Paraeducator Cover Letter Example

You’re collaborative and passionate about supporting others in the classroom, and now you’ll need to translate these qualities to writing your cover letter. Use our paraeducator cover letter and expert advice so you can make a great job application and find a fulfilling position.

August 12, 2024

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A paraeducator cover letter example on a template with a blue header for the applicant's name and contact information, followed by black text for their opening, body, and closing paragraphs

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Paraeducator Cover Letter Template

Don’t forget to use the right cover letter format so that it looks professional.

Copy-paste Paraeducator Cover Letter (Text Format)

FIRST AND LAST NAME

Email: your.email@email.com

Phone: (123) 456-7891

Address: Street, City, State

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yourprofile

[Today’s Date]

[Hiring Manager’s Name]
123 School Address
School’s City, State, Zip Code
(xxx) xxx-xxxx
hiring.manager@gmail.com

Dear [Mr./Ms./Mx.] [Hiring Manager’s Last Name],

I was pleased to learn of your opening for a Paraeducator through LinkedIn. With 6+ years of experience as a paraeducator and instructional assistant, I know I can exceed [School Name]’s standards as your next Paraeducator.

I’ve provided exceptional clerical and administrative support to 25 teachers and professionals, overseeing 85+ children (particularly those with specific needs) and developing educational materials for daily programs. For instance, my past experience includes:

providing support to an instructional program with 30+ students in 3 classrooms, the playground, and lunchrooms from 2018–2020
boosting student success by 15% through serving as a supportive staff member to meet their emotional, social, and academic needs

In line with [School Name]’s goals of being an equity-focused institution, I’m certain my expertise at working with families from economically and socially disadvantaged backgrounds will benefit [Company Name] and the surrounding community.

For further information, you can reach me via my cell phone (xxx) xxx-xxxx or email address at your.name@email.com. Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Average paraeducator salaries in the US

The following table includes information from O*NET Resource Center by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license, this data is pulled from the most recent US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Employment & Earnings report (as of 10/16/2024), featuring the top states by use.

Average paraprofessional annual salaries by state

State	Salary / Year
New York	$37,020
Texas	$29,360
Illinois	$35,730
California	$45,080
Florida	$30,310
Pennsylvania	$32,220
Ohio	$35,430
Georgia	$28,770
North Carolina	$27,500
Michigan	$30,670
National Average	$33,276

How to write your cover letter for a paraeducator role

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: