Retention 4.28.2000 1 Retention of Paraprofessionals in Public School Classrooms Christina Young, B.A. Rebecca Roark, M.A. Margaret Werts, Ph.D. Shirley.

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Retention of Paraprofessionals in Public

School ClassroomsChristina Young, B.A.

Rebecca Roark, M.A.

Margaret Werts, Ph.D.

Shirley Harris, M.A., M.S.

Appalachian State UniversityBoone, NC

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Research Questions

What are the reasons paraprofessionals report for staying in a job situation?

What are the reasons that paraprofessionals report for leaving a job situation?

What are the implications for the field?

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Procedures

1. Telephone interviews with a structured interview

2. Interviews conducted with 21 persons

10 who were still working as paraprofessionals

11 who had left the job within the past two years

3. Analysis of transcripts for themes

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Questions in the interview

Demographics: title, age, children, etc. What type of training have you received?What is your level of education?Why did you take the job?What do or did you like about the job?What do or did you dislike about the job?

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Demographics

Experience; Average 9.4 years

Range: 4 months to 24 years

Age: Average 43.4

Range: 27 to 57

20 of 21 have children

15 married, 3 divorced/separated,

2 single, 1 engaged

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General information

17 general education paraprofessionals 4 special education paraprofessionals 16 lived in the community in which they worked

Not a difference for leavers and stayers Range of grade level=kindergarten to high

school (1 student)

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0

5

10

15

20

25

1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21

Years of experience as a paraprofessional n=21

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Paraprofessionals who are still on the job

Average length of experience – 15 years and counting

Average age- 47.8 (and graying)

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Paraprofessionals who have left the job

Average length of stay= 3.2 years or 4.8 years with the I person with 18 years

Average age= 39.5

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Why did you take the job?

1. Liked working with children or liked children 18 of 21

2. Family concerns such as children's schedules10 respondents

3. Volunteers- Right place, Right time3 respondents

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What did you like about the job?

1. Seventeen people stated that they liked the children.

2. Good working conditions.3. The schedule allowed some

freedom.4. The paraprofessionals liked being

helpful.

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“The most rewarding thing is when you have a child come up to you and say, ‘I came up 5 points,’ or ‘I came up 10 points on my end of grade.’ And you know that little extra help you gave them is worth every bit of gleam in their eye.”

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What did you dislike about the job?

1. Low pay– 12 respondents

2. Working conditions- 10 respondents

3. Administrative Issues- Linked to working conditions 15 respondents

4. Lack of support from families

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Why do you stay on the job?

I have good people to work with.I would like to have been a teacher.I like the schedule.I like the children and the learning

process.

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Why did you leave the job?

Took a Different job• Different type of job• Better paying job• Wanted to work in a different area• Needed full time work • To become a teacher 

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Why did you leave the job? (con’t)

Working conditionsConstant change in programs StressI had to drive a bus--3

Money- cost of day careMoved 

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What do we know

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“I would like for this research to go further …if possible for you to come in the schools and see what all teacher assistants do…We do everything, we are right there withthe teachers doing exactly what they are doing.”

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“…overall teacher assistants will be allowed or asked to do whatever they show that they are capable of.”

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