–143. New York: Merrill.
4.
FriendM., & CookL. (1996). Interactions: Collaboration skills for school professionals (2nd ed.). White Plains, NY: Longman.
5.
GoesslingD. P. (1997, December). Supporting teacher assistants in inclusive classrooms in Rhode Island: What we have learned. What we are still learning.Paper presented at the annual conference of The Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps.Boston, MA.
6.
HelgeD. (1984). Models for serving rural students with low-incidence handicapping conditions. Exceptional Children, 50, 313–324.
7.
JohnsonM. M., LasaterM. W., & FitzgeraldM. M. (1997). Paraeducator: Not just an aide. Journal of Staff Development, 18, 6–11.
8.
McKenzieR. G., & HoukC. S. (1986). The para-professional in special education. TEACHING Exceptional Children, 18, 246–252.
9.
PassaroP. D., PickettA. L., LathamG., HongBoW. (1994). The training and support needs of paraprofessionals in rural special education. Rural Special Education Quarterly, 13(4), 3–9.
