Paraeducators: Closing the Pay Gap
Erick Estrada
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04/05/2023
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2023 Eric Sevareid Awards
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- [00:00:00.418]We go on a hike for a mile.
- [00:00:03.548]We go on a hike for a mile.
- [00:00:07.657]Paraeducators are known as the backbones of the classroom
- [00:00:10.680]for their work supporting student learning and well-being.
- [00:00:13.410]Count the words, we.
- [00:00:14.501]We.
- [00:00:15.600]Go.
- [00:00:16.433]Go.
- [00:00:17.266]The No Child Left Behind Act
- [00:00:18.270]defines paraeducators or "paras"
- [00:00:20.490]as those who work under the direction
- [00:00:22.138]or supervision of a certified teacher.
- [00:00:24.930]Most paras work in special education, language instruction,
- [00:00:28.650]or other educational programs.
- [00:00:30.810]Despite their contributions to student education,
- [00:00:33.385]many paras are feeling underpaid and overworked,
- [00:00:38.040]including Sandoz Elementary paraeducator,
- [00:00:40.328]Aristoli Hernandez.
- [00:00:42.240]I've been working for the school system for 17 years.
- [00:00:46.080]I just deserve better pay, better wage.
- [00:00:48.900]According to an Education Week analysis
- [00:00:51.180]there is no state in the US where a para earns enough
- [00:00:53.827]on average to support themself and one child.
- [00:00:57.900]This includes those living in the state's
- [00:00:59.700]most affordable metropolitan area.
- [00:01:01.980]Count the words because remember of time-
- [00:01:05.850]As of October, 2022, Nebraska's average para salary is
- [00:01:09.960]about $20,000 compared to Nebraska's teacher salary
- [00:01:13.710]which averages at about $53,000.
- [00:01:16.736]Nice job.
- [00:01:17.850]Next word will be, wed.
- [00:01:20.370]What word?
- [00:01:21.203]After being a para for so many years
- [00:01:23.010]Hernandez hasn't seen much of an increase in pay.
- [00:01:25.710]What she has seen is
- [00:01:26.790]that newer paras are earning just as much as she is.
- [00:01:29.040]New people, they get kind of the same rate as me
- [00:01:34.003]and I'm not new and have experience.
- [00:01:36.600]But an issue that stands in the way
- [00:01:38.280]of all paras is something so many students enjoy.
- [00:01:41.655](bell ringing)
- [00:01:43.890]School breaks, holiday and summer breaks
- [00:01:46.680]are times where paras get to enjoy time away from school.
- [00:01:49.830]But that all goes without any pay.
- [00:01:52.192]Well, I think paras really deserve
- [00:01:53.564]pay during those breaks.
- [00:01:55.560]That was DCIS at Ford fifth grade teacher
- [00:01:58.860]Melanie Rodriguez, who advocates
- [00:02:01.200]for increased pay for both teachers and paras.
- [00:02:04.710]Well, they follow our school schedule
- [00:02:06.900]so then when we have breaks
- [00:02:08.940]I believe it's really hard for them to get
- [00:02:11.850]through those days or even weeks when we don't have school.
- [00:02:15.420]So it would be nice for them to get that recognition
- [00:02:18.480]and appreciation through that pay.
- [00:02:20.910]The reason why teachers make more money
- [00:02:22.980]and are able to get holiday pay is their education level.
- [00:02:26.310]Nebraska requires paras to have a high school diploma,
- [00:02:29.580]GED, or its equivalent.
- [00:02:31.260]Two years of college or an associate degree
- [00:02:33.180]is also required.
- [00:02:34.500]However, para assessments are available
- [00:02:37.050]for those who don't meet those requirements.
- [00:02:39.180]Well, I think people do a good job of choosing this
- [00:02:42.030]profession because they're passionate about the profession
- [00:02:44.430]and they wanna make a difference
- [00:02:47.040]for students and for families.
- [00:02:48.420]Despite their low wages, Effer Elementary principal
- [00:02:51.240]Michael Long, has witnessed how
- [00:02:52.890]passionate paras still are about the job.
- [00:02:55.080]Hernandez is among one of the many paras
- [00:02:57.690]whose passion continues to grow.
- [00:03:00.330]I like the environment.
- [00:03:02.760]I like kids.
- [00:03:04.530]I like my job, but the only thing I don't like is
- [00:03:07.950]that we don't get pay like the way it should be.
- [00:03:11.430]Yeah. Zero.
- [00:03:12.863]No mistakes.
- [00:03:14.400]You're so awesome.
- [00:03:15.553]This has been Eric Estrada with 90.3 KRNU reporting.
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