Great post- I'll gladly raise my glass to that! If anyone is interested in some specific salaries to that paras are making, there is a popular thread at the National Resource Center for Paraprofessionals Message Boards where a number of paras have posted info on their wages from across the country.

I agree 150% that paras are under paid. We are a valuable asset to the classroom and the school district. I don't think we should make as much as the teacher due to their certification, but we should be close.

I work as a Paraprofessional and we earn less than 19,000 here in Alabama!! It's heartbreaking because there are days when we work more/harder than the teacher does.

I too am a para for over ten years now. The starting pay was $18,000.00 (in 1996)as a full-time aide. I'm not making much more than that today. I am currently in school to become a certified teacher. I feel there should be some type of compensation for aides (just as there is for teachers) that would like to pursue their degree in education. Furthermore, teachers qualify for Mediated Entry Programs, Incentive Programs and various unions to support them. I also feel that para's often hold large responsibilities (driving busses, cafeteria duty, recess, needing non-crises intervention training) that teachers are not always required to obtain. Most districts will not inform their para-employees that even though we are required to have this training, that even if remotely used wrong, will go against that employee and placed in his/her employee file. Teachers have unions to represent them and protect them in such situations, however, we do not. Why is that?

Ms. Shepherd,

Thanks for your comment. The AFT is working hard to improve compensation for paraprofessionals, who play an important role in classrooms. In many school districts paras are union members. The AFT represents tens of thousands of paraprofessionals in school districts across the country.

For information on how you can form or join a union, please send an e-mail to john@LetsGetItRight.org and include your contact information, school and school district.

Thanks,
John

I don't know where you are working but in Northern Illinois we are making less than 15K. This to me is sinful. Today I was bitten, kicked and spit upon. Under no circumstances could I afford to live in my current conditions should anything happen to my husband. And my monthly expenses are minimal. I will raise the glass when I receive a pay that is commensurate with my level of education and expertise.

I am a Paraeducator in Michigan where my annual salary is $33,000. However, currently my employer is trying to reduce my salary stating we are overpaid. They currently have a new tactic instead of hiring Paraeducators into jobs they are putting unqualified sub Para's into jobs for $8.50 an hour. I can't find anything under the no child left behind act that prevents a district from doing this or requires sub Para's to be highly qualified.

What can we do to get the wages raised? There is a poster in the High School and I see it every day it says something like a High school drop out will only earn 19000.00 a year....and this poster was published by GA dept of Education! I feel like taking a picture of the poster and sending them a copy of my paystub!! Because whoever came up with those numbers are way off!!

I am a paraeducator in Montana. I have 22 years experience with an Associate in Education with one year to finish my degree. My salary is 11,000 a year. We are in negotiations right now and the district is offering us a 1% raise. It's a travisty the way the para's are treated. I wish the para's could get united to demand the wages we so deserve. We can't keep accepting so little for our education and experience.

Pat