EMPOWERING PARAPROFESSIONALS TO

ELEVATE STUDENT LEARNING FOR LASTING IMPACT

Paraprofessionals are Essential

Paraprofessionals are vital instructional partners. They bring stability, enhance collaboration, and contribute daily to student success and impact. The Ohio Partnership for Excellence in Paraprofessional Preparation (OPEPP) is your partner in building the capacity of Ohio paraprofessionals and the systems that support them.

Resources forPartners

Resources forParaprofessionals

Resources forEducators

Building Capacity and Elevating the Profession

INVESTING IN PEOPLE

We build individual capacity through research-based, role-specific learning that builds confidence, sharpens skills, and clarifies responsibilities.

ALIGNING SYSTEMS & PRACTICES

We partner with educators, administrators, and others, to align systems and practices that integrate paraprofessionals into instructional teams.

ADVANCING THE PROFESSION

We elevate the profession through recognition and clear pathways for career advancement.

Our approach helps districts and schools:

ACCELERATE STUDENT LEARNING

by expanding access to effective instructional support.

INCREASE TEAM EFFECTIVENESS

through clearly defined roles, improved onboarding, and stronger collaboration.

STRENGTHEN THE EDUCATOR

workforce pipeline by building paraprofessionals’ knowledge, expanding leadership opportunities, and supporting career advancement.

BUILD SUSTAINABLE SYSTEMS

by embedding distributive leadership into staffing, teaming, and HR practices.

How We Support Paraprofessionals, Districts, & Schools

OPEPP provides open-access, research-based professional development and partnerships with districts, ESCs, and county board schools to drive lasting, systemic change in how paraprofessionals are trained, supported, and integrated into instructional teams.

We help schools and districts build capacity, strengthen systems, and elevate the paraprofessional profession to improve student outcomes across Ohio by:

DELIVERING HIGH-IMPACT PROFESSIONAL LEARNING

We offer free, research-based modules, workshops, and ready-to-use resources—like implementation frameworks and practice guides—that build paraprofessionals’ skills and confidence while helping districts and schools promote consistent, sustainable support.

ADVANCING CAREER PATHWAYS & GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES

We align professional learning with credentialing pathways and nationally recognized competencies from the Council for Exceptional Children. We also help districts design structured opportunities for advancement and leadership development.

RECOGNIZING & ELEVATING CONTRIBUTIONS

We work to increase recognition of paraprofessionals as essential members of the instructional team—sharing stories of impact, spotlighting success, and highlighting how well-supported paraprofessionals contribute to stronger student outcomes and measurable student impact.

SUPPORTING DISTRICT IMPLEMENTATION

Through coaching, consultation, and strategic partnerships, we help district leaders build systems that clarify paraprofessional roles, improve onboarding, and strengthen collaboration between teachers and paraprofessionals. Instead of prescribing one-size-fits-all solutions, we co-create strategies that reflect each district’s unique context—staffing structures, priorities, and student needs—ensuring local ownership and lasting impact.