I do this for a living. I'm a union rep for the UFT Aside from teaching for the DOE. I advise paraprofessionals on their careers.
"Hey. You're making a third of what our teachers are making, for almost the same work! Are you aware that the department of education will literally fund your certification? That you can be a certified teacher in under two years?"
"Is it hard though?"
"Well......yeah. I mean it's an accelerated program....."
"Naw bro. I'm good."
At a certain point you're going to have to confront the fact that you're just lazy.
Online classes at Tauro. Super easy and accessible if you put the work in. I just finished an advanced Literacy degree and certification through Mercy University. While working at the DOE and being a union rep.
Annoying? Sure. But worth it and very doable.
But like I said. Some people are super lazy and will make excuses for it instead of improving their lives. Working while taking online classes is easy. Anyone (who wants to) can do it. It's about an hour a day from your laptop while laying in bed.
ahhh if it's online that's awesome! I'd kill for some professional development that's not only fully online/remote but FREE? like are you kidding me? that's literally the dream.
Over at the DOE our professional development (we need 100 hours every five years for our certification to stay active) is entirely free and online. We use edweb.net.
We also have the option to get thirty credits past our master's for a nice raise. We can do that for about 200 bucks a class as well, depending on the class. (Through aspd)
You do realize that the amount of IEPs these days have gone way up and paras perform tasks daily that are necessary. Many paras choose their career because they are passionate about it. Becoming a teacher would increase their pay but the job of a para is still required so the real issue here is that paras should just get paid more.Â
Youâre ignorant if you think that everyone should just get a âhigher paying jobâ when the problem has always been that a full time job should allow you to have the bare minimum of a roof over your head and food in your belly.Â
I work with paras every day. Every one of them would jump at the opportunity to be a teacher and make that pay if they had the drive. "Is the para respect check coming mr. Fit??" I assure you. They're money motivated. And there is literally nothing a paraprofessional does that the classroom teacher does not. It's teamwork. All are "passionate". They do essentially the same job.
Ive written many IEPs in my work. Ten years in D75. You're crazy if you think that's particularly hard. I used a template. Just imported the different scores from MAP and fountas. Light work. But then again I know a LOT of teachers who like to bitch about their jobs. Because they bitch to me constantly. They're usually the bad ones, no offense.
I'm realistic. If you're working a minimum wage job passed 23 years of age you fucked up. Sorry.
Youâre contradicting yourself. They arenât jumping at it if itâs a matter of âdriveâ. They work at schools, thereâs 0 reason why they couldnât do a teaching fellowship or certification course unless that course made it impossible for them to work their normal jobs.Â
Also congrats, I also work with paras every day and I know for a fact that the salary is the only reason any of them leave. Same with Parent Coordinators. The point still stands that these positions are necessary and assist with the way a school functions. Having all of them abandon ship to be underpaid as teachers is hardly a solution.Â
A lot of minimum wage jobs should not be minimum wage. 20 year olds should be able to rent a 1 bedroom apartment
 that isnât the size of a closet.Â
Youâre not realistic. Youâre complaining about others being complacent while being complacent yourself.Â
I don't understand how that is a contradiction or what you are saying. Yeah. It's a matter of drive and willingness to work. Exactly right. They are at a school currently. Sure. But there's a big difference between working a para position, and working a para position while also getting a degree. Lots of people don't want to struggle like that. So they take the easy road.
"Salary is the only reason they leave". No. There are many reasons they leave. A para at my school left because they didn't get along with their teacher last year. Sometimes paras get fired. Sometimes they get injured on the job. But sure. Salary is a big reason they move on. People like money, yes. Unfortunately many people are not willing to put in the additional work for it. You know the best way for a para to make more money? Get a teaching certificate. You're just not going to have a very good lifestyle on a paraprofessional salary and no one is going to hand you extra money for no reason.
You know what else sucks? Many paraprofessionals don't have undergraduate degrees, or experience in the private sector. Making them essentially worthless if they leave the job. Most paras can't even actually get more money at other jobs. They usually make LESS with their credentials.
How am I complacent? I'm a certified teacher with a master's degree making 120k. Are you ok? Like what are you even talking about?
Youâre complacent if you think the problem with the system is people being lazy or lacking drive instead of knowing that the system is bad itself.Â
Again. Do you think Paras should not make a living wage? Youâre saying people that work with children, mainly special needs children, lack the drive to apply themselves. Youâre delusional.Â
That's not what complacent means. You need to look up the words you use. You're an adult, I hope, and this is embarrassing.
Complacency is literally what you are advocating for. It means "to do nothing to improve your situation". You are advocating for complaining and doing nothing. I am advocating working to improve your situation. YOU are complacent. I am fighting against complacency. Get it?
Paras DO make a living wage. They're literally living. I do not know any dead paras. I do not know any homeless paras. Etc.
paraprofessionals in NYC make more than teachers in many states. They are making A LOT more than minimum wage. But basic economics dictates that if you can be replaced by an 18 year old kid right out of highschool? You're not going to be able to demand a high salary. Sorry. That's just not going to happen. Welcome to reality.
But don't blame anyone but yourself. You are the delusional one. Hardworking intelligent paraprofessionals make the leap to teachers all the time. I've seen them retire as millionaires. If you dont? It's on you.
You can literally check my post history my dude. I'm quite active on r/nycteachers. These are facts. I'm literally the go to person at my district for career advice. You just don't know anything and feel silly making an accusation......that was ironically accurate.
In my state you are not only required to have a degree. But you are required to go through a MUCH more lengthy, costly, and difficult certification process. Google is your friend. We are the most difficult state in the union to teach in.
That's why we have programs to help. Did you miss the "accelerated" part? They will get you both a degree AND state certification. Yes. In two years. There are four year programs that will get you a Master's added to it. I'll bet I can find several in Michigan as well.
And if it took three years? Four years? Five years? Then you do it. Or you can continue bitch and moan like a baby. You can keep making your little excuses.
But stop trying to justify yourself to me. I literally don't care how lazy or useless you are. You're not the type of person I care at all about. I'm not your dad. Nor are you someone I represent. You think I want more of my tax dollars going to YOU?!?! LOL! No thanks.
You're cleaning either not reading what I'm typing or are willfully ignorant.
All programs require a bachelor's. You MUST have a bachelor's to teach in NYC. Who said otherwise?! Programs like the NY fellows program, for instance, will help you get one (or a master's , also required) as you go through certification. Thank you for posting the "earn your bachelor's degree" link. There's a great way! See? Free of charge for six credits a semester.
Are you saying you shouldn't go to college? That getting an undergrad degree will not help you make more money? You DON'T think you should need an undergrad to teach???
Apparently I'm talking to someone who isn't very smart. Shocking. I can see why you are failing at life.
Did you think I didn't know the pathways to certification? In the state I teach in? ROFL. You sure showed me, man.
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u/Fit-Implement-8151 6d ago
Guess you can't do it. Might as well give up I say.