I’ve just recently left a paraeducating job. It’s a tiring job, barely any breaks, everything we do thankless, and admin are pretty passive aggressive where I am.
It is probably my favorite job I’ve had. I love children, and I love teaching and I really enjoy the hours. But, my district only allows for a twelve month pay system. I’m on a 180 day contract. That’s six months of pay spread into 12. I’m making less than I was working part time at a store over the summer. What bothers me is that I know that paraeducator pay is lower in other places. I just honestly don’t know how people survive on the pay. It should be illegal to not have a month by month option for pay, much less paying paraeducators, who are just as important to the school system, the bare minimum.
I took a new job that pays less per hour- but still really good compared to minimum wage, and I’m happy to say I’m no longer prioritizing what I can afford month by month, like shoes or an oil change, and can actually afford normal things and not make a sacrifice. Just sad that a really good job is so hilariously underpaid and undervalued.