An Essential but Overlooked Workforce

Elevating the Need to Investigate the Career Development of Paraeducators

Dados Bibliográficos

ID21581741
AutoresConra D Gist (0000-0001-8977-7059, University of Houston, autor correspondente), Amaya García (0009-0000-7440-3142, New America), Yukari Takimoto Amos (0000-0002-1542-1591, Central Washington University)
Ano2022
Volume49
Fascículo5
Páginas1039-1047
Data de publicação2022-10-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoJournal of Career Development (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0894-8453 • E-ISSN: 1556-0856
EditoraSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/08948453211010968
OpenAlexW3158543586
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas7
Referências citadas17

Recent research documents the positive impact that paraprofessionals have on student learning. Given these strengths, states and districts across the country have developed programs to attract and prepare paraprofessionals to become certified teachers. Despite increased interest in expanding pathways for the paraeducator workforce, research has also consistently revealed that paraeducators encounter obstacles along the career development continuum from recruitment, preparation, placement, and induction. Given the professionalization challenges paraeducators face, this special issue introduction highlights paraeducator research studies that describe innovative program design features, draw from and build on paraeducators’ funds of knowledge and community cultural wealth, and identify organizational structures in schools essential to supporting paraeducators’ development. We conclude with a recommended set of three core commitments for program designers, researchers, policy makers, or community and school district leaders dedicated to ensuring equitable paraeducator professional pathways in the educator workforce

Best practice · Career development · Career Pathways · Certification · Faculty Development · Medical education · Pedagogy · Political science · Professional development · Professionalization · Public relations · Workforce · Workforce development · Collaborative Teaching and Inclusion · Disability Education and Employment · Medicine · Psychology · Teacher Education and Leadership Studies