Paraeducator Cover Letter Example

A paraeducator (also called a paraprofessional) is a support staff member that works with students who have disabilities, behavioral issues, or need extra help in school.

These professionals typically work during the school day and assist a teacher in the classroom but may provide support during after-school or summer school programs.

A paraeducator’s daily responsibilities vary depending on the grade level they’re assigned to and students’ specific needs. Here are some typical tasks for paraeducators:

• Helping students with homework
• providing instruction that supports students’ individual needs
• Assisting with behavior management
• Monitoring student progress and providing feedback to educators
• Collaborating with educators to create educational goals and objectives for students
• Supervising students during lunch and recess

Below are three tips on how to write an impressive cover letter for a paraeducator role:

1. Write a compelling opening paragraph for your paraeducator cover letter

When applying for a paraeducator position, your cover letter’s opening paragraph should explain why you’re interested in the position and highlight your qualifications.

To show that you’re the perfect candidate for the paraeducator role, start your cover letter with a brief overview of your skills and experience.

You can highlight any relevant experience you have working with children in formal educational settings or more casual settings (e.g., babysitting, volunteering).

You should also mention other relevant qualifications you have, such as first-aid training, coaching, or doing administrative work.

Here’s an example of a paraeducator’s cover letter opening statement:

I’m excited to apply for the role of Paraeducator at your school. I’ve spent the past 5 years working as a special education teacher’s assistant at Laneview Middle School. With my experience assisting students with disabilities and passion for helping them succeed, I’m confident that I can be an asset to your school district.

By highlighting your qualifications and experience in your opening paragraph, you’ll make a solid case for why you’re the best candidate for the job.

2. Add hard numbers and details to your body paragraphs

Providing exact numbers and specific details throughout your paraeducator cover letter is important because it highlights your top accomplishments and showcases your leadership skills in the classroom.

For example, “I supervised a classroom of 10 students for a year” is a more powerful sentence than a passive, vague statement like: “I have experience supervising students.”

By using specific examples, you back up your claims and prove to employers exactly what you’ve achieved and how you’d be an asset to your target school.

For example, check out this paraeducator applicant’s detailed but concise statement:

During my time with Fir Douglas Elementary, I increased my students’ reading level by 2 grades in 6 months.

3. Summarize your qualifications and thank the employer for their time

A well-crafted closing statement can make the difference between getting an interview or not.

When writing a cover letter for a paraeducator role, your closing statement is a final opportunity to remind your target employer why you’re the best candidate for the job and leave them with a positive impression of your qualifications.

So don’t forget to thank your target employer for their time and include your contact information so they can reach out if they have questions or plan to contact you for an interview.

Here’s an example of how to politely and effectively end a cover letter for your paraeducator role: