Professional Development for Instructional Assistants

MA Partnership for Youth Paraprofessional Toolkit

Paraprofessionals are every schools’ VIPs. The role of teaching assistants and paraprofessionals is varied, supporting students with the most complex needs. It can be different in every school and every classroom depending on the students’ needs and the teachers’ needs.  Because of this it is important to have a toolkit of effective strategies to support students’ academic, emotional, behavioral and social needs. This series will examine effective strategies for you to draw on as you work with your students.

All sessions are 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm.

• Session 1: January 8, 2025, Fostering a Healthy Identity
• Session 2: January 15, 2025, Multiple Intelligences and Growth Mindset
• Session 3: January 29, 2025, Social Emotional Learning

DESE is pleased to release two Paraeducator E-Learning Modules designed for onboarding and ongoing professional learning for paraeducators! The first two modules: Paraeducator Mission & Mindset and Building Relationships with Students are available NOW, with five more modules planned for release later this winter, including modules titled: Understanding Inclusion, IEPs, and Accommodations; Child Development: 4 Things Paraeducators Should Know; Empowering Multilingual Learners; and Managing Big Emotions and Behaviors. The modules are designed to be completed by paraeducators to support learning and professional development. Modules can be completed individually or in groups with facilitated discussion. Many paraeducators across Massachusetts contributed to the creation of these modules. For questions, please reach out to Andrea Ricotta.