Paraeducators are integral members of a valued profession; as such, they are obviously professionals. But what does it mean to be a professional? Professionalism does not mean wearing a suit or carrying a briefcase; rather, it means conducting oneself with responsibility, integrity, accountability, and excellence. It means communicating effectively and appropriately and always finding a way to be productive.
Professions have established standards to serve as guideposts for professional behavior. You as a mentor are no doubt familiar with your own professional standards and the guidance they provide. The same is true for paraeducators. The Center for Exceptional Children (CEC) has developed a set of Core Competencies for Special Education Paraeducators.
As you review the core competencies for paraeducators, you will likely notice that the competencies are similar to the Ohio Standards for the Teaching Profession, yet there are also significant differences.
Take a closer look at the CEC Core Competency Areas. Start by comparing the 7 areas of the Competencies with the 7 topic areas of the Teaching Standards. Then answer the reflection questions to complete the activity.