Collaboration

Between Special
Educators and
Paraeducators

By:
Ellen Will & Mati Peaslee
Roles and Responsibilities:
Special Education Teachers:
Writes IEPs/goals
Plans Daily Instruction
Delivers Instruction
Supervises Paraeducators
Collects Data on students
Develops student interventions
Paraprofessionals:
providing instructional support in small groups;
monitoring hallways, study hall, etc.;
providing one-on-one instruction;
meeting with teachers;
modifying materials;
collecting data on students; and
implementing behavior management plans;
providing personal care assistance.
Provides input on students to the teacher
Reasons Why the Collaboration Is
Important:
Benefits the students

Students get a lot of one on one attention,

Help create new ideas and goals for students, you can accomplish more having
paraprofessionals;

Teachers and Paraprofessionals can share the workload;

Having each Paraprofessional responsible for one or two students can help
with classroom organization and management

Special Educators and Paraprofessionals can support each other,

Paraprofessionals can help collect more information on child; and offer other
perspectives
Key Roles of Successful
Collaboration
Open Communication

Establish roles each person will play in the classroom

Treat each other with respect and as equals

Learn to work together and harmonize in the classrooms daily routines

Have a good professional relationship

Establish trust, respect and support
Common Problems

Lack of communication

Teacher and paraeducator dont understand each others roles in the classroom

Lack of time for collaboration and discussion

Misunderstanding of classroom rules and behavioral plans

Interruption of the teacher or class

Unshared Workload

Personality/Moral Differences

Not respecting each other's roles

 Personal Interviews
Ellen:
Talked about how it is helpful to
have paraprofessionals
Their roles in the classroom
Common problems
Understanding Roles
Work Ethic
Personality Clashes
What are the qualities of a good
collaborative relationship
Open Communication, Respectful,
Trustworthy, Hardworking,
Supporting.
Mati:
They share roles in the classroom
Defining roles in the classroom was difficult
at first and common problems arose
Discussed with me what each persons
roles were in the classroom
Collaborate and communicate during
their lunch period briefly daily
They also communicate through email
Give each other respect and demand
equal respect from the class
Discussed having open
communication and flexibility
References

Pace, Lynn. Collaboration with Paraprofessionals. Telephone Interview. 20,

April. 2016.

Waters,Katrissa Collaborating with Paraprofessionals in the Classroom In

person. 11, April. 2016.

Nahmias, Maria L., Ph.D. "Consultation and Collaboration." SERP 497. The
University of Arizona. 2016. Lecture.